The Elementalist

by Melissa J. Cunningham

  Calliel watched me. I was tempted to leave just to be off display, but the protectiveness I felt for Brecken kept me there, and I wondered why this man, who had to know about Brecken’s abilities, hadn’t protected him better. Gray men had followed Brecken since childhood. Calliel could have put a stop to that. And why had his dad allowed him to be accused of being schizophrenic? Why hadn’t Calliel helped him more? Why had this man, who seemed uninterested in his child to the point of abandonment, been assigned to raise him?

  “Where were you when he needed you so much?” I blurted out in a rush. If this angel was assigned to be Brecken’s dad, then he should have acted like a dad, full of love and compassion for his lost boy.

  “Where was I? What do you mean?” His expression took on a look of defensiveness.

  “You know what I mean,” I said, pointing an accusing finger. “You should have been there to love him and take care of him! You shouldn’t have made him take pills or made him feel stupid and crazy!” My chest heaved with emotion.

  “You have no idea what you are talking about!” He marched over to me, and I could sense the angel inside him, huge and powerful, full of righteous indignation.

  “Yes, I do! I was there. You weren’t!”

  His eyes narrowed and the muscles flexed in his jaw. I could tell he was itching to reach out and wring my neck. I almost wanted him to so I would have an excuse to lose control too. He was an angel. How could he have these awful feelings? How could he have behaved so terribly?

  “Angels aren’t perfect. We aren’t gods. We’re warriors and servants. We have our own opinions and emotions, and now that I’m human, it’s even harder. I can’t help how I feel! Brecken is lucky to have a life at all! I didn’t want to come here to babysit him! I didn’t ask for this job! I couldn’t stand him! He’s a demon! A deserter! He doesn’t deserve a mortal body!”

  Mr. Shaefer’s face turned purple with fury, but it was the disgust in his eyes that astonished me the most. I shook my head, glad I’d stayed at the hospital. If I’d left, was it possible he’d do something to harm Brecken’s comatose body?

  “Your wife helped him in the ceremony… with Claire and her mom. She must love him,” I said, more to convince myself than him.

  Suddenly, all that anger and energy deflated from him. He sagged visibly, falling into the chair by Brecken’s bed. “I don’t know. She was helping because of Raphael. We needed to rescue him. We used Bretariel to make that happen.” He glanced over to me. “She cares, but I don’t think she has ever felt love for him. We all knew who he really was. We knew where he came from, the things he’d done…”

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I couldn’t think of a single thing to say. How could he feel this way? Brecken was so beautiful. So wonderful. So perfect.

  “Why?” was the only word I could utter. Nothing else moved past my lips.

  “None of us wanted Bretariel to join our ranks. Raphael commanded it, and we obeyed only because that is what we do. We are God’s soldiers. We do what we are told. Our opinions don’t matter. Our superiors command, and we obey. Period.”

  “But… heaven is all about love and forgiveness.” I pled for him to concur. My arms stretched out, begging him to be… heavenly. How could this man be an angel and feel this way? And then I remembered that even though I was a guardian, I was nowhere near perfect. I was called to an assignment and I did it, in spite of my shortcomings.

  “I can’t explain it in a way you’d understand,” he said. “We all knew each other, the demons and angels alike. We were once all on the same side, but that was too long ago to even remember now. But I remembered Bretariel. He chose evil. For eons of time, we battled against him and his forces, and then all of a sudden, he wanted to change sides. It doesn’t work like that. Not all of us could forgive him in the blink of an eye. We didn’t care what the grand plan was at the time. And then I was asked to come down to be his mortal father… it was too much.” He shook his head and closed his eyes. “This is my lifetime too, and I am saddled with a demon.”

  “He’s not a demon.”

  “A leopard can’t change its spots.”

  “I don’t care what you say.” I turned away, tempted to leave, to run away from this painful situation, but for once, I stayed. “I know who he is, and there is nothing demonic about him.”

  Calliel shook his head and sighed. “It doesn’t matter. It’s over.”

  “What’s over?”

  “Everything.”

  “What do you mean?” His words, though ominous, couldn’t be true.

  “Go back to Elysium. You’ll see for yourself,” he said, his shoulders slumped, his eyes downcast.

  And so I did.

  66

  ~Kiss and Make Up~

  Claire

  Claire, still sore, her neck still bruised and purple from Adam’s attack, sat on her bed, her phone in her hand. She stared at Jamie’s phone number, wanting so much to call him. She needed to fix this rift between them. She needed to explain things and tell him her true feelings. It might change everything, so she hesitated.

  Adam hadn’t appeared since he tried to kill her and Alisa. He probably thought she wasn’t worth it. She was only a dumb human after all. What damage could Claire possibly do at this point? The Fourth Blood Moon was in two days. The fact that it was about to happen on a holy day was astronomical. Especially since it wouldn’t happen again for another five hundred years. And they only had one more day to prepare. Resigning herself to whatever the outcome, she punched in the numbers to Jamie’s cell. He answered on the second ring, sounding out of breath.

  “Hey, Jamie.” She squeezed her phone, her hands sweaty, and her heart thumping against her ribs.

  “Claire?”

  “Um… yeah. Can you come over?”

  “Uh, well, I’m kind of busy right now.”

  Claire glanced out her bedroom window to his house. His front door opened, and she watched him come out, wearing a white tank top and athletic shorts. His basketball rested against his hip. Even from her window, she could see the sun glistening against his sweaty brow.

  “You’re playing basketball.”

  “So?” He glanced up, and their eyes met. There was a hard line to his lips, but her heart flipped at the sight. Man, he looked good. She had started to see him in a new light since Alisa showed up whether she wanted to or not. How had she missed all those adorable quirks? How was it possible she’d never noticed the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled?

  “Please,” she begged.

  She watched him drop his ball and pace in a circle, running his free hand through his sweaty hair. “Fine. But only for a minute. I… I just can’t deal with all the drama in your life anymore, Claire. I just can’t.”

  Stunned and hurt, she sat quietly for a moment. His words were too accurate. She did create a lot of drama, but for him to say it straight out like that… well, he’d gotten confident in his bluntness, and she was not used to it. He’d always followed her around like a lost puppy, and the fact that he was actually implying he was done with her, that she may have lost him, created an ache in her chest like she’d never felt before—a totally foreign emotion.

  “Okay,” she replied softly and hung up her phone.

  She watched him walk reluctantly toward her house. He didn’t bother with the front door, just climbed up the trellis like always, and slipped through her window. He sat on the sill, looking at her with impatience, but she could only stare.

  In the evening light, his lashes contrasted with his dusty-blonde hair. His shoulder muscles flexed as he slid the rest of the way inside before he straightened the curtains. He stood before her, so big, so strong, so… beautiful. How come she’d never noticed before? What else had she missed?

  “Um… Jamie…”

  “I can’t stay long. My mom’s making dinner—”

  Before he said another word, she stepped forward and jerked him toward her, their lips meeting forcefully. In his shock, he didn�
�t even raise his arms to hold her back. She slid her hands up his arms and cradled his face between her palms, pressing her lips to his again.

  Finally, he seemed to wake up, his arms wrapping around her, pulling her so close that she struggled to breathe.

  “Claire,” he breathed against her mouth.

  “I’m so sorry, Jamie.”

  He didn’t answer, just reigned kisses on her lips, her eyes, and her cheeks, as though he couldn’t get enough.

  “Do you really want to go home?” she whispered into his neck.

  “No.”

  67

  ~Back Home~

  Alisa

  For once, I listened. I went back to Elysium, intending to find Raphael, but what I found instead was not the peaceful, heavenly city, lying on a sleepy, golden hill, but one preparing for war. Angels in battle armor gathered everywhere, brandishing Nephilim weapons.

  I was stunned and speechless as I stood at the gates. How would I ever find Raphael in all of this confusion? So many people, so many angels. Dread laid heavy hands on my shoulders at the site, and I felt overwhelmed and unprepared for this… of everyone in white and in armor.

  But we had to do something. Bas Iblis and his minions couldn’t win. Raphael had to take back Idir Shaol. We had to set things straight. It was our destiny!

  Every part of me began to tingle. I had to find my family. We were going to do something! Finally. I ran into the city, over the golden paths, completely dismissing the beautiful buildings that surrounded me. I didn’t have time to admire anything.

  Most of my relatives lived in a huge mountainous area of Elysium, thick with pine trees and green foliage. It was absolutely breathtaking. The colors, the trees, could not be described because they didn’t even exist on Earth. I loved it, but I didn’t care about the scenery that surrounded me as long as I was with the ones I loved.

  I hope to have a home here with Brecken someday. Oh my gosh! Brecken and I! Here together! That thought stopped me for a moment, and I tried to picture it. A second later, when my mind came back to the present, I realized that running through the streets would not get me home very fast. How stupid. I closed my eyes, picturing the cute little cottage in the hills where Gram and I lived. Within a millisecond, I was there.

  Our mansion in the sky was small and cozy. That was how we liked it. We could change it with just a thought, but we were waiting for my mom, dad, and brothers for that. When I walked in, Gram was racing through the house, a baldrick strapped to her waist, sheathing a sword that bounced at her side. She gathered other Nephilim armor I’d never known she possessed.

  “What are you doing?” I stood in the doorway, gaping. She was so not the warrior type, with her long, flowing hair and slim figure.

  She stopped, surprised to see me, and gazed back at me with wide, blue eyes. “Alisa! You’re back! I’m so glad. I’m getting ready for battle.”

  “But…”

  She faced me squarely, putting her hands on her hips. “Everyone is going to battle. Everyone. The demons have gone too far, taking over Idir Shaol. They have usurped the guardianship program, and they are forcing guardians into mortal bodies. To what end, I have no idea.”

  “Gram. I was one of those souls, forced into a body.” Did she really not know this? Had it been so long since we’d seen each other or talked about my life? It did seem like an eternity, and she was the one I usually confided in and shared with. How could she not know what I’d been through?

  “What?”

  Suddenly, I felt utterly exhausted. Too tired to explain, too spent to even think about it. “Didn’t you even notice I was missing? I’ve been gone for ages. Brecken had to rescue me from Gehenna. He saved Raphael too.”

  “What!” she cried in disbelief.

  “Truly, Gram, I’ve had a terrible time.”

  “Oh, darling. I’m so sorry! I did notice you were gone. Of course I did! But I figured you were flitting around Earth like usual. Tell me everything.” She dropped the armor and ran toward me, enveloping me in her healing embrace, the scent of apple pie engulfing me. This feeling, so wonderful, so safe, could bring tears to my eyes if I were able to cry for real. I wrapped my arms around her, basking in her love, soaking in the essence of her. After a moment, she pulled away.

  “There isn’t really time to talk about it now. It will have to wait, I guess. I do want to hear all about it, but if we don’t act now, we could lose everything we’ve worked so hard to create. Hurry and get your things.”

  I completely understood. Now was not the time to discuss such heartfelt, difficult experiences. Hopefully there would be time after the battle… if we survived. I tried to picture Gram going toe to toe with a demon. I couldn’t even imagine her wielding a sword or having to harm a living creature… “Seriously, Gram. You can’t do this. You do realize that Nephilim weapons can kill you… forever.”

  She smiled, but it was a sad smile that made my heart clench, like she was trying to hold back tears. Shaking her head back and forth, she said, “It doesn’t matter, darling. I want to be a part of this. I want to look back and know I did everything I could to help set things straight.

  I felt the same way, but I was frightened. I didn’t know how to fight. The only experience I’d had was with Andras and Lamia, and I’d barely survived that. I wasn’t a soldier or a battle-hardened angel of justice, and I certainly didn’t want to die.

  “Well, there’s no way you’re going without me!” I said with false bravado and a brave face. I buckled a sword to my waist, looking remarkably similar to Gram, except she didn’t seem afraid, old or feeble, but strong and powerful, glorious, with her silver hair flowing over her shoulders. Breathtakingly beautiful.

  Glancing up, I noticed my now-familiar ancestors running past my cottage with their armor strapped on. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I couldn’t believe I was watching the people I loved and admired, going to war.

  A war.

  In heaven.

  It was inconceivable.

  What if one of us got hurt, or heaven forbid, died?

  “Let’s go,” Gram said, grabbing my hand and pulling me out of the door. We fell in line with the others, running to the gates of Elysium. My sword, which was definitely too big, banged against my legs, feeling awkward and cumbersome. I didn’t want to fight with this weapon. I needed something small, like a dagger or the sword I’d used against Anaita. Her betrayal still pricked me, and I wondered if I would see her in this fight.

  There were people and angels milling around, but I hadn’t seen anyone who looked in charge yet. “Who’s our leader?” I called out to Gram. There were a lot of higher-ups, angels with physical bodies, and people organizing into groups, but I didn’t see anyone I knew well.

  “Michael, the archangel,” someone said, but I couldn’t put a face to the voice as we surged to the gates.

  “There he is!” Gram pointed to the front where he stood, radiating like the sun, his golden armor lustrous, his bright blond hair curling beneath the edges of his helmet. His eyes burned with fire as he called out to other high-ranking angels. I searched for Raphael, knowing he’d be here. I wanted to be in the unit he led.

  I found him at the far end of the gathering, his regiment of soldiers growing by the second. Hurrying back, I waved to catch his attention, but he didn’t see me, and I got pushed farther away. I’d also lost Gram in the crowd.

  I turned to see Natty—my dearest friend in the entire world—pushing toward me through the multitude. She waved and sidled up next to me. I pulled her into my arms, amazed she had found me and overwhelmed with the whole experience. Her eyes shined, and there wasn’t an ounce of fear in them. I took courage from her and vowed to stay by her side throughout the entire fight.

  The first contingent of soldiers rushed out of the gates of Elysium and, in a flash, disappeared from sight. They departed as one, and would reappear together at the gates of Idir Shaol, a host of heaven’s angels. How terrifying it would be for the demons that h
ad overtaken that little hamlet in the universe.

  The second group of soldiers did the same. Slowly we moved forward, my group being last in line. Raphael stood before us, his long, ebony hair hanging past his shoulders, his green eyes catching mine for the first time. A smile crooked his lips, but he didn’t gesture to me. He didn’t need to. We knew what we meant to each other, brought as close as friends could be through time and trials. I would do anything for him. I was devoted to this man who felt like a brother to me. There was no sign left from his ordeal in Gehenna. He was glorious once again, and I was proud to be fighting alongside him after all that had happened.

  Natty marched beside me over the golden-paved street, and I tingled with anticipation as I gripped my oversized sword. This was real. This was happening, and for one moment, I wished Brecken, no, Bretariel, could be here to help. We were going to roust those awful demons from Idir Shaol, and it was going to be exciting. I knew Brecken would have loved to be a part of it.

  I stayed toward the back, still a bit afraid of what we would come up against, and I wondered if I would see Lilim or Adam. Would they seek me out? Did they still have some kind of vendetta toward me? I squeezed Natty’s hand for reassurance.

  Finally, we reached Elysium’s golden gates. It was our turn to go. The people around me seemed just as nervous as I did, and we looked like a ragtag group of misfits. Certainly not the type to do battle. The experienced angels had left with the first group. Probably to take the brunt of the action. I guessed they wanted to give us peons a chance to participate without getting hurt.

  68

  ~Revived~

  Brecken

  The first thing that registered in his mind was pain… all over. His chest burned when he breathed, his muscles ached from lying still for so long, and the light in the room was painfully bright in his eyes, even though his eyelids were still closed. He tried to pry them open, but they felt cemented shut. The lights dimmed, and his father was at his side. Feelings of love for his dad enveloped him, and he was so grateful to have someone here who cared.