Ordained (The Immortal Archives)

by Devon Ashley

  Noel’s eyes emerged from his grasp. He still said nothing.

  “It reads, ‘for my eyes only’. Sergei, nor any other dead language specialist, will ever be able to decipher this book.”

  Noel rubbed his chin repeatedly with his thumb and index finger. He glared. Not at her but at the book in her hand, thinking hard.

  “I know you seek the containment spell, but Noel it’s not here. I’m not lying to you.”

  He looked to her but with far less fire. “If it’s true that only you can read this, why wouldn’t it be?”

  She hesitated. She had been dreading this moment. In truth, she planned to avoid it at all costs, but his perseverance was wearing her down.

  “Because she doesn’t want me to use it. That’s what this entire book is about. A million and one reasons to take the risk and fight Morphus to the death and rid him from the loop. If I contain him again, I’ll have to go through this all over again, and again, and again. I really don’t wanna keep damning myself to this life.”

  Noel slowly stood before her. He was a clear foot taller and for once seemed to tower over her. “You really think we lead a damned life?”

  “Don’t you?” she asked glumly.

  “There is no way in hell you are going into that fight without the containment spell.” He pulled on the book but she held on tight. “Do you regret this life?”

  For the first time in all their years together she couldn’t read his eyes. She wasn’t sure if he was determined or defeated. She released the book and Noel turned to leave.

  “I’ve never regretted you.”

  He disappeared into the hallway and didn’t come back.

  Days passed and Abby and Noel still hadn’t spoken. They had passed in hallways, slept in the same bed, but never once said a word to each other, not even with their eyes. March was a week away. Her hours were numbered and decreasing at what seemed to be an exponential rate. This wasn’t how she wanted to spend her last month with her husband, but at the same time, she absolutely refused to drag him down with her. Should she not return, she hoped his anger would see him through, help him move on faster.

  Abby had been spending most of her time training with Emily or sitting with Valerie. This night she was quietly relaxing in Valerie’s suite.

  Valerie opened the double glass doors to her personal veranda and stepped out into the rushing wind. She closed her eyes, inhaled a deep breath and released it slowly, meditation-like. “Do you ever feel like you’re living a half-life?”

  Abby needed no time to think of a response. The same thought had occurred to her often. “Like I have the words ‘life for rent’ tattooed across my forehead. I’m here, it’s mine, but at the same time, it’s not. Doesn’t matter what I do, or don’t do for that matter. Whatever’s meant to be will occur whether I want it to or not. I’m nothing but a pawn.”

  “Least you’re out there living. Not stuck in the tower of a huge-ass mansion in the middle of nowhere waiting for the day your savior comes to set you free.” She paused, then said forlornly, “But no one ever does.”

  “Don’t envy me. My life’s no fairy tale either.”

  “You at least found your Prince Charming, sword and all.”

  Abby replied quietly, “Yeah, right.”

  Abby took in the view. Whispering winds blew through the forest that surrounded the manor. The town below had gone to sleep, leaving nothing but glowing lamp posts. The stars seemed close enough to reach up and grab.

  Thinking aloud, she said, “Please don’t let my last days be spent in this god-forsaken school surrounded by people who are actually praying to their god that I don’t make it back.”

  “I wouldn’t worry too much about that,” Valerie grinned. “Their god likes you better.”

  Abby had told Valerie about the gypsy’s reading and how she was destined to die. Valerie, however, did not agree or disagree with the theory. “Do you think I’ll make it back out?” she asked.

  Valerie didn’t answer. She stared off into the horizon, perhaps pretending she didn’t hear the question. Her indifference, however, would not dissuade Abby.

  “Valerie?” she asked again, sweeping her head into Valerie’s line of sight.

  She hesitated. Then, without even so much as glancing at Abby, mumbled, “The vision…the one I told Noel about…the one that you hit me over…”

  “Yeah, what about it?”

  She sighed heavily. “What I saw happen to you in my vision. It hasn’t happened yet.”

  Abby felt a twinge throughout her body. “But I suffered a great beating. I lost like a third of my blood. That rarely ever happens to me.”

  “The injuries you got from the grinloch weren’t the ones you had in my vision. What I saw was…you had a pierced side…and a stake sticking out of your chest.” She raised her hand to her heart. “And your eyes…they weren’t moving. You were lying in a pool of blood. And your eyes…they were so still, lifeless.”

  Abby slumped down into a patio chair. She was so taken aback that all she could do was stare into the darkness. Nothing moved – not her arms, not her feet. She couldn’t even blink. Even the light burn within her chest that had been constant these past few weeks seemed to dull.

  “So yes,” Valerie answered numbly. “I think there may be a chance you won’t come back from this.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Valerie never planned to tell Abby the truth about her fate. She had known all along, but learned long ago that she couldn’t change fate. She tried – several times in fact, by telling Chancellor Moore about the upcoming deaths of her fellow fighters, but to no avail. One by one they fell anyways. What good was knowing if she couldn’t do anything to change the outcome? She eventually accepted the deaths and minimized her reports.

  Then she read the journal Madam Melina had sent to her. The woman who wrote it was a descendent of Melina’s who also had the gift of foresight. She was born in seventeenth century Europe, right in the middle of the Thirty Year War. Tens of thousands were captured, tortured and burned alive during the European witch hunts that spanned across three centuries. Althea, Melina’s ancestor, was one of these women. Cursed with foresight, she saw the famine coming and urged her townsfolk to better prepare against the crop failures. When they finally came, the poor and starving people blamed her for their suffering. In their hysteria, they accused her of witchcraft, bringing on the famine by praying to the devil to rid the town of Christians.

  Even after the accusations, Althea continued to share her visions with any that would listen, in hopes that even one would believe her and act on it. She was begging for acceptance and faith in her gift even as they were taking her to be burned.

  Though Valerie certainly had no intention of dying for others, she too wanted to use her visions for good. If there was the slightest chance fate could be undone, she would try her damnest to do so. And she would start with Abby. She just knew this vision was the key to Abby winning the battle.

  She no longer tried to avoid or fight her gift. She concentrated harder than ever to unblock the vision that eluded her. After two frustrating days without success, Valerie dared the journey down the path to Twindel’s.

  “I wanted to thank you for lending me this journal,” she told Madam Melina as she returned the old worn book. “It returned a sense of clarity that I lost some time back.”

  Smiling, she replied, “It does seem to do that to people. I too pushed away from my gift at one point. I think we all eventually come to the conclusion that the benefit no longer outweighs the cost.”

  “Did you ever find yourself unable to access your gift?”

  Confused, Madam Melina asked, “How so?”

  “I’ve been seeing the same vision for quite some time now. Only this vision. It seems to be caught on a loop and can’t advance to the next scene. There’s something important I’m not seeing and no matter what I do, I can’t get to it.”

  Madam Melina shook her head in agreement. “Yes, once.”

>   Valerie’s eyes lit up with hope. A heavy weight she didn’t even realize was there suddenly lifted.

  “I was so focused on the other person in the vision, determined it had something to do with them, when in fact the vision turned out to be for me.”

  Valerie’s heart sped up. “So you think the other person in the vision is irrelevant? That it’s really about me?”

  “Possibly. Are you truly seeing the other person clearly? Perhaps you’ve inserted someone in the vision that doesn’t really belong there. Maybe your vision stops and repeats because you are misinterpreting what you’ve seen and can’t continue until you see it for what it really is.”

  Valerie felt a sinking feeling in her chest. “How am I suppose to fix that?” she whined. “I’ve been concentrating so hard to push through and I just can’t.”

  “Your mind is refusing to accept any other alternative to the sight. Tell me,” she said, disappearing behind the counter, “have you ever tried receiving the vision through a dream?”

  She reappeared with a worn book on Divination in her hand.

  Valerie recalled the vision she had in the basement. Unconsciously, she reached for her forehead, as if she head-butted Abby once more. “I dreamed it once but it had the same result.”

  “Were you sleeping or napping?”

  “Napping,” stated Valerie.

  “Good,” Madam Melina said smiling, though Valerie saw nothing good about it. “Then there’s still hope for you pushing through it. Your body needs to enter the REM cycle. Your mind has already formed an opinion about the vision and it’s wrong. There are neurons in your brain that are particularly active during the REM cycle. Allowing yourself to see the vision during this time period may help you break through the block. I’m going to mix you a sachet specific for dream clarity that you will place under your pillow.”

  Taking the book, she disappeared into a back room separated only by strings of beads. When she returned, she held a bowl containing dried daisies and lavender buds, a mixture of dried herbs and what appeared to be miscellaneous dried roots. To the bowl she added a few drops of different liquids and began stirring the mixture. The gypsy then handed her a small amount of liquid in an amber glass vial.

  “What’s this?” Valerie asked, looking to the brown liquid swaying gently in her hands.

  “It’s a mixture of lavender and cypress oils. I want you to anoint your eyelids with it as you get into bed. Do you still have some of the incense I gave you before?”

  Valerie nodded her head yes. She honestly hadn’t known what to do with the stuff and hadn’t burned any of it.

  “Good.” She stuffed the mixture into a muslin sachet. “Burn one of those on your bedside table as well.”

  “And all this will help me see this vision for what it really is?”

  “Yes, I believe it will.” Madam Melina sealed the sachet and passed it to her.

  Valerie smiled. For once she felt hopeful. Tonight would be the night she learned the truth. Tonight would be the night she saved Abby – she just knew it.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Two days after confirming her fate with Valerie, Abby and Noel still hadn’t spoken. But together they found themselves in the Chancellor’s office once again. They were additionally joined by Ethan, Jonesy, Lincoln and her absolute favorite, Jayden. Socially, nothing had changed. The Chancellor and his advisors hung back out of reach and Jayden still kept an annoying eye on her.

  Jonesy had been rambling on for awhile about Morphus and his abilities. When Noel realized she had stopped paying attention, he gently bumped her and cleared his throat. It was the first time he had touched her in a week.

  “You must never underestimate him, for he was raised by the Goddess of Discord and will have no conscience over the lengths he will go to destroy you.” Jonesy said it as if he admired it.

  “Morphus likes to take on each as an individual. He enjoys watching his victims succumb to their fears,” added Lincoln. “How does he learn them?” He was playing dumb. He and Abby knew more about this demon than they clearly did.

  “Quite simply. He has the power to absorb both your energy and memories just by touching you. The longer he holds on, the more he learns. He’ll learn every thought and fear that’s ever crossed your mind and use them against you.”

  “And once he absorbs your energy, he will be capable of anything you are. Any tricks you have in the bag will be up for grabs,” warned Jonesy.

  “What are your fears Abigail?” the Chancellor asked directly.

  Jayden shifted in earnest. Yeah, right. As if she would ever disclose any fears to them, of all people. “I don’t know,” she mumbled.

  “Everyone has fear. It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Lincoln pointed out.

  The Chancellor must have sensed her reluctance, for he said, “Whatever they are, you must deal with them before you face this demon. Or they will become your downfall.”

  Abby suddenly felt a strong vibration down her spine. Noel’s abrupt reaction told her he felt the same. For the first time since their fight, they looked into each other’s eyes. Not with regret or forgiveness, but with incredible apprehension.

  “What is it?” the Chancellor asked, worriedly.

  “Is the protection barrier on the manor still in effect?” she urged.

  “Always. Why do you ask?”

  She and Noel were already rushing out the door. “Cause something found a way through.”

  Noel and Abby split in different directions. Their ability to sense fear sometimes led them to different people, particularly when there were multiple victims. With each step she could hear more clearly, now a mixture of rumbling, screaming and the clanging of metal.

  Her sixth sense led her to the arena balcony just in time to see a power ball full of flashing light and energy hit the floor before Emily and Darby. The ground broke, flinging them backwards. Emily’s face fell as she stood back up to face her enemy.

  Abby counted a dozen demons, each different in physical appearance and abilities. The hunters were doing their best in battle. The advisors, although armed, were doing their best to avoid confrontation.

  The demons had chosen Daniel as the greatest threat. The largest, most threatening demon was upon him, the Lixth. It was abnormally muscular and protected by thick leathered skin. It had coarse black hair that fell to the shoulders and a horn protruding from the forehead. Before Daniel could even swing his sword, he was sent flying across the room with a simple thrust of the demon’s arm. He lost his sword in the fall.

  As he rushed to collect it, the Tenvin, from way across the arena, slammed his fist into the floor. A loud piercing noise caused Abby alone to keel over, covering her ear canals. Luckily, it stopped as quickly as it came. The ultrasonic wave cracked the floor and zig-zagged through the crowd, stopping directly behind Daniel’s back. The ground crumbled into a deep fissure and Daniel fell into it. He grasped desperately for the edge on the way down, losing his sword to the black abyss.

  Abby climbed the railing, jumped and floated to the arena floor. She landed beside Constance’s dead body, pierced cleanly through the heart with what Abby could only have guessed was an oversized set of claws. After grabbing a double-sided battle ax from the wall, she came up behind the Vral and sliced his head off just as it turned to meet her. Its headless body thumped atop Constance.

  Daniel continued to struggle as he dangled from the edge of the fissure. His attention was focused on the Glauntz as it closed in on him. Its short arms were not a threat but the three spiked tails that swung freely and easily around it were.

  Abby had a few hunters in mind she didn’t want to lose in case she needed help down the line. Daniel was one of them. She tried her best to make her way to the side of the arena where he, Emily and Darby were.

  Daniel failed to reach the nearest weapon. The Glauntz snapped its spiked tails towards his hand. He pulled away before impact, slipping further down the fissure. He dangled by one arm as the demon pulled the t
ails back and prepared to swing again. Abby felt a jolt down her spine as his face lit up in fear and desperation. But before the demon could swing again, one of the tails was sliced off by Emily’s blade. A high-pitched screech bawled from its mouth, and while distracted by its pain, Emily quickly swung at the two remaining tails before the Glauntz could swing them away. She managed to cut the very tips bearing the largest spikes, splattering herself with the slick color of blue. The demon’s short arms were all that was left and useless in combat. Emily pierced its chest with her sword. Its body folded in, crunched over and fell to the ground in spasms.

  Another sound wave reverberated though Abby’s ears and deafened her somewhat. The ground behind Emily rumbled and the fissure widened more, loosening Daniel’s grip.

  Panicking, he cried out, “Emily!”

  Emily dropped her weapon and dove for Daniel, grabbing his hand as it slipped. She held on but was unable to pull him up; the constant shaking made it difficult to stand her ground.

  Abby neared Darby and Mira as they fought the Lixth. No matter how many times they pierced the oversized demon it continued to stand. It picked up Mira and threw her across the room. Abby came up from behind, forcefully kicked the backside of its knee and knocked it to the ground. She pulled the dagger from her backside, reached around its head and roughly sliced the horn off its forehead. The demon roared, but weakened. Copious liters of blood spurted out the hole and sprayed Darby. It continued to struggle, but lay on the floor helpless.

  “Protect your friend,” she ordered as she continued on her way. Though disgusted at the yellow blood covering her body, Darby rushed off to Mira.

  Emily was still struggling to raise Daniel. His attempt to crawl up her body failed when he began pulling her towards him.