“Your grandmother and I used to love to go to the movies. Of course, they don’t make them like they used to.”
Everything about the moment felt surreal. Maybe she’d gone straight to bed and was having a dream.
“We could pull something up on Netflix—” she decided to go with whatever was happening “—I know we used to have an account. I might even remember the password. But if not, I bet either Mom or Dad would.”
“I’ll get it set up.” Rowan shook his head, but a huge grin adorned his face.
“Great. Let’s go rally the troops,” Winona said.
Reagan appreciated her sister’s enthusiasm and willingness to spread the word. Otherwise, Reagan worried everyone would think she was insane.
They hurried through the hallway, finding everyone they could. Nobody grumbled or condemned. Actually, most of them greeted Reagan’s suggestion with at least a little excitement.
Even Madeleine. She went with Reagan and Winona to get their latest guests. Although they didn’t decline, Reagan felt assured they had no idea what to expect, but they seemed intrigued and followed Reagan to the library. By the time they got there, Rowan had a decent-sized screen set up, and Dad had pulled up their Netflix account and had one of Reagan’s favorite movies ready to go: 50 First Dates with Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler.
Throwing some pillows on the ground, Reagan settled in, laying the angel sword in her lap. Mom and Aunt Sarah even managed to scrounge up some popcorn. Somewhere early into the movie, Rowan scooted in behind Reagan and put his arms around her. She leaned back into him. For a precious few moments, she could pretend to be sitting with her family and her boyfriend having a family movie night. They laughed and sniffled at the bittersweet aspects of Drew Barrymore’s character having short-term memory.
When the movie finished, everyone gathered their stuff.
Rowan turned off the screen, unplugged it, and handed it off to Papa, who must’ve snuck in at some point.
Reagan crept up before he could leave. “Thank you. I hope you don’t think less of me for needing this.” She’d worked so hard to gain his respect.
“I actually think it’s the perfect thing for morale. We’ve all been through a lot, and we have war yet to face. Why do you think they bring in celebrities to perform for the military? Those guys face death, destruction, and the worst part of humanity on a daily basis. A comedy sketch or singer can’t take it away, but they can ease the burden momentarily.”
Reagan stood on the tips of her toes and pecked him on the cheek. “I love you. I’m glad you came back into my life. No matter what.”
“Me, too, girlie.”
As she watched him go, Reagan felt Rowan’s arms wrap around her from behind, and she relaxed into him.
“This was a good thing you did,” he said.
“I wish Netflix had The Princess Bride. It’s one of my favorites. I’m just glad Mom didn’t pick, or we would’ve had some paranormal something-or-other. Then again, after everything, she might be more down with the classics. Some of the stuff Papa would love.
“I’m glad this went well. I didn’t want to seem flippant or disrespectful of what we’re about to face, but everything felt so heavy. I wanted some moments like we had back at Christmas. I wanted us to feel like a family.”
“You did that.”
“I couldn’t help but think about Lucy. I always cry when I think about her not knowing her daughter, waking up each morning and starting all over. No matter what I’ve been through, I can’t imagine forgetting any of it. Every moment I got with Nana was worth it, and without Rafe, she wouldn’t have come into my life. I wouldn’t have found my sister, and I wouldn’t have found you.”
She melted into him when he lowered his lips to hers. They might not ever have another moment like that, and she allowed herself to etch it forever into her memory.
ↄↄↄↄↄ
Another beautiful sunny morning. Not something Reagan would’ve noted in her old life, but she’d found herself grateful for every small thing since the time clock of war began to tick down. She and the ladies had headed out that morning to do a bit more training. It was their last chance; the following morning they’d do the locator spell and head to Rafe.
Little snow covered the ground, although it stubbornly stuck around in some areas. Ariana had suggested the group work with animals. Up to that point, they’d commandeered a few bunnies, a deer, which stuck close by Ariana, and several hawks, which circled Zarya. Reagan knew she’d never forget seeing fifteen rabbits come into the area, although she couldn’t imagine how the sweet little furballs could help take down a warlock, demons, and wolves. Same with the deer, although it was beautiful and graceful to watch.
When Reagan thought they’d end up with their own petting zoo, Nina suggested trying to bring in some bigger predators. She threw her head back and howled, and everyone joined in, the sound being a natural call for most of them. Soon, about fifteen coyotes crept into the area, snarling, their heads hung low. Nina shushed them, and they sat at her feet like dogs awaiting a snack.
With a wave of her hand, the coyotes dispersed. For another hour or two, the ladies worked on manipulating the tree branches and fire. That element had always been Reagan’s favorite, and one most of them had worked with. But it felt good to be practicing; it took away the time to think about the next day.
After training for hours, the only sound Reagan could hear was her stomach grumbling. Madeleine suggested lunch and then a strategy meeting with Papa and the guys. Everyone grabbed food and went their separate ways, agreeing to meet in the library within an hour. Reagan stopped by the command center to check in with Papa and Rowan, and then left to hang out with Winona in their room. Mom and Aunt Sarah were there when Reagan arrived.
“Hey, today was pretty cool, right?” Reagan said as she plopped down on her bed.
“It really was.” Mom seemed distracted and sad, her eyes downcast and her voice soft.
“What’s going on?” Reagan asked, pushing up to rest on her elbows.
“I think the reality of tomorrow is starting to set in. And I just wanted to tell you girls how much I love you and how proud I am of both of you.” Mom sniffed and turned her head away for a moment, clearly wiping at her face.
“Me, too. I never had kids of my own and didn’t really get to be an aunt—”
She laid a hand on Sarah’s arm. “And I’m so sorry. The years I lost with you and Mom…” Mom sobbed.
Aunt Sarah put an arm around her sister and continued. “But now I have a bunch of young women who I love and make me feel needed.” Sniffles stopped the flow of words for a moment. “And I’m so grateful.”
Pushing off the bed and walking over to wrap both women in a hug, Reagan noticed Winona hadn’t moved from where she’d stood since Reagan arrived.
“Growing up, I only had Cheveyo. I never knew I had a sister—” she looked at Reagan “—a mom, an aunt, a father, a brother. A family. I knew about my destiny, not the detail but the idea of training and facing evil, but all of you jumped into this. You’ve taught me everything I know about faith and strengthened my ability to love.”
A lump formed in Reagan’s throat and tears threatened. “Nope,” she said, stepping back a few feet from all of them. “We need to focus. No tears today. I love you all, and we’ll have so many more years to be together. With faith, we fight. Remember. We have to have faith that we’re going to get through this. That it’s our destiny to beat Rafe. I have to believe that.”
“I do, too. I believe Rafe will die tomorrow. My fear is how many of us he’ll take with him,” Winona said.
In reality, Reagan knew what Winona said was true. Only in the movies did the good guys face the most diabolical enemy and come away unscathed, or only lose a few inconsequential characters. But they’d already lost so much. It came down to a very basic question: Was Reagan willing to lay down her life for the greater good? At seventeen? Several faces flashed through her mind, those who’d alre
ady given their life to the cause.
“I don’t want to lose anyone tomorrow, and I don’t want to die. But I can’t let the sacrifice of all those who went before us be for nothing.” She sounded so mature, so on top of things. That wasn’t the case. “But I have to admit. I’m terrified. Not just to die, but to watch another person I love suffer. Without killing Rafe, that will be our lives. I can’t live like that.”
Mom walked over and took Reagan’s hand, which had balled into a fist.
She relaxed it. “You know what brings me the most peace?”
Everyone looked at her.
She hadn’t intended a dramatic pause but wanted to find the right words, to say something to give them hope and ease their worry. “Seeing Nana, Cecilia, Amélie, and Sasha as angels, never again having to feel pain, reminds me it’s not all about this life.” She’d tried to fight them, but the tears came.
Winona, Aunt Sarah, and Mom wrapped their arms around Reagan, and they stayed in their group hug until a sound came from the doorway. Reagan wiped the tears from her face before she turned around.
“What did I miss?” Madeleine asked.
Mom reached one arm out, slightly crooked at the elbow, inviting Madeleine to join them. “We were just sharing the love. You’re part of this family, and I hope you know what you mean to us.”
She hesitated.
Reagan could see her friend’s nostrils flare as she took in a deep breath.
“We’re supposed to be focused, ready for battle, not sharing our deepest feelings.”
“That’s what I tried to say.” Reagan shot a gaze at everyone, looking for support. “Tell her. I tried to talk you guys out of this weep fest.”
Mom smiled. “You missed a great speech by my daughter. One about…”
“Actually, that’s why I finally stepped into the room. I heard it all. I couldn’t have said it better myself. I know I’m not the fuzziest person, but I love each of you like family. And I know, no matter what happens tomorrow, that we’re joined forever. In this life and the next.”
Damn. Nothing could stop the tears after that. Another group hug commenced. What Reagan feared would weaken them actually made her feel stronger, more connected to what they had to do.
“Okay, I hate to be the one to spoil the party,” Madeleine said, pushing back. “But we should join the others in the library. But first, I suggest everyone stop by the bathroom and freshen up. We don’t need a repeat of this scene or proof that it already happened.” She winked.
Following her advice, Reagan went by the bathroom and studied her face it the mirror. Red, puffy eyes and tear-stained cheeks. Not the best look for battle planning. Thank goodness she never wore makeup anymore, or she’d look like a real mess. She used a hot washcloth and let it sit on her face, appreciating the warmth. When she stepped out, Winona headed in.
“Do you want me to wait, or will you just meet me there?” Reagan asked.
“Go ahead. I’ll be right there.”
When she turned to go, Aunt Sarah was there. “I’ll wait for her. You go.”
Eager to get back to strategy, Reagan speed-walked to the library.
“Someone’s in a hurry.” Rowan’s voice distracted her from her mission, not that she was complaining.
“Sorry,” she said, slowing down.
He fell into step with her.
“Guess I’m just ready to figure this out. I’ve been thinking about this day for so long, dreading it, being afraid. I don’t want to be afraid anymore. I want to finish this.”
He grabbed her hand, forcing her to stop. “Nobody wants this over more than I do, but don’t be too eager to face my brother. I know I’m not. The thought of losing you…”
She couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to him, either. “You aren’t going to lose me. We didn’t come through all of this to die.” Sometimes words were the greatest power, and she hoped the universe paid them heed. Even Heaven above. God might not become directly involved, but she knew He was listening.
Part of her wondered if the previous few minutes had been some kind of magical sideshow. She and her mom used to love to watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Netflix, never knowing how much their lives would come to mimic a lot of what they saw. At least a few times over the many seasons, there’d been a weird dream sequence. Maybe it was happening to Reagan. As long as they didn’t break out in song; she couldn’t handle a musical episode.
“What are you thinking?” Rowan asked, caressing her cheek.
“Sorry. My brain sometimes, I swear. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. It’s just been a really weird day. Lots of emotions I wasn’t expecting. I guess I really just want to focus and not think about all of it.”
“I get you. But I think it’s good to say what we’re thinking. To make it through tomorrow, we’ll need all the logical things like strategy and planning. We’ll hope all our training kicks in. But more than anything, we’ll need to know why we’re doing this.”
“I know why. Because I can’t let Rafe hurt one more person. And it’s our destiny. I have complete faith in that. I have to. Questioning it now won’t do me any good, and I refuse to.” Reagan never felt so sure about anything in her life, but was it only because she wouldn’t allow herself to think anything else? Even if it were true, it helped her get through the days.
“As much as I agree, there’s more. We’re fighting for love, for people to have a chance at it, at a life. Sure, Rafe should die. But he’s simply the face of evil. Of Hell. I had to accept that long ago. He’s really not my brother anymore. Maybe he never was.”
Imagining his brother never existed, or hadn’t for a long time, seemed to soothe him like not questioning helped Reagan. They all had their coping mechanisms. But she wanted to stop the ABC Special, all the outpouring of emotions and speeches. It was time to fight.
“I love you,” she said, squeezing his hand.
“I love you, too.” He leaned in, placed his lips to hers, and lingered there.
“Okay, you two, stop it.” Sam opened his mouth and pretended to choke himself with his finger. “Seriously, gross.”
“You’re stupid,” Reagan said, pushing him forward, but she was grateful for a bit of normalcy. If he’d come up trying to hug her, it might’ve thrown her over the edge. Kid brother to the rescue.
Usually, libraries brought her an escape because she could get lost in a good book. Today, it’s to plan a war and shake off all the emotions, she thought.
For the rest of the evening, Papa reminded everyone they had one goal: kill Rafe. Whatever got in their way had to be destroyed, but it shouldn’t divert them. Ariana suggested ways to use nature and warned that Otaktay would most likely be the first evil they faced. To get to Rafe, they’d have to get through the warlock.
Specific plans would wait for the morning, once they did the locator spell.
“The ladies will meet here at five a.m. We’ll figure out where Rafe is and hope to God he hasn’t placed the same spell on us,” Aunt Sarah said.
“And then Rowan and I will form teams and give out instructions. I realize this will be easier said than done, but everybody should get some sleep,” Papa said.
Winona and Reagan stuck around for a few last-minute details and then left, retreating to the comfort of their room. Once there, Mom arrived shortly after.
“If you don’t mind, I’ll plan to stay with you tonight. I want to be there with you tomorrow, but I understand my need here. Guess Papa told your dad he should stay behind, too. He’s not happy.”
“I’m glad he’ll be here with you. In case anything goes wrong, and well, to make sure you stay.” Mom started to speak, but Reagan cut her off. “Don’t even try to say you wouldn’t have. I remember the last battle.”
“You’ll understand someday when you have children.”
Reagan could only hope she’d have the opportunity to have kids someday. Refusing to entertain any negative thoughts, she shook it off.
“Of course you
can stay,” Winona said.
Dad appeared in the doorway with a pillow and blanket in tow. “Where should I put these?”
Before Reagan could respond, Winona offered her bed, and he dumped the materials there.
He turned to go but stopped short of the door. “I’m not going to get all sappy on you girls, but I hope you know how much I love you. All three of you.”
“Glad you aren’t going to get all sappy.” Reagan couldn’t help but let out a chuckle as she hugged him.
Mom and Winona joined in.
When he left, Reagan decided to take a quick shower. She hadn’t been expecting such an emotional day, had actively tried to avoid letting it be emotional. But as the hot water slammed her body, Reagan leaned her forehead against the cold tile. If the next day were her last, she’d accept it, as long as she took Rafe down with her. Only one outcome would leave her devastated.
Rafe winning and Hell’s gate opening.
Sleep proved difficult, especially with Mom tossing and turning all night. Reagan sat up in bed just as Winona did. How could anyone sleep the night before war?
“You can’t sleep either?” Reagan asked.
Winona shook her head. “Should we…” She tilted her head toward their mother.
Nodding, Reagan stepped over to their bed and placed her hand on Mom at the same time Winona did.
A jolt rammed through Reagan, like that time she’d touched a frayed Christmas tree light wire by accident. Two faces came into focus; both looked like Rafe, but not quite. Behind them stood a tall man with long, flowing hair and olive skin. He rubbed his palms together, his fingers splaying, as a wicked grin spread across his face.
“Only pure flame, blue as the clearest sky, will bring him down. Now, go. Your time is limited. Know that I’ll be with you today. We all will.” Nana’s voice boomed, although her image didn’t appear.
As if sent back from an alternate universe, Reagan gasped, taking in air. “We need to go.”
They jostled Mom to wake her. Once her eyes opened, they explained what happened and told her they had to go. She pulled them into a hug, her grip so tight they had to push against it to break it. They helped her from the bed.
Tala Prophecy: The Complete Series Page 63