Divinity: Transcendence: Book Two (The Divinity Saga)

by Reid, Susan

  That thought chilled me. I didn’t want to be a prisoner of any being, let alone anyone working on the side of darkness.

  I shifted to scoot off the bed. Something metallic rattled, sounding like chains. What the…

  I hadn’t even noticed it before. I was too caught up in taking in my surroundings after the flower, and the gloves. My ankles were secured with chains that were inscribed with the same writing as the gloves. I think it was safe to assume that they were infused with magic too, so I wouldn’t be getting out of them easily if at all.

  A flurry of pessimistic thoughts and scenarios began to race through my mind.

  I could suddenly hear voices, floating in from somewhere now, but it was hard to make out the words.

  I tried to pry and pull at the gloves, but it was no use. They weren’t coming off. I came to the same conclusion, when I pulled and jerked at the chains around my ankles, which were bolted to the floor securely.

  I sighed, pausing to look around and gauge my options. Even if I were to escape, I had no idea where I was. Would Lira be able to scout for me? I wondered if she’d even know where to start. Was I reported as taken? Were the others even looking for me, or had they simply written me off as another loss already?

  Why the hell had I tried to save Jamie?

  It was a natural instinct, one that I didn’t regret, but hated that it had gotten me caught so easily and so soon.

  After my internal tirade of self-flagellation over being stupid enough to literally trade places with Jamie, instead of going into the portal like I should have, a sudden thought gave me a glimmer of hope.

  Did I still have my portal gems? I frantically felt around the pockets of my cropped leather jacket. Excitement grew when I felt them, hearing the soft clicking inside of the pouch. Would I be able to break and use one here?

  Another revelation dawned on me just then too. How in the world did I not think of it? I stared back down at the magical gloves that covered my brandings. I licked my lips and began thinking of all the things that had pissed me off since I’d been here, including being captured so easily.

  The heat inside of my entire body began to intensify, warming my veins and skin like liquid fire. The heat was in my brain, waiting to disperse and set fire to all of my limbs, maybe even my entire body. Was that possible? I could sense it’s hesitance, waiting for me to direct its path.

  This was new.

  I’d never been in control of that before. Wielding a single blade, and now this. I guess it was all finally falling into place now. In my mind’s eye; I pictured my arms, my hands, and fingertips. The soft eruption of flames was so bright, it lit up the entire room, instantly catching and dissolving the magical gloves into nothing.

  Adrenaline begin to surge at the excitement of being able to get them off.

  Now, the chains.

  “Don’t. You’re not in any danger, Starling.”

  I gasped, my eyes darting around the room frantically.

  Whoever it was, knew my name.

  I wielded my blade…and this time they both unsheathed from my palms. My fire crawled up and along each blade, turning them into metallic torches of white flames.

  I didn’t see who the voice belonged to right away, but I could feel and sense their presence. It was either a fallen or another spiritual type of being. The outline was clear enough for me to see. It moved in a steady, casual pace, several feet from the bed. Scoping me out.

  Somewhere in the back of my mind, the voice sounded familiar to me.

  “You must be. Isn’t that why you chained me?” I answered the ethereal voice, looking at the outline of a figure…a tall figure.

  There was no immediate answer.

  “No. You’re free to go anytime. I just needed to see you again.” It answered.

  See me again?

  That answer gave me chills.

  I hadn’t fully begun any training or classes on Demonics yet. I did know that there were beings that could manipulate things to make you hear, see and believe anything they wanted to. Falling for the tricks of one would be easy for humans, but not for a divine warrior. Is that what temporarily happened to Jamie?

  Suddenly, right before my eyes, the being materialized into solid form. He was —gorgeous.

  For a brief moment, I had forgotten all else and my mouth dropped slightly.

  The flames on each of my blades began to die down and slowly peter out.

  Dark haired and dark eyed, he was tan, incredibly well- built, and tall. Right away, I noticed his dark reddish brandings, and that his arm was bandaged from the bicep down to his elbow, in a sling. He had to have been really injured.

  He was the one that was fighting with the fallen who cornered Lira and me. The one that seemed familiar to me. My next immediate question paused on my lips, as I continued to stare him down from head to toe.

  He wore no shirt, just low hanging, white cotton lounging pants. The firm ridges of muscle in his abdomen, chest, and bulging biceps appeared perfectly chiseled from smooth stone. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his beauty. I should have been on my guard, and I was…in a sense but there was something about him.

  He eyed the white flames with both cautious fear and fascination.

  Then he smirked. “You’re drooling.” He said softly.

  Though he meant it jokingly, he was tense.

  I snapped my gaze away from his chest and torso, instantly hardening my expression.

  My fire had completely dissipated and winked out from both of my blades and my hands. I could see his relief, though he still appeared wary of me.

  He should be.

  “Who are you?” I asked him.

  “The one who saved you from becoming that sea blobs next meal.” He quipped with a slight grin.

  Is that what happened? I wasn’t sure if I wanted to believe him. He didn’t seem like a demon or a fallen at all, but he clearly was.

  “How do you know my name?”

  “We all know your name. I told you mine before.” He then said.

  Before? I’d remember this one if I’d seen him before…without a doubt. I just awoke in the spirit realm the other night. For me, knowing the name of any fallen was impossible. He was messing with me. He had to be.

  “Why were you fighting that other fallen?” I then asked.

  He gave a heart-stopping smirk, moving carefully to the chaise lounge chair where he sat, facing me. The posture he held wasn’t relaxed. He was definitely ready to move if I moved.

  “They were all after you.” He answered simply.

  “I got that much. Why were you guys fighting each other, instead of working together?” I then asked.

  “We aren’t of the same ilk.” He flatly said.

  Was he trying to tell me that there were different kinds of Fallen? Right.

  I felt a little sorry for his injury, but I wasn’t sure if I should feel grateful for his rescue, just yet.

  “If I’m free to go, why bother bringing me here in the first place?”

  He got up, keeping his eyes on me, while moving over to his bookshelf to retrieve something. Upon first glance, it looked like a glittery, pink book. Glittery pink? Odd for him to have something like that. I scooted to the edge of the bed, the chain rattling with my movements as I planted both of my feet firmly on the floor.

  He gently laid it on the floor and slid it over to me.

  I didn’t take my eyes off him at all, as I stopped the book with my own foot, without even looking at it. He gave another half smirk that made me melt.

  With my eyes only, I glanced down at the cover.

  It was a photo album —with my name on it.

  My brows furrowed curiously.

  Is this how he knew my name?

  “What’s this?” I asked him. Still not reaching down for it yet.

  “It’s yours.” He nodded, returning to the chaise lounge chair to sit.

  Mine? I didn’t recognize it. Even if it were mine, what would he be doing with it?

&
nbsp; He watched me carefully.

  I eyed him. “How would this be mine?”

  “Why don’t you open it and take a look.” He nodded towards it.

  I quickly glanced over at the flower on the pillow beside me, and then my eyes returned to his.

  “What’s with the flower?”

  “It’s your favorite, isn’t it?”

  I paused.

  “How would you know that?”

  He inhaled and raised a brow, nodding at the photo album again.

  “Look in the album.” He softly repeated.

  “What for? You’re saying its mine and even if it was, I wouldn’t know or recognize anyone in it. I want to know how you got it if it is mine.”

  “I’ll tell you everything once you look through it.” He urged.

  I licked my lips and stared down at the album. Then I scowled at the chains around my ankles.

  “Take these off and I will, unless you want me to do it myself…the same way I removed the gloves.” I told him.

  He held out a hand and smirked, “You mean like this?” He quirked a brow, as a small ball of pure, white light began to manifest, floating above his palm. My eyes widened in confused shock. Either that was a trick of magic, or he had the ability to conjure white light too. That couldn’t be right. He was clearly a fallen, how could he be doing that? A small smile lifted the corner of his mouth at my surprise, and then the chains simultaneously unlocked, fell away, and disappeared altogether. He closed his fist and the white ball of light faded away.

  Though he was amused by my sudden shock, I noticed him stiffen, and brace himself when I moved. Was he afraid of me? He had the advantage here…to a degree. He had magic. Then again, he’s seen my fire and he knew just how deadly it was, which means I doubted that he’d try to touch me directly. I wasn’t sure which was deadlier, white light or fire, but I’m going to guess it was fire.

  “There’s no need for your blades. You’re safe here.” He then told me.

  “I don’t know what your definition of safe is, so I’ll keep them out.” I told him.

  Trust no demon, especially their words. Everyone had pounded that in on my first day.

  He pursed his lips in amusement, “You don’t even know how to use them.” He commented.

  I narrowed my eyes at him.

  “I know how to light them up.” I defended with a hard glare.

  He contemplated that, deciding to take me seriously. There was a cautious, yet playful look in his gorgeous eyes. He had no idea what I was going to do.

  However, I was just as much of a target too. To me, magic was deadly, especially if it was black.

  I pulled in just one blade, keeping my eyes on him

  as I bent to pick up the album.

  The cover was a picture of a road marker with Memory Lane carved into it, and my entire name in silver marker: STARLING MARIE ROBERTS

  Curiosity began to take over as I opened it to the first pages.

  There were photos of me and two other people at various venues; most of what looked like the campus of a school. Photos of me and some, tall, thin white girl, with short reddish, auburn hair, and then some with a cute, caramel skinned guy, with dark curly hair and glasses, were pasted on the school themed pages.

  The names in the captions beneath each photo read:

  ‘China and Joel’.

  The longer I stared at each image, the more they began to bring vivid images to the forefront of my mind. I began to see the same girl and the same guy, in a classroom, in an apartment or a house; walking down a school hallway; a football game, at some beach, a music concert. It was almost overwhelming, how much it all began to feel like a part of me.

  I eyed him again; he was watching me silently, as I continued to flip through the pages. Most of the next set of pictures had the same two people with me in them, and a bunch of other random girls and guys. Some were comical, and others invoked an automatic sentimental feeling in me that took me by surprise. It was definitely me in these pictures. How would he have acquired these?

  There were many pictures of a white man with blonde hair, standing with a brown-skinned, petite, curly haired, beautiful, young woman. They were both smiling, and he was proudly holding a baby girl. The next set of pages were photos of this family, and a little tanned skin girl, with curly, sandy brownish blonde hair.

  She was me.

  There were a lot of beach themed photos, birthdays and different holidays. Then, there were pictures of me with an elderly woman, who resembled an older version of the woman that I assumed was my mother, smiling and hugging me proudly.

  I felt a spark of sadness mixed with joy and anxiety. Seeing these photos and remembering certain things felt, wrong. I wasn’t supposed to be remembering this stuff, and I was beginning to understand why now.

  I did notice something strange though. In nearly all of the pictures of me, there was a distinct soft halo of light around me, from when I was small, to the most recent ones.

  Knowing what I know now, and what I am now —it all made sense.

  Chosen from birth. That’s what Lorelei said.

  I felt a tightening in my chest.

  There was no doubt that these were my pictures…my memories. They automatically tugged at my emotions. If this was a trick or a joke, it was a damned good one. What would be the purpose for him to do it?

  When I got to the last page, I gasped softly.

  It was a picture of us, standing close together, his arm around me, and mine around his waist. The height difference was prominently humorous, but it was definitely him—us.

  I was wearing a purple, short silk dress, lace stockings and boots, and he was just as gorgeous as he is now. There were images of spirits, angels and demons in the background. Where and when was this taken?

  I thought back to seeing him during the fight. He did seem familiar to me then. He purposefully left my favorite flower on the pillow, the same flower that was found in my hair, when my body had been retrieved from the fields behind the divine hall.

  Some female shouted his name when he had been injured.

  Instantly, more images forcefully resurfaced from the recesses of the hidden parts of my brain.

  He was wearing a police uniform. I was in the car with him. He was carrying me somewhere. We had burgers in a diner. We were stargazing, and then we were…flying.

  He was the one who was with me when I died. The one who put the flower in my hair in the first place.

  But why? How had I died? If he had been there, why didn’t he stop it? Was he the one that killed me? It didn’t make sense but it wasn’t impossible.

  His name is Cam`ael.

  I gasped softly.

  I remembered…kissing him, and him holding me protectively.

  Was he why nearly everyone at the divine hall looked at me with suspicion?

  He was a demon, a fallen.

  A fallen that I had apparently fallen in love with. I looked over at him —into his gorgeous, indigo blue-green eyes, with gold flecks. Though I saw darkness there, I saw something else.

  My breath caught and my heart began to pound rapidly.

  I swallowed hard, feeling tears begin to burn my eyes.

  I closed the album, staring down at the cover for a moment, unsure of what to say.

  The sharp sting in my heart was confliction tugging at my soul. He was a fallen and I was a divine warrior now. I was destined to be one all along and he knew that, but it didn’t stop him from falling in love with me.

  This couldn’t happen for so many reasons, and it hurt to think about. I slowly set the album back down on the floor.

  I had to know, I needed to know if he was being deceitful, or if he was lying to me. If he was, what was his plan or purpose for doing it? Offering me up to Morning Star for a reward maybe?

  Finally, I slowly stood up —and so did he.

  XXVI: Cam`ael

  Hope began to take over, as I watched her slowly study each page in the album. It was hard enough to
tear my eyes away from her. She glowed beyond just being a divine chosen; she absolutely emanated radiance that came from her essence.

  It was her hallowed fire.

  She was lethal, yet I would always see her as fragile in some sense.

  I remembered what her fears were. It was one of the reasons why they weren’t supposed to remember their mortal lives.

  I think I ruined that for her because her mounting sorrow was growing. She was remembering, which meant she was going to remember me.

  That’s all I wanted.

  I watched her doll-like profile, wondering what was going through her mind right at this moment.

  When she closed the album, she paused in deep thought, before finally placing it back on the floor.

  It was hard to read her hypnotizing, sapphire colored eyes, but I didn’t have to.

  After she stood up, she was a blur. The only hint that I got, was seeing her wield her other blade once again, with a swift, metallic shink.

  My shock almost cost me a split second reaction, but I wielded my sword just in time, and brought it up to block both of her blades.

  She definitely needed training, but it wasn’t a completely miscalculated attack.

  What was she doing?

  Had Edanai been right?

  I pushed her blades to the side, but she held steady against my resistance.

  She was fast, and much stronger than I had assumed she would be. The force of resistance propelled her into mid-air twist, which didn’t slow her down one bit, once she landed on her feet again.

  This fight was not going to happen in my bedchambers. I had to do something fast, before the others tried to interfere and possibly hurt her.

  Bringing my palm forward, I used my power to force her to back up, driving her against the wall to keep her far enough away from me, just in case she decided to burst into her flames.

  With a quick twist and pulling motion of my hand, I swiftly transported us both outside. Instantly, we were in front of my domicile, where I held her pinned against a stone slab.