by Brea Essex
“Umm… I guess so.”
“Nervous?” he asked.
“How did you know?”
“Don’t worry. My parents are going to love you.”
I finally agreed to go in with him, put on my shoes, and got out of the car.
“Mom! Are you guys home?” Logan called as he threw the front door open.
“Logan, is that you?” a female voice called from another room.
“Yeah!”
An attractive blonde woman, who looked like she was in her mid-forties, appeared from around a corner. “We weren’t expecting you until much later.” She stopped when she saw me. “I didn’t know you brought company.” She came up to me and took my hand. “You must be Raena.”
“Yes. Hello, Mrs. Conner. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Oh please! Call me Laurie. Mrs. Conner is Tom’s mother.” She laughed.
“Sorry. Laurie.”
“Oh, honey, no need to apologize. I can tell your parents taught you manners. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
She reminded me of my own mother. Tears started to well in my eyes and I hurriedly blinked them back.
Unfortunately, Laurie noticed. “Oh, sweetie, I didn’t mean to make you cry! Come on into the kitchen. Let me get you something to drink.”
“Oh, you didn’t make me cry,” I reassured her. “It’s just...”
“Raena’s mom died a few months ago,” Logan explained.
Laurie gave me a sad look. “Honey, I am so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I told her.
“I had no idea…” She trailed off.
Logan looked embarrassed. “Sorry, I never mentioned it.”
“It’s okay, really,” I repeated.
“So what are you two doing here?” Laurie asked.
“I need to change. I’m taking Rae somewhere,” Logan told her.
She looked at my dress and heels and then glanced at Logan’s casual clothing. “I was wondering about that.”
Logan turned to me. “Will you be okay down here while I get some nicer clothes on?”
I was a little uncomfortable being left alone with his mom so soon after I’d met her, but I wasn’t about to say that. “Yes, I’m fine.”
“Don’t worry, hon. I’ll keep Raena company,” his mom reassured him.
That’s sort of what I was afraid of. I sincerely hoped she wouldn’t question me further about my mother.
Logan ran upstairs. “Do you want to sit down?” Laurie asked me.
“Sure.”
She ushered me into the living room. “So, you and Logan met at school?”
I was relieved that she wasn’t still talking about my mom. “Yes. We were in all the same classes last year and a few of the same classes this year.”
“That’s nice…” She paused. “He was beside himself when you disappeared a few months ago.”
Great. We were going to talk about that. I wondered how much she knew. “I don’t know what would have happened to me if it wasn’t for Logan.”
She nodded. “It’s a good thing he found you.”
I didn’t know what else to say, so I just sat there quietly.
“You know, I used to work for the police department.”
I paled. “Oh?”
“Yes. It was long before all of this. I quit when we adopted Logan. I can’t believe they haven’t caught the kidnapper yet,” she said.
“Well, I think they went to his house, but it looked like he hadn’t been there for a while.” Yeah, because the house was also a front. I couldn’t send the police to the Shadow Imperium to arrest him. They’d probably think I was crazy. Even if they ever did try to capture him, I didn’t think they’d be able to stand against him.
I breathed a sigh of relief when Logan came running back downstairs. I was glad to have this awkward conversation about Andrei interrupted.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Well, you sure clean up fast.” He was dressed in all black again, but this time it was black slacks and a black button-up shirt with a matching tie.
“Yep!” He turned to his mom. “I’ll probably be home late.”
“All right,” she said.
As Logan and I walked out the door, I whispered to him, “Your mom doesn’t ask where you’re going?”
He grinned. “You’re not going to get it out of me! She already knows where we’re going.”
We got back in the car and drove toward the freeway. Wherever we were going, it was certainly a long drive. I’m pretty sure I fell asleep at one point, a fact Logan either didn’t notice or didn’t mention.
He finally pulled off the freeway in Sacramento. He followed the signs toward the Old Town. “There’s our destination!” he finally announced.
I looked up. Directly across from us was an old steamship. “There?”
“Yes.”
“We’re going on a ship?”
“Well, it doesn’t travel anymore. It’s permanently docked. It’s a restaurant, theatre, and hotel now.”
“So we’re going to dinner there?” Why had we driven all this way just for dinner?
“Actually, we have tickets for their murder mystery dinner theatre.”
“Oh. That sounds like fun!”
“We’re early, but I thought we could walk around Old Town and check out the different shops.”
I almost rolled my eyes. Only he enjoyed shopping nearly as much as I did.
We spent about an hour going through the shops. We walked along the wooden sidewalks and — of course — hit all the clothing stores. We stopped at the Military Museum, and then hit a few more stores. Finally it was time to head onto the ship for the dinner show.
The dinner was fantastic, as was the play. It was a lot more interactive than I had expected. The actors were mixed in with the audience. The murderer was sitting next to me the whole time, and I never suspected! Afterward, we walked through Old Sacramento a little more and got some ice cream.
“Want to go to the beach?” Logan asked suddenly on our way back to Capitola.
I stared at him like he was insane. “Now? It’s dark.” The moon wasn't out, and the sky was completely black.
“So? It’s not that cold.”
“But we’re all dressed up.”
“And? It’ll be fun!”
I finally consented. Logan drove straight to the beach and parked at the beginning of the pier. “Are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked.
“Of course.”
“But Logan, look at where we are.”
We were at the site of my nightmares. I shuddered, remembering the dreams where Andrei had chased me, clawed at me. So close to the site of our escape from the Shadow Imperium.
“Raena, you need to create better memories of this place,” Logan told me.
“I’m not sure I want to.”
“I’m here with you. Nothing bad can happen.”
I left my shoes in the car. We walked barefoot on the beach for a little while. When we came back toward the pier, I hesitated. I was afraid to walk under it.
“Rae, it’s okay. Look, there’s no portal there.”
I looked. Unfortunately, Logan had spoken too soon. Sure enough, directly under the beginning of the pier, air began to shimmer as Andrei appeared. “Hello, Raena.” He grinned.
Oh no. This couldn't be happening. “How did you know we'd be here? What do you want?”
He frowned. “I'm terribly sorry about this, Raena.”
His face was the last thing I saw before I felt a sharp crack to my head, and I slipped into blackness.
****
Logan
My anger had begun to boil the second Andrei stepped through the portal. It was directed not only at him, but at myself. How could I have been so stupid? I should have known better than to bring Raena here!
He headed straight for Raena as soon as he appeared through the shimmering curtain that was the portal to the Shadow Imperium. “Hello, Raena,” he said with a wide grin on his fac
e.
My split-second reaction to lunge for her wasn’t quick enough. He dealt a sharp rap to her head, knocking her unconscious. I caught her as she crumpled to the sand. Kneeling, I laid her carefully on the cool ground. I felt a whoosh of air and ducked. Andrei’s sword whistled next to my head, narrowly missing my ear. Spinning in a crouch, I forced my wings out, gritting my teeth against the pain that I still hadn’t gotten used to. The pain was necessary. I needed the wings for balance, and I still didn’t know if I could access my weapons without first making my wings come out. Now was definitely not the time to find out.
Andrei stuck his sword point-down in the sand and he was leaning on it. “So, Angel Boy, are we going to fight it out or what?”
Why wasn’t he attacking? “You know, that’s bad for the blade. The sand dulls it.” If he wanted banter, I would comply. Every moment I kept him talking was a moment that Raena and I weren’t dying.
“Nah, it’s enchanted.” He jerked the sword out of its sandy sheath. “Nothing dulls this blade.” He offered me a wicked grin. “Why don’t you draw your weapons and I’ll show you?” He began to advance.
I had no idea why he paused to tell me about his sword or ask if I wanted to fight him. Was he playing with me? He had knocked Raena unconscious; of course I was going to fight him! I stretched out both hands, and the now-familiar golden light formed around my palms. When the light faded, my katanas — single edged, lightweight, slightly curved Japanese swords — rested in my hands. Much easier to handle than the double-edged broadsword that Andrei held. Although I hated to admit it, the guy was seriously skilled with that sword. Probably the thousands of years he spent wielding it. I wondered briefly how many people he’d killed with it.
We began to circle each other, but no one struck yet. “I don’t want to kill you, Angel Boy,” Andrei said.
“Then why bother with this?” I shot back.
“Because I need Rae.”
“You’re not going to get her. Not while I’m alive.”
“That could be easily remedied.” He swung at me and I dodged. All those years of fencing were definitely paying off.
I continued to circle him, hoping he would begin to wear himself out without me having to attack. I knew going on the defensive might be a bad decision, but winning wasn’t necessarily my main priority. Keeping Raena safe was. I ducked and weaved, avoiding each blow. He seemed to be getting frustrated, but unfortunately, he hadn’t made a mistake yet.
Finally his blade whistled close enough to me that I couldn’t avoid it. I had to parry. One of my katanas shot out, almost as if it were a part of me. I was already so familiar with the blades that I barely had to think about it. Unfortunately I miscalculated. Steel met steel and his broadsword scraped down the length of my blade. I succeeded in deflecting it away from my neck, but the edge bit into my shoulder. I fumbled my own weapon and it dropped into the sand. I bit my lip to keep from crying out in pain. The cut felt like a white-hot fire was coursing through my arm. I couldn’t clutch at it to staunch the bleeding, if I did, I’d lose the only weapon I had left. Instead, I allowed it to drip freely into the sand, where it was absorbed and stained the formerly tan colored grains crimson.
Andrei laughed. “You've lost your weapon. Give up yet?”
Turning my attention back to him, I glared. “Never.”
He came at me again. I couldn’t pause to try to retrieve my sword laying in the sand, nor could I mourn its loss. Instead, I switched my remaining sword from my right hand to my left. I might be wounded in that arm, but it was still my dominant side. Even injured, it was probably my best chance against Andrei.
I don’t know how long we fought, our swords creating a beautiful but deadly dance of swishing steel. Andrei landed several more blows. I now bled in several places, including from a gash in my head that was currently hindering my vision. I tried to wipe the blood running down my forehead, but it continued to flow. I had lost the advantage — if I had ever had one.
Something shimmered in the corner of my vision. What was that? Was someone else coming through the portal?
Distracted now by what might be another threat, I turned. A slight, waif-like girl stood next to one of the pier pilings. I frowned. She looked familiar for some reason. She began to mutter something. I strained to hear her. As her voice rose and reached a crescendo, I realized that she wasn’t speaking English. I tried to understand her. Father Matthias had once mentioned that one angelic gift I might manifest was to understand different languages. I knew I should be paying better attention to Andrei, but for some reason, this seemed more important at the moment. I just knew I was close to understanding her. Before I could muddle out any sort of translation, she disappeared.
“Should have paid attention to me and not to the pretty girl, Angel Boy,” Andrei informed me as he rapped my skull sharply with the flat of his blade. The force of it was enough to knock me off my feet. As I collapsed to the ground and darkness began to envelop me, I offered up a brief prayer that he wouldn’t take Raena away while I was unconscious. I didn’t want to give into the darkness, but its pull was so strong…
Chapter Seven
Raena
Logan was bleeding.
I didn’t know angels could bleed.
Logan was bleeding.
Blood ran freely from a gash on his otherwise unmarred forehead, tracing a crimson river across the plane of his cheekbone before dripping from his chin. The sand beneath him was stained red, although it looked off in the night. The dark hair on his head was matted and stiff where the blood had colored it as well. His wings had retracted, and he looked entirely too human, entirely too vulnerable.
Andrei stood in front of us, sword in hand. I could barely make out his features in silhouette.
“Why can’t you just leave us alone?” I shouted at him.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Rae,” he told me.
I was still sprawled out where I had landed on the ground when Andrei hit me in the head. At least, I think it was him. He had been standing in front of me and hadn’t been close enough to reach me. I don’t know how he did it. He was towering over us, and Logan appeared unconscious now.
I pulled myself slowly to my feet. “You have to be kidding! You kidnapped me and took me to another dimension! You threw me in chains and starved me! You claim you don’t want to hurt me?”
Something akin to pain flashed in his eyes. “I don’t, Rae.” Walking to the still body lying in the sand, Andrei planted his foot against Logan’s cheek, pushing his head to the side. If I hadn’t seen Logan’s chest rising and falling with his breath, I would have sworn he was dead.
Andrei leaned down and set his sword point against the hollow of Logan’s throat. “Shall I slit his throat? Maybe that will make you want to help me.”
Before I could respond, Logan’s hand shot up and grabbed Andrei’s wrist. Logan twisted Andrei’s wrist sharply, and the sword dropped into the sand. His leg scissored and took out Andrei at the knees. Andrei dropped to the ground, groping for his sword.
“Get in the car!” Logan yelled at me.
“What? Where’s the car?” I asked. In the confusion, I momentarily forgot where we parked.
He jumped up and grabbed my arms, hauling me up the rocks to where his car sat at the beginning of the pier. “Don’t argue! Just get in the car! He’s not going to stay down for long.” He opened the driver’s side door and pushed me into the backseat. “Don’t worry, Raena. I’ll protect you.” He pushed the lock button and slammed the door shut.
I watched, horrified, as Andrei ran up the sand and rock. He came straight at Logan, punching him in the face. I heard a loud crunch and I knew something was broken. Logan tried to defend himself, but it was if his strength was gone. Andrei hit him over and over again, pummeling Logan’s entire body. I heard quite a few more crunches, and I saw Logan’s blood spattering against the window. I cowered in the backseat, not knowing what to do, as Logan slumped and fell to the ground.
Andrei stretched out his hand and an ax appeared. He climbed on top of the car and started chopping at the sunroof. Glass fractured and shattered, showering me with needle-sharp fragments. His raven-black wings spread wide. As I watched, Logan’s hand reached up and took hold of Andrei’s ankle. There was a powerful surge and a blinding light as Andrei was thrown up and away.
I could just make out Logan’s voice through the car window. “I told you I would protect you,” he said with a smirk. Then his eyes rolled back and he crumpled to the ground.
“Logan!” I scrambled out of the backseat and threw open the door. Logan was sprawled out on the ground, definitely unconscious this time. Dropping down next to him, I pulled his head into my lap. I had to heal him! I didn’t know how; I just knew I had to do something to help him. Placing my hand to his chest, over his heart, I concentrated with everything I had.
Nothing happened at first. I looked frantically around to make sure Andrei wasn’t headed toward us again. No sign of him. Maybe closing my eyes would help. I felt the palm of my hand warming. My eyes flew open in surprise. Logan’s chest was glowing! No… maybe it was my hand. I couldn’t really tell. As I watched in awe, his wounds began to close. His breathing eased and returned to normal.
I continued to stare for a moment, wondering what happened. Had I done that, or had Logan done it himself? Was this because of the healing abilities Father Matthias mentioned?
There’s no time to hang around here! I had to get Logan to the hospital. Or maybe the hospital wasn’t such a good idea. They’d want to run tests on him. What if the tests showed he wasn’t human? No, the best thing for him would be to get him home. Then I could sit with him and make sure he recovered.
How was I going to get him into the car? I stood, laying Logan’s head carefully on the ground, and opened the back door of his car. Grabbing Logan under his arms, I dragged him over to it. I pulled and pushed until I had him inside. His legs still hung out, so I had to try to fold them inside. I bent his knees and put his feet on the seat.
I slammed the door and ran around to the driver’s side. I rifled through Logan’s glove box until I found his registration with his address. I certainly couldn’t remember it. His keys were jammed in the ignition. I sat there for a minute, trying to remember what he had taught me. I prayed briefly that I wouldn’t be pulled over and get a ticket for driving without a license. Besides, how would I explain my unconscious boyfriend in the backseat? I took a deep breath, pushed the clutch pedal toward the floorboard, and turned the key.