by G. K. DeRosa
“I didn’t see this before. It references the sakra lampiada?”
“The what?” It looked like a bunch of scribbles to me.
“That would be the approximate phonetic pronunciation from Aramaic of the shield of light.”
Sammarah’s eyes lit up. “That is the answer to the survival of the human race.”
What? Was I the only one that was completely lost here?
A deep line formed between Declan’s brows as he stared at the text. “You believe this is real?” He eyed his mom skeptically.
“Everything else I discovered has come to pass. Why wouldn’t this?”
I threw my hands out. I was tired of being left out of this conversation. “Stop. Can someone please explain what the heck is going on?”
Declan turned to me, his dark brows furrowed. “It mentions a shield with the power to stop both vampires and angels; one that only a human can wield, but it’s pretty vague.”
“Only a special human,” Sammarah cut in. “One with the gift of kharashuot.”
Declan glanced at his mother, his eyebrow arched. “Magic?”
Okay it was official, Declan’s mom was nuts. Humans didn’t have magic; everyone knew that.
“Kharashuot meant many things in Aramaic. It’s important not to be so literal when translating a centuries-old language. From what I’ve gathered, it could simply mean gifted or charmed.”
“Well that doesn’t really make it any clearer,” I muttered.
“And how would we find that one person?” Declan was pacing now.
A sparkle ignited in her eyes, brightening her whole expression. “My dear boy, it’s not only one person. It’s one family bloodline, chosen by the creator millennia ago to save the future of mankind. In his infinite wisdom, he bestowed this power onto a human who would carry that gift through their bloodline for generations. They would ultimately overcome the immortals who’d gone astray.”
My head spun. This was some major crazy.
“Mom, maybe you should sit down.” Declan pulled out the wooden chair, motioning to it.
She shook her head, the smile across her face twisting into a frown. “You don’t believe me either?”
“I want to. It just seems so far-fetched.”
That was an understatement.
“Even if we did believe you Mom, how would we ever find this special family line? How do we know they haven’t all been killed by now?”
“Because God would never be that cruel.” She stared up at her son with such sincerity that I wanted to believe her.
Heck, she probably did believe what she was saying was true. Wasn’t that what happened when you went crazy?
She laid her hand on his chest and smiled. “I’ve been chosen, Declan. It’s in my blood.”
Declan’s eyes went cartoon character wide, and I’m sure my expression matched his.
“Mom, no—” Declan’s head spun toward the ladder leading up the shaft and he clenched his jaw, cursing. “Angels,” he hissed.
My stomach dropped as icy terror rushed through my veins. Sammarah had been right. They were coming.
“Both of you stay down here and do not come up for any reason. No talking either; you know how sensitive angel hearing is.” Declan took his mom’s hand and placed it in my trembling one. His steely gaze locked onto mine and heat swirled in my middle. “Take care of each other.”
I nodded, afraid of what might come out if I opened my mouth.
He shot up the ladder, the glow of his sword lighting up the dark tunnel for a moment before vanishing. The hatch slammed shut and silence surrounded us.
Chapter 30
Sammarah and I sat shoulder to shoulder against the rough dirt wall. Declan had only left five minutes ago and yet it seemed like a lifetime. I strained my ears to make out a sound, but the thick layers of dirt and concrete between us and the outside were impenetrable. Sammarah had created a highly effective hideout.
Anxiety churned my stomach, acid bubbling up in my gut. What if something happened to Declan? What if they’d killed him already?
Sammarah’s long thin fingers wrapped around my hand and squeezed. It was warm, comforting and familiar. My chest tightened as the pang of my mother’s loss crept to the surface.
“Everything will be all right,” she whispered in my ear.
I wanted to believe her, but the little voice in my head reminded me she was crazy. She thought she was the one that could end all of this. That she came from some special mythical bloodline that could wield a legendary shield and save us all.
And yet, with her fingers tight around mine, I couldn’t deny the calming sensations rolling through my body. It was almost like Declan’s angel healing light.
A sharp crash reverberated overhead, and my gaze flew to the ceiling. Son of a vampire. They were here.
My pulse took off again, a pounding staccato vibrating my entire chest. A thundering boom shook the ceiling above us as dirt rained down on our heads.
What the heck was going on up there?
I couldn’t sit here and do nothing. I brushed the dirt out of my hair and swept my hand over my face.
As if Sammarah had read my mind, she jumped to her feet and raced toward the ladder. I leapt up and caught her wrist before she reached the first rung. Shaking my head violently, I mouthed, “No.” If anyone was going up there, it was me.
“I promised Declan to watch you,” I whispered.
“No. We promised to take care of each other.”
My grip around her arm loosened, and I nodded as mutual understanding passed between us. Neither of us was willing to let Declan die today. She began to climb, and I hurried right after her.
As I neared the hatch, the clash of metal against metal rang out above us. Sammarah quickened her pace and swung the trapdoor open, crawling out into the closet. After the dank hole, the air seemed fresh in comparison.
Grunts and shouts carried through the corridor into the small bedroom. Sammarah moved toward the door, but I caught her arm. I put my hand up and mouthed, “Wait.”
Footsteps thundered down the hall, and a terrible scream sent goose bumps racing over every inch of my skin. I was hoping to sneak into my room and grab the gun from my backpack, but it was too late for that.
I barreled by Sammarah and ran out into the living room. Declan was pinned to the ground, a towering angel with enormous wings looming over him. His sword was raised in the air, poised to thrust.
“No!” I screamed and pummeled into the angel’s wide back. It was like hitting a brick wall. The golden haired giant peered down at me over his shoulder and snarled.
But it was all the distraction Declan needed. He flew up and punched his fist into the angel’s chest. I hurtled out of the way, landing on the upturned couch as the behemoth staggered back.
Declan’s maroon eyes glowed with a deep crimson hue. Blood covered his face and stained his t-shirt and jeans. My line of sight followed the trail of blood to his hand where something pulsated in the dim light.
My hand flew to my mouth as I gasped. I turned to the angel who was splayed out across the floor to confirm my fears. A fist sized gaping hole swelled from his chest.
Declan spat and released the heart. It bounced across the floor, landing next to the angel’s head. A growl reverberated in Declan’s throat, chilling me to the bone. “I told you both not to come up here.”
I spun around to find Sammarah a few feet behind me, clutching onto the wall for support. Dark sunken eyes stared unbelieving, her skin as white as the fallen angel’s wings.
“We have to get out of here now. More will come if they’re not on their way already.” Declan reached for me, but I recoiled, his fingers still covered in blood. Hurt flashed across his blazing irises, but he quickly schooled his expression back to normal. “Liv, Mom, we have to go—now.”
His mother peeled herself off the wall and raced to her bedroom. I grabbed my backpack from the extra room where I found Duke huddled under the bed. Scaredy-dog.
<
br /> When I returned to the sitting room, the fire in Declan’s eyes had simmered. His expression softened when he saw me. He exhaled a slow breath. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”
Why had it bothered me so much? I hated the angels—what did it matter if he killed one? He was protecting us after all. And yet, there was something about the brutality of the whole thing that would forever be seared in my brain.
“It’s okay,” I finally rasped out. “Where will we go?”
The muscles in his jaw contracted. “I’m not sure yet—far. Bariel said my father was looking for me. He can’t find me, not now.”
“We have to go back north into vampire territory. Aren’t the angels banned from there?”
He shrugged. “The divide is sketchy, the pact loose at best. But it’s probably our best option now.”
Sammarah appeared with an armful of papers and the leather-bound book Declan had found earlier. Her long dark hair was wild, curls tumbling over her shoulders. So that’s where Declan had gotten it from.
“Let me get a bag for all that, Mom.” He disappeared around the corner, leaving me with the mysterious woman.
She held the pages tight to her chest as she regarded me. The vacant look was back. “I’m glad my son found you. You will be important. The two of you will do great things together long after I’m gone.”
My head whipped back as if I’d been slapped. “E-excuse me?”
A knowing smirk split her lips, and she rocked back and forth on her heels like a kid dying to spill a secret.
Declan rounded the corner into the sitting room with a duffel bag over his shoulder. “I grabbed a few things from your bathroom and closet. I hope it’s okay.”
She gave her son a warm smile and took the bag. The three of us traipsed out of the house, and it was only then I noticed the destruction. Upturned furniture blocked the doorway, shards of splintered wood scattered across the carpeting. A gaping hole stretched across the wall dividing the entry from the living room, and the door hung loose from its hinges.
I hadn’t seen any other angel bodies and for a brief moment I wondered how many there had been.
Declan hurried us down the front steps, and my eyes landed on the black Harley. My heart sank.
“How are we all going to fit?”
“Oh, we’re not taking that death trap, dear.” Sammarah’s hand brushed my shoulder as she passed by me. She walked over to the garage and heaved the metal door open. A small silver compact appeared behind stacks of brown boxes. “We’ll take this.”
Declan chuckled. “A true solar-powered car. Nice. You don’t see many of those these days.”
I wanted to say you don’t see many of any cars these days, but I kept my mouth shut for once.
“I bought it before all of this started. I never thought the vampires would find a way to block out the sun.”
I guess that part hadn’t been foretold…
Declan began to clear the boxes as his mom fiddled with the keys. “If I leave it outside for a few days, I can get it to run, even with this cloudy sky. But now that Declan is here, we won’t have to worry about that.” She patted his shoulder and handed him the keys. “Maybe you should drive.”
“I was about to suggest the same thing.” He clicked the key fob, unlocking the back doors for Duke and me. I slid in and tried to get comfortable with Duke taking up the majority of the backseat.
Sammarah settled into the passenger side, still clutching her papers to her chest. Declan held his hands out and brilliant white light shot out of his palms, bathing the car in a warm golden hue.
For a second, all the thoughts swarming in my brain ceased. A sense of utter tranquility came over me. I closed my eyes, relishing the serene moment.
Declan jumped into the car and revved the engine, shattering the peace. Anxiety, fear and unease bombarded my brain, back in full force. I squeezed my eyes shut to block it out, but it was no use. I sucked in a breath and leaned my head back. A warm wet tongue slid across my face, and I couldn’t help the small grin that tugged at my lips.
Duke always knew how to make me smile. I sat up, leaning forward between the two front seats. “So where to?”
Declan pulled out of the driveway, veering the car toward the highway. “I guess we’ll play it by ear.”
“Don’t be silly, dear.” Sammarah shuffled through the pages in her lap. “I know exactly where we’re going.” She pulled one out, and I recognized it from the board I’d first discovered in the closet. It looked like some sort of map. “We’re going to find the sakra lampiada.”
“The shield of light?” I choked out.
“Why of course, Liv. It’s up to us to save mankind.”
If you enjoyed Wings & Destruction, I would be ever so thankful if you left a review. It doesn’t have to be long, just a few words is great. I love getting feedback from my readers! Thanks for being a fan, and I hope you had as much fun reading the book as I did writing it.
~ G.K.
Copyright © 2018 G.K. DeRosa LLC
All Rights Reserved. This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system known or hereafter invented, without written permission from the publisher, G.K. DeRosa LLC.
Print ISBN: 978-1729174258
Cover Designer: Sanja Gombar www.fantasybookcoverdesign.com
Published in 2018 by G.K. DeRosa LLC
Palm Beach, Florida
www.gkderosa.com
Created with Vellum
To my beta readers who make my stories better every time!
~ GK
Chapter 1
Three hundred and fifty-five days ago the world went to hell. Literally. Now here I was, my fingers firmly entwined with those of the enemy.
“You okay?” Declan craned his neck over his shoulder and gave my arm a tug.
“Yeah,” I panted as I trudged up the steep incline. The narrow passage didn’t allow for side-by-side walking. Declan’s mom, Sammarah, took the lead and somehow I’d ended up at the tail end of our little expedition through the unnerving catacombs.
I sucked in a breath of thick stale air as the terrain suddenly dipped downward. I squirmed out of Declan’s hold and brushed my hands against the rough limestone rock on either side of us. The last thing I needed was to tumble down the decline and smack right into Declan. The drip drip of trickling water echoed across the narrow divide as we descended deeper into the fathomless underground cave.
“How much further, Mom?”
Sammarah abruptly stopped, holding the crude map up to focus her flashlight on it. “Shouldn’t be too much longer.”
I rolled my eyes. That’s what she’d been saying for hours. Not for the first time in the past week, I questioned my sanity for following her. This was the third location we’d searched in the past seven days on our journey north. She was convinced this was where we’d find the mythical shield of light.
Just like she had been at the past two spots.
And yet, I kept following her. Having some sort of mission, however insane, was the only thing that kept me going. Did I really think some magical shield was going to save us from the vampires and angels? No. Then again, until a year ago, I didn’t think angels or vampires were real either.
Declan halted, and I smashed right into his broad shoulders.
“Sorry,” I muttered as I grabbed his waist to steady myself.
He shone his flashlight over his mom’s head, revealing a rock wall in front of her. “Dead end,” he huffed.
“I don’t understand.” She stared at the map, her brows knitted, as if it would suddenly divulge some hidden information.
“Maybe we should head back.” It would be dark soon, and I didn’t like the idea of Duke alone in the car for too long. We were in vampire territory now, and nothing good happened after dark.
“No. I know it’s here.” She turned the map around and around, scrutinizing it from all
different angles. “Let me see the flashlight, Declan.”
He handed it over, but it slid right through her trembling fingers and fell to the rocky ground with a crash. Sooty darkness blanketed the passageway. I reached out for Declan, the sudden black taking my breath away.
Images of being trapped underground and buried alive flashed through my mind, my lungs constricting as my hands flailed searching for a familiar body. “Declan!”
“It’s okay. I’m right here.” An arm snaked around my waist and pulled me into his side. A brilliant white light lit up the claustrophobic space, and I could finally breathe again.
Declan raised his hand over his head, and a warm glow emanated from his palm.
Now I felt stupid for overreacting.
“What’s that?” Sammarah cried out.
“What?” Declan spun toward her, taking me along with him.
“Shine your light over here.” She ran her hand over the limestone rock, and a blue symbol appeared etched into the stone.
“What the heck is that?” I released my hold on Declan and moved toward the wall to stand next to Sammarah.
Her eyes widened as she stared at the strange mark. Dropping her bag to the ground, she hastily flipped through the stacks of papers. All of “her work” as she called it. She stopped on an old yellowing sheet and pointed. “This is it!”
I peered over her shoulder at the pages of ancient writing. I couldn’t make out a thing, but the drawing was an exact match to the one carved into the rocks. It looked like a family crest with a pair of wings shooting out of it. The center part was divided into four sections and inside each segment was an image—a heart, book, sword and shield. “What does this mean?”
Sammarah turned to me with a huge grin. “It means we’ve found it.”