by White, L. C
I’m losing my self-control. I can feel it flaming in my heart, the evil passion. I’ve never been so hot. Not nervous hot, but furious hot. The flames of anger and lost faith are licking at my damn heels. I’m on the verge of sinning, and don’t care if I’m sent down to hell for it.
I stare at Christopher, imagining my hands around his throat. And I have to say, it’s a pleasant feeling.
“Come a little closer, Christopher. I’d like to tell you about Michael’s big plan to save the world.”
He shifts his head slightly, his eyes now on me. “You even think about getting your wings out in here, and I’ve been ordered to take you down.”
I smirk at him. He reminds me of me.
“Keep your tail in your pants, Chris. My demon died long ago. Now I just realize our souls will never be free. You see were too useful for the higher cause the way we are, so you licking Michael’s heavenly asshole, earns you nothing but a brown tongue, and a shit taste in your mouth.”
He takes a huge angry step toward me, but stops as the metal door at the top of the stone stairs creaks open. I grin as he moves back into position, but my lips soon straighten after seeing who walks down the stairs. My heart stops and my lungs cease to breathe for me, as I watch Beth and Bennett approach, with Michael beside them.
“Open the cell, Christopher,” Michael demands.
“But sir, he’s…”
“Open. The. Cell,” Michael orders again. “And Tristen.” I tear my eyes from Beth to look at Michael. “One wrong move, then you will be sent to the Rack with the click of my fingers. You are to return to Sentinel quarters where you will be on lockdown, until this is over. Then you will be given your penance. I will be watching your every move from now on.”
I’m frowning deep, not liking this. I don’t like the yielding look in Beth’s eyes. She’s given up. She’s forgotten about everything he has done to her, and is following his word.
“What the hell is this?” I yell, watching Beth’s head lower. “Beth?”
“This is goodbye, Tristen,” Michael says coolly. “Beth understands now.”
My narrow eyes hop onto each of them, then stop on Bennett.
“Sorry Tristen,” he says to me. “I’ve tried talking to her.”
Christopher opens the cell door and Beth slowly walks inside. The cell door is then slammed shut and locked.
“You say your peace and part ways here,” Michael says, ordering the others to give us some privacy. “There can be no happiness between you, and you both know that.”
I’m transfixed on Beth’s fragile body, and her lack of fight. She should be telling her asshole Father to piss-off. To at least tell him she loves me. But nothing in my defense comes out of her mouth.
I move toward her as her eyes slowly rise up onto mine. I know what she’s done. I know what she’s thinking, but she will be no hero at the end of this. I’ve only just found her, losing her isn’t an option for me.
“You can’t do this,” I say, reluctant to touch her because she’s breaking my fuckin heart.
“You know as well as I, that this is what it has always boiled down to, Tristen. It is what I am. Like you said, I was born into it.”
“FUCK.”
I turn away from her and pace to the wall. Her upset soaks into me. Her tiny whimpers. Her fingers picking nervously at each other. Her shallow breathing. I hear it all. I hear the end of us; the end of her. Maybe I am stupid after all, thinking something like me could have someone like her. She’s half archangel, and I, well I clawed out of my mother, possessed by the demon I’d gladly allow in if he could stop all this. Loving her has destroyed any notion I’ll bow down to god. It’s destroyed my faith, because I placed my faith in loving her the human way.
“You trained for this. To save your soul,” she cries. “Now I see it as clear as day. Only I can end this.”
I spin to her, my heart hollowing and beating with hate for an elusive god, who would do this to a person. Her head is in her hands. I don’t see a Sentinel, an angel, or a soldier. I see the girl I’m in love with rupturing apart, and there isn’t a damn thing I can do about it.
“You will sacrifice your life for Michael… for god?”
“No,” she snivels, her puffy red eyes on mine. “I’ll sacrifice it for you. For my family.”
I charge toward her, my cuffed wrists coming up so my fingers can soak up the tears falling over her cheeks. I can feel my wings bulging beneath my skin. I have the urge to wrap them around her and lock her into my body so she’ll never get away.
“You are nobody’s salvation, Beth. You are not the one responsible for my soul, I am. And right now my soul doesn’t want saving. I’ll be damned without you anyway.” I’m begging her to listen to me. “Not one person you love would want you to do this.”
“I saw the end, Tristen. If it means I have to leave, be here with Michael, then I have to do it,” she says clearly, her tears drying away because she’s made her mind up.
“You saw what Michael wanted you to see. He didn’t show how you would suffer. How you would lose this.” My fingers squeeze her face. “Your beautiful humanity.”
She takes hold of my wrists and slides my touch away from her face. The door opens. Footsteps begin to echo down the stairwell as she gazes into my pain for the last time.
“I’m sorry I fell in love with you, Tristen. But this… this will give you freedom. A life taken away because of me,” she says softly, and unwilling to listen.
Now a tear drops from my clenching jaw. She’s damaged and changed me into something I don’t recognize. My hands reach out and grab her face again. I can’t talk anymore, all I can do is show her what she means to me. I kiss her hard, my fingers feeling her face because I won’t ever let myself forget her warmth, the curves of her cheeks, her cool wet touch.
I hear the cell door being opened as she pushes herself away from me, sobbing. Her eyes move from mine fast as she races out of the cell, and up the stairs.
Christopher and Michael watch my body break down. I grab the bars, growling, hissing, and shaking.
Michael’s hand clutches mine. “Have faith in her, Tristen,” he says.
I flick my hand away from him. “Screw faith,” I yell, as he turns his back to walk away. “And screw you Michael!”
***
Beth
“Please Beth,” Bennett yells, jogging beside me. “You really need to be sure about this.”
I speed march through Sentinel headquarters, holding in a scream. I’ve never been so sure about doing anything in my life. But telling him that, will be like talking to the wall. In a world of sunshine, happiness, and skipping through golden meadows, of course I’d be doubting my decision. But I know too much about what’s to come. I know the world is full of death and destruction. I know all about the darkness and evil out there trying to get in. This is the end of days, and if that tear opens anymore, my family will die. So Bennett can stick his concern where the sun don’t shine, because right now, I don’t want to hear it.
I make it to my room. Just as I’m about to step through the door, Kylie seems to spring out from nowhere in front of me.
“Tristen?” she questions.
I budge by her and snatch my bag up from the bed.
“Tristen will be fine,” I state, pulling the brown toggle tight, ready to get out of here.
“Tell her, Kylie,” Bennett yells, hovering in the doorway. “You have something that will block mind wiping.”
I crease my eyes and huff out, annoyed. “What for… you can’t seriously think you can trick Michael.”
“Beth.” He paces up to me. “We can help you. If my job is done after this, then Michael will make sure I don’t remember a thing. I won’t be able to help you out there.”
I growl out and move away from him. “You can’t help me anyway. You wanted this, remember. You need to write it all down in your notebook, so it can be turned into some stupid religious fable.”
“Well, a man can chang
e his mind,” he mumbles.
“If you don’t clear my mind of all of this.” I swing my hand across the room. “Then Michael will not allow you to walk free. Tristen will die. I watched Jake get… get.” I choke up, unable to say what I saw through Michael.
“I’m not saying don’t enlighten, Beth,” Bennett says in a pleading tone. “Just give yourself a fighting chance at surviving it.”
“Would you want to know what’s to come?” I yell, watching his head lower. “It was always best for me not to know any of this, Michael made that clear. So stop treating me like a baby, because I know what I’m doing. And if you try to stop me, then you’ll be to blame for the world going to shit.” I fling the strap of my bag over my shoulder, and charge to the door.
As I rush into the direction of the elevator, Kylie yells after me, creating a scene as Sentinels pass by. I don’t stop, my legs are on a mission to get me out of here, before I change my mind. But she refuses to let me continue and takes hold of my arm. I discharge an angry sigh and look at her pouting face.
“I’m only going to say goodbye,” she says.
She grabs hold of me and yanks me into her body, as Bennett plods down the corridor behind her. I press my hands on her shoulders to move her back, aiming not to get all emotional.
“Be careful. Things aren’t always what they seem, Beth. You may think this is the only way…”
I stop her saying another word. “This is something I have to do alone.”
“I’ll be praying for you,” her tone croaks in upset.
My eyes circle to keep in a tear. “Don’t,” I utter. “It was nice meeting you, Kylie. Look after Tristen for me.”
I turn to see Bennett standing by the open door to the elevator. Watching my feet move, I make my way toward him, with a niggling doubt swelling inside my mind.
***
I’m sitting in Bennett’s silver Volvo, parked up outside my house on Drury Lane. It’s so bizarre, the night is exactly the same as I left it, weeks ago. My mom’s Nissan is gone. The house is in darkness, apart from the dim light shining through the glass door panel. I draw in a big breath as my heart pulses deep in my neck. I’m nervous. Bennett has done this to me before, but the last time I wasn’t expecting it, it just happened.
“It’s not too late.” I can feel Bennett’s eyes staring at the side of my face.
I lift my head to look through the windscreen. I see Jake on his bike; the vision Michael gave me. Sniffing up, I flick a tear from my cheek with my finger, and angle my head to him.
“No,” I say. “You have to do this.”
The palm of his hand hits the steering wheel in frustration. He wheezes a breath, then shuffles in his seat to face me.
“After I have wiped your mind you’ll see light. You’ll feel light, Beth,” he explains. “You won’t remember a thing, other than the Shade, which to you, will be as it was before, sleep paralysis.” I hear the upset in his voice and it triggers my eyes to sting. “I wish I could do this for you.” His head lowers.
I arch over the handbrake and wrap my arms around his shoulders to squeeze.
“Thanks for everything, Bennett,” my voice muffles into his jacket. “Go back to your wife. I’ll be fine, I swear.”
“I’ll give you ten minutes, Beth.” I hear him swallow with a sigh. “Once you get through that door, your mind will begin to clear.”
I angle back dipping my head, giving him the go ahead to do this to me. Closing his eyes, he reaches out and his hands cup my temples. A strange, almost happy energy flows through me, as my eyes seal tight.
The light buzzing from Bennett’s touch fades to total silence. I open one eye, frowning at him.
“Ten minutes,” he says.
I lift my rucksack up from the foot-well. I can’t face another tense hug, so I smile weakly and quickly open the door.
***
My fingers release my rucksack so it thuds to the floor in the hallway. Everything is as I left it. I reach out and begin to feel whatever is near me: the textured wallpaper, the mirror by the door, the bannister rail. All I need to see now, are Mom and Jake. To know they’re safe.
Holding my breath, I hurry to the house phone, but almost as soon as my fingers brush the receiver, a shroud of whiteness takes my view. I claw at the wall to stop my flaky legs collapsing beneath me. I feel like I’m floating upward, my memories being plucked away from me. Suddenly the floaty sensation stops, and I’m falling. Falling into the unknown.
Chapter Twenty Three: Escape
Tristen
A long line of Sentinels stand to attention against the wall as I’m escorted down the corridor. I’ve never known it be so quiet here, and the reason for it, is loyalty, confusion, and fear. I’m not only being walked to my room by the gray Sentinels, but Michael is gracing his minions with his presence. I smile to myself, wondering if they are as underwhelmed as I was.
We come to a stop outside my room in a square formation. I can see Scott’s mouth wide open in my side vision. Christopher comes to stand before me and unlocks the shackles on my wrists. I bend my fingers and circle my hands, glad the heavy cuffs are now off me.
I glance to my left to see Michael gesturing his arm to the door of my room. I hang my head, like the criminal I look, and step inside.
The four gray Sentinels wait outside as Michael closes the door. The soles of his shoes scrape against the stone floor as he turns to me.
“You have been given a second chance Tristen, thanks to Beth. So I suggest you accept it.”
His eyes shut as he brings his thumb and finger up to his chest. I know the power he has in his hands. One click of his fingers, could result in a broken neck.
“You have been forgiven for lusting after my daughter. And soon you will be free. You will be free to leave here. Free of Apollyon’s stain on your soul. As will every Sentinel who has trained for this purpose.”
I spontaneously burst into laughter. He’s standing there giving me my freedom, expecting me to be grateful.
“You really think I need forgiving for sleeping with Beth?” I grin right at him.
His eyes flick open on me with fury in them, as he brings his hand down by his side. He strides several wide steps; his expression fierce. My grin vanishes as I hold my breath, backing away. But I can’t escape him. His hand is around my neck, squeezing, and I’m dangling feet from the floor within a second. My fingers clamp to his wrists and my legs kick out. He narrows his stone-cold eyes on my straining choking face.
“You are my son. It may not be by blood. But I plucked your tiny soul from the clutches of hell, and delivered you back into the world.”
The stark dazzling blue of his eyes, flash like a kaleidoscope of wrathful beams. His furious aura is glowing, and the light in the room dims. Fuck, his wings are slowly extending from his back. Not wings like mine, but the blazing white transparent outline of them. He’s only showing me a taster of his power right now.
“I can end you in an instant,” his deep voice bounces, echoing off the walls.
Suddenly I’m on the floor, on my knees before his feet, gasping for breath. The room lights flicker as his wings disappear. His eyes close with disappointment, as the atmosphere returns to normal.
“You don’t understand,” I splutter, holding my tender neck. “I never felt lust… only love. I only wanted her to be safe.” My head lowers as I try to man-up and stop the upset strangling me. “I studied her. Trained for her. But being with her, made me see. She’s real. Flesh and blood.”
I feel his hand come down on the top of my head. “She is your salvation, Tristen, and of course you love her.”
“Then you have to let me go.”
His hand slides away from my head, and as his feet step back, my eyes move up onto his.
“You will remain in this room, or you’ll spend your life on the Rack,” he threatens.
As he moves to the door, the walls of the room turn from blue to a stone gray. Every bit of life and color begins to fade and
shadow. He opens the door as I quickly rise to my feet. The entire room is transforming into a solid inescapable holding cell.
“This,” Michael says as he turns to me. “This is where you will stay, until I say otherwise.”
He walks through the door as I race across the room. But by the time I reach the door, it’s nothing but a cold stone wall. I punch and punch at the hard surface until my knuckles become wet with my blood. Even my hidden strength can’t dent this sealed box.
“Michael… Michael,” I howl out. “Let me out of this damn room!” I spin and slam my back against what used to be the door. “FUCK!”
Growling, I drop down to the floor, rubbing my head with my hands. It’s done. I’m stuck here until Beth dies. There’s no way out.
My eyes shut as I bang the back of my head against the wall, over and over. I can’t hear a thing. No Sentinel boots plodding down on the corridor outside. No talking. Nothing other than my own crazed mind.
I scurry up to my feet and across to my arms locker. I have my blades, my chest shield, and my combat belt. But there’s no damn C-4 in here to blow a hole in the wall, or no guns to fire. I don’t know why the hell I’m even looking. I slam the door hard so it flaps and slams loudly several times. I march to the wall, press the palms of my hands against it, and lean over.
I blink slowly, breathing in and out, and as I open my eyes fully, something strange grabs my attention. I squint at my boots and crouch down. It’s one of Kylie’s rune stones. Frowning, I pick it up between my thumb and my finger. What the hell is this doing in my room?
My brain works hard to remember what the symbol on the stone is. I know this stone has been planted in here for a reason. Kylie is the weirdest, and probably the most gifted Sentinel here. She always has some bizarre trick up her sleeve. The others think it’s cheating because she never actually fights hand to hand. She uses forces that go against god, and right now I need any force I can get my hands on.
It comes to me in a flash. The symbol carved into the stone is an inverted triangle, and it means water. Water? What the hell am I supposed to do with that? There’s nothing remotely wet in this room. Kylie is so cryptic, and the most annoying thing about her, is she’s happy that way. She’s like a hippy chick from the sixties on LSD. Happily dancing around in her own little world. Whatever she was possessed by, wasn’t evil in the sense of, kill-kill-kill, but it left her with this irritating trait of high spirits. That’s why I had her watch Beth for me. That worked out well didn’t it.