by Reid, Susan
No, it couldn’t be.
I relaxed and listened again. Nothing more came.
After a few moments, I lay back down and closed my eyes, allowing the alcohol to wear off. The voice came again.
“It’s me —Be…” Came the laborious whisper once again.
I was on my feet in a mere second, my brow furrowed in cautious disbelief.
I paused, hesitant to open up a line of communication and answer back. It sounded like Berith but that was no guarantee. Any shadow, void, or demon could mimic a voice with ease.
“Pl…help…me.” the voice came again.
I willed my sword and ghosted outside.
I swooped down the length of the high-peaked mountain, circling to maintain the attack advantage. The baby implings left me a glitter trail that led towards the roiling, hovering misty shadow at the border. They surrounded it curiously, essentially keeping it trapped from wandering further.
Several border guardians remained poised, watching, and ready. They were Earth beings; guardians of the neutral lands from the shadows, fallen, and the other dark beasts that often liked to hunt here. Most of the guardians were camouflaged as trees, bushes, plants, and boulders.
The beings shifted at my arrival. There was a mutual respect, which had been established long ago between the both of us. Even though they knew that I was a fallen, they also remembered who I had been when I was an Angel.
I was careful not to appear too aggressive with my sword in hand. I held it at a downward point, as I stepped slowly towards the coalescing shadow. The baby implings buzzed with a high-pitched keening sound, scattering around excitedly in my presence. I took my time to examine every aspect of the shadow.
It heaved in and out, as if breathing. A slight form of a female figure began to take shape.
“You came.” the soft, barely audible voice spoke to me again.
“Prove who you are. I’ll decide whether to believe or kill you right here.” I replied.
The form quivered, as if trying to draw in some sort of energy to do something convincing.
I tensed and prepared myself for confrontation.
“This being has been here several daybreaks prior, and has returned once again.” An ancient, voice slowly rumbled from the thickest part of the trees. The sound was like two grating rocks.
“Doing what?” I asked.
“It waits for something…for you, we believe.” The elderly voice answered.
“Why haven’t you taken care of this one?” I asked.
There was a rustling of leaves, and the clacking of stones, followed by a slight pause.
“It has not caused harm or malice, but we watch nonetheless.”
“Cam…I —gave… you…” The shadow breathed; expanding in and out as its form shuddered.
I gripped the hilt of my sword, eyeing it carefully as I stepped closer. The baby implings flitted high into the leaves to hide.
“We know who this shadow is. The question is— do you?” The elder Earth guardian asked me.
I raised a brow. “Should I?”
“She calls herself, Berith.”
“Any shadow can call themselves anything.” I replied, keeping my eyes on the black mist that continued to try to form…something.
“She wishes our help to communicate with you.” The being answered.
“She has been communicating with me already.”
“She claims that she is too weak to continue to speak telepathically. If you accept, I will act as her mouthpiece. If not, and you believe that she is a threat; we will destroy her on the spot. We have come to trust you as a being of your word, Cam`ael.”
I was flattered. Well, I supposed that was fair.
I nodded, still braced and ready to attack if need be. This was the neutral zone; there was no protection of light or consecrated ground. As far as I was concerned, this could be an ambush by the crow demon, coming to finish the job.
There was movement. I scanned the entire vicinity and beyond the trees.
The shadow moved towards the large stone, and began to wrap its wispy form around it. The stone began to glow, emanating a blue light when the guardian began to speak.
“This being knows you. She says she spoke last with you about a girl. A young, mortal girl, though she is now an immortal divine one. Morning Star is even more adamant about her capture; even more so now that she is a threat.” The guardian rumbled.
I swallowed. So far, it did sound like Berith, but I was never one to even come remotely close to trusting of any shadow or demon.
“She speaks of a note that she left for you?” He repeated in more of a question, as if unsure that he had interpreted it correctly.
That still wasn’t convincing enough for me.
There was a long pause. I was getting impatient. Even if it were Berith, what the hell did she want from me?
If this shadow form were truly her, Morning Star had indeed desecrated and ruined her flesh form. He left her nothing more than a weak, defenseless, and dissipating black mist of dark energy. Now that much, I did believe. He admitted to doing it proudly himself when he showed up at the farmhouse that night.
There was nothing I could do. Why did she bother to seek me out and even ask?
The guardian exhaled a low, hoarse huff.
“She says that she needs your help, so that she can help you in turn.”
I snorted a sarcastic chuckle. “I don’t need any help, especially from a shadow.” I replied.
“You will, especially with the unleashing of Xyn—the robed demon who almost killed you earlier.” The guardian then said.
Now that had gotten my attention. My muscles flexed, my expression turned serious now. I panned the perimeter, both on the ground and above, prepared for an attack of any kind. No other being, with the exception of the one that had been in that man’s body, and those Succubus’s,’ could have known about that confrontation.
“She knows, because she was the being in the body of the young man. She barely escaped. She could only manage to deter the demon from further attacking you, by having him chase after her, right before the Succubus’ showed up.
They are working for Morning Star as well, and they are all hunting her. They seek to destroy her for all the secrets that she knows about what he’s been working on. She is too weak to keep running in both realms, and is unable to travel to any other dimension in her current form. She wants to help you, if you can help her.” The guardian relayed.
Though the recollection of events were accurate and made sense, I was still wary. If she was telling the truth, I supposed I owed her one.
“Almost killing me is a gross exaggeration. As I said, I don’t need any help. What does she say she wants from me?” I asked.
There was another hesitant pause as the shadow uncoiled from the boulder, and began to reform in front of me. Churning within itself, it attempted to take shape once again. Some small semblance of a face, holes where the eyes should be, and an hourglass figure began to form, though it was uneven in its outline.
“A…body.” The thin whisper of Berith’s words entered my head once again.
I simply narrowed my eyes at her with a, ‘What the fuck?’ look in silence.
Berith, once gorgeous demoness, had been reduced to a quivering, lowly shadow on the run.
This means that she did risk her existence to meet with me, telling me to protect Starling from Morning Star.
What had been in it for her though?
“What makes you think that I can help you do that?” I asked.
“Follow…hosp…morg…” She whispered in frustration, before returning to the guardian that she had been using to communicate, once again.
My automatic answer was no, more so because there was no way that I wanted to shop or produce a body for her. It would be of mortal flesh anyway, so it wouldn’t last. I don’t have that kind of magic.
Morning Star did though.
The guardians’ voice came gratingly again. “She say
s she’s found one. A recent death of a young model in a hospital morgue but she can’t risk going alone. She’s too weak and no longer has access to her powers. At best, she will be as close to a simple human by simple possession. She can only recite curses, but she will be able to better communicate, as well as hide easier from Morning Star and his spies, with yours and Edanai’s help. She needs a safe place to stay too.”
I burst into sarcastic laughter with that one. “What? A place to stay that’s safe? I can’t help you there. Nowhere is safe from Morning Star, especially since he created you in the first place. That last part…definitely won’t happen.” I replied, addressing Berith directly.
Against my better judgment, I actually began to debate helping her, even though I didn’t trust her.
She had risked herself; ending up being tortured, punished, and literally pulled apart by Morning Star for it. She had nothing else to gain or lose. On the other hand, Berith was weak and desperate right now. Any offering of help from any dark being, she would take. I could kill her fairly easy right now too.
I sighed.
“If you are deceiving me, I will not hesitate to kill you. You know me. I’ll see what I can do but don’t hold your breath on Edanai’s help. You’ll be lucky if I can keep her from finishing you off herself. For now, I’ll find a place for you but I make no guarantees or promises, got it?” I told her.
I waited. There was hesitation.
“She thanks you and will wait for you here. We will give her temporary protection if you are indeed willing to help her.” The guardian said.
I blew out an exhalation of uncertainty in pause.
How was I going to help her and why was I even bothering to? What would I tell Edanai and Rahab? I nodded my affirmation, “Give me two daybreaks. I’ll be in touch.” I told her. “Thank you for assisting.” I then addressed the stone guardian.
“You are most welcome, Cam`ael.” It replied.
With that I retreated to my sleeping chamber. After a long moment of meditation, hesitation, and forethought on how I would approach this, I decided to face being cursed out. I would give Berith the benefit of the doubt for now. If they were going to be back tomorrow, maybe prepping Edanai at a distance, so she’d have time to think it over a bit, might help. I chuckled to myself. Who was I kidding? Edanai would be furious and vindictive.
After talking myself out of it several times, I finally gave in reluctantly and called out telepathically to Edanai.
X: Starling:
My eyes rolled slowly beneath my lids, and I wept internally with a wince. I didn’t want to come to, not yet…not if I had to endure any more of the tortuous, god-forsaken, ritualistic pain of being branded. I couldn’t tell for sure if it was truly over or not. A lingering, throbbing ache still pulsed throughout each of my arms, all the way down to my fingertips.
My throat felt swollen and raw. I was actually surprised that I hadn’t choked on my own blood when my vocal cords ruptured.
I was sure that they had.
I screamed until I could no longer make a sound. Silent screams were the worst. No sound meant that no air was passing through, and no air meant that you were a breath away from either dying…or passing out, obviously.
Had I done it? Was it was over?
It had better be.
“Is she awake?” I heard someone say. It sounded like Lorelei.
I roused and shifted in the lounger.
“She did remarkably well. I think I need a breather while she’s coming around. I will never get used to watching these.” That was Diana.
Clicking footsteps sounded against the stone floor, the doors opened, and then quickly closed.
“Forget awake, is she freaking still alive? I heard her all the way down the corridor. These walls aren’t as sound proof as you think. It was painful to hear.” That sounded like Scarlet.
“You’re slipping Spencer; you could have done a better job at sedating her.” Lorelei then said.
“I hope she passed out early on.” Lira said softly.
“This was going to be especially painful, no matter what I did. Her weapons are deific blades, people. There’s always a price in being able to wield anything with that kind of deadly fortitude.”
“Yeah, well it wasn’t really her choice. They chose her.” Anthony replied.
“That’s right.” Lorelei agreed.
I just loved the way they were all carrying on about me, as if I were still passed out, or had gone completely deaf and blind. I blinked several times to focus my eyes.
I felt drained initially. I could use some water. I murmured incoherently, and licked my lips.
“Yeah, she’s alright.” Durien answered.
Four familiar faces slowly came into view. They were all huddled over and looking down on me from above.
Sudden, bright light flared; blanking their faces into nothing more than shadowy images.
I immediately flinched and abruptly turned my head from them, nearly blinded by all of their auras combined.
“What’s wrong?” Durien asked me in a panic.
“Too…bright.” I gasped, shielding my eyes.
My voice was nothing more than a raspy, cracking whisper.
“Oh, she doesn’t know how to control the aura switch yet.” Lorelei chuckled.
“When you look at us, focus on our eyes and facial features. Try not to look too intensely. It will get easier, like second nature, with practice.” Durien said.
I was in no mood to start practicing now.
“How about all of you guys just backing the hell away from me right now instead!” I hissed in annoyance. It was a little hard to yell or be taken seriously in a straining whisper.
I was already angry and irritated. Sweat drenched my clothing, making it cling to my body uncomfortably.
I heard them all shuffle away with whispers about my sudden bitchiness being uncalled for.
I slowly opened my eyes fully.
They were all standing a few feet away from me this time. Everyone was glowing in a different color, from gold to pink, to pale blue, like pastel party light bulbs.
“I brought you some water. I knew you’d need some.” I recognized the accent.
Sean stepped forward, holding a cup of water out to me. Someone was raising the top portion of the lounge chair, so that I was sitting upright.
I was beyond grateful. I took the cup from him, and caught a quick glimpse of the bandages wrapped around each of my forearms.
I greedily drank the whole cup in one take. The water was cool, healing, and refreshing on my tender vocal cords. It did help a little.
“Thank you.” I whispered to Sean.
“You’re welcome. You did very well, Starling. The worst part is over. I have a meeting that I’m running late for, so I’ll have to run. I’d like to see both you and Spencer in the library after breakfast tomorrow.” He smiled, taking the cup from me.
I nodded acknowledgment and waited purposefully until he was gone.
Then, I looked over at the others.
Spencer was irresistible with that playboy smirk on his face. Gabe looked worn out, as if he had been the one either doing my brandings, or enduring the pain. Lorelei was smiling; Scarlet stood next to Lorelei with her arms folded across her chest; Lira was peering around Anthony who stood beside Lorelei; and Durien was grinning with a raised brow.
I instantly narrowed my eyes and glared at them all.
Gabe raised his palms up and stepped backwards. “Uh-oh, she’s pissed now. I’m outta here. My ears can’t take anymore. I don’t even think I can eat. See you guys in the dining hall…maybe.” Gabe commented as he turned to leave.
“You guys —could’ve given me some kind of a hint or warning…” I said in clipped words, through clenched teeth.
Feeling the familiar electric warmth of fire began to kindle and started to course through my veins, I immediately staunched my growing anger. I nearly forgot what Sean told me, about managing my emotions to suppress my esse
nce from flaring.
I calmed myself on the inside, but remained visibly upset, so that they’d all get the point.
“Now— I did say it kinda would.” Durien reminded me.
“Kinda? That was nowhere near kinda!” I retorted.
Spencer laughed, “Well, would a warning have made it any less painful?” he raised a brow.
“Mentally? Maybe. I thought you were here to relax and calm me? At least, that’s what it felt like you started doing.”
He smirked. “Even I don’t have that level of power. Everyone else went through it and survived. Granted, no one else has ever been bound with deific blades before either. Nonetheless, you’ve definitely earned my respect.” He then leaned in close to me, “And if you really want me to relax you, come to my room tonight.” He grinned with a talented waggle of one single, dark brow.
I was stunned. Did he just—proposition me? In front of everyone? How tacky, bold, and ego confident. Joking or not, wasn’t he an Angel?
“Oh please, you should be ashamed of yourself.” Lorelei gave his shoulder a shove. He grinned at her and held his arms out innocently.
“Shame? Why is physical love a shameful thing?” He defended.
Physical love? Was he talking about me sleeping with him? I was confused. I was by no means a prude and I don’t believe that I ever was when I was mortal either. Given how good-looking Spencer was, I doubted that my thoughts would remain solely; ‘warrior-in-training’ oriented either. I thought this was a Divine Hall, not a hook-up lounge. Seriously? I mean, were they all sleeping with each other, or fooling around with someone either here, or in the mortal realm? I wondered.
“I told you that he was a no good player.” Durien added.
“I thought you were an angel?” I directed at Spencer.
Lorelei, Scarlet, and Crystal all spat out in uncontrollable laughter. Even Lira clamped a hand over her mouth to suppress her own chuckle. Her twinkling, brown eyes held humor when she looked from me to Spencer.
“Angel? Starling, he’s a Seraph…and an earthbound one at that. I know you don’t know what that is, but believe me, there’s a huge difference between them, and the heavenly Angels. Every hall has a few and they are rare assets to us though…I’ll give him that much.” Lorelei laughed.