by Jane West
“Look! I can’t deny I don’t harbor ill feelings toward you.” I sighed. “Despite my position, I’m not leaving you to your death. If they find you, they won’t spare your life.”
“No! Go without me. I’ll only hold you back. Save your child and then come back for me. If you can’t make it back, then leave me here. I’d made my bed. I’d rather face death than live with myself.” Guilt riddled her face. “I’m sure you can understand that?”
I was no stranger to self-blame. Stunned, I stared back at her. Was Sally feeling remorse? I wanted to believe her, yet, I knew far too well, her talents cunningness and manipulation. Yet considering the injustice she’d endeavored from the Family, it was not in me to turn my back on her either. I guess that was the human part of me.
“You’re coming with us, cuz. We’ll sort our differences out later. You’re going to fit through that rock even if I have to downsize you.”
Aidan stifled a laugh.
“All right! I’ll try.” Sally didn’t sound so sure of herself. Maybe when we get back home, she and I could work on our relationship. Since our fathers were brothers that made her family, regardless of her past deeds. Dad always said family sticks together through thick and thin. That was a good enough reason for me to take Sally in.
Aidan went first and I stayed back, letting Sally go second. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that Sally couldn’t fit through that tight space without assistance. Following the plan, Aidan took Sally’s arm, and I got the wonderful pleasure of thrusting her rump.
The task was challenging. It took several tries, but we finally forced Sally through the tight opening. I reckoned after this, she’d have some serious bruises, but I had to admit, she was a trooper.
Once we were all clear of the door, not letting another minute slide, the three of us hooked ass, rushing down another dark path. Aidan in the front, veered to the right, down another flight of stairs. I followed second, and Sally brought up the rear.
As we impinged upon a new passage, a faint light flickered in the distance. A familiar dripping of water bounced off the stone. Suddenly, I realized where we were. Yet how could that be possible? Aidan’s castle had vanished.
I picked up the pace, joining Aidan’s side. I tugged his sleeve, not wanting to alert any guards. Our voices vibrated down these dusty corridors. A mute could hear us. “De Pont,” I called to him. “What is this place?” I kept my voice low.
An impish grin stretched across his face. “Don’t you know?”
I tossed him an icy snarl. “Can’t you just answer the question?”
“What fun is that?”
“Taunting me is fun?”
“Quite.” He merely answered.
“I want to know what I’m walking into. Can you please cooperate?”
“I presume you’ll find out soon enough.” He haughtily replied as he pushed past me.
I didn’t bother with trying to worm an answer out of him. He’d never tell me.
Sally’s soft giggles wafted over my shoulder. It was more than irritating. Somehow, I managed to ignore her ridicule. Getting into a squabble with either one didn’t interest me. The only thing that mattered to me was finding my child.
***
We seemed to have worked our way farther down into the bowl of this godforsaken place. I’d put my trust in Aidan to lead us to the sacred chamber. I hoped I hadn’t made a misjudgment.
When we drew upon the soft light, we came to a shrieking halt. There in the vast chamber standing before our eyes were thirteen men in red robes, their faces obscured.
At that very minute, it was clear to me as a cloudless sky that all this time I’d been at Aidan’s castle. An overwhelming sense came over me as if I’d stepped back in time. Everything had remained exactly as I remembered. The throne sat high on its platform in its grandiose stature, however, there was a different occupant this time.
Strange, I thought as if his presence held some enchantment over me. My head began to spin, my blood surged, churning and churning. Granting, I’d never met this creature, though, an introduction was not necessary. And in return, my gut assured me that he was aware of my presence as well.
Seated upon the throne in all his wicked glory, I uttered his name. “Mustafa!” we were connected. I smelt his acerbic blood, coursing through his veins.
I slipped a sideways glance at Aidan. I assumed by the starkness in his eyes, he was no stranger to this creature. I wondered how well acquainted they were.
For a second, I stared in silence, breathless of the creature’s beauty. His brilliance was blinding. I squinted, cuffing my hand over my eyes to block the glare. The immortal was majestic in such a way he appeared delusive. He reminded me of the angels in the fresco paintings high above on the ceiling of Aidan’s formal dining room. The similarities were staggering. I stalled, gaping at his omnipotence. The creature had massive gold wings stretched apart at least twenty feet wide. His black locks flowed to his broad shoulders. Armor draped his body in bold colors of red and glimmering gold. I wondered how a creature who possessed such magnificence could be so abominable.
Compelled, I eased out from the safety of the shadows and into the light of which may be my very death. With eerie pricking the back of my neck, the crimson cloaks parted, just like in my past dreams. I edged forward until my eyes fell upon a small table.
Suddenly my worst fear clenched my chest as my eyes landed on a toddler bound in shackles. Holy mother of god! The sacrifice! The young child began to whimper. “Dawn!” I cried to her. The terror in her tiny face mirrored mine.
Without thinking, I dashed to her side, but to no avail. Given no warning, my body was shoved backward into the air and violently slammed to the cold stone floor. Pain shot through my body, but rather than allowing the agony to consume me, I used it as fuel. In one sweep, I sprang to my feet ready for a fight. “I know who you are!” I bellowed at the godlike creature on the throne. I held my clenched fist to my side as I secretly tried to summon my essence. Despite my effort, I sensed nothing within my core. I didn’t understand. It was as if I was empty. Absent minded, I touched my bare neck. Damn! I needed my necklace.
“Yes. Our blood is the same. We are connected, my hybrid daughter.” Apart from his radiance, I knew the angel’s heart reeked of decay.
I hid the urge to cringe. Instead, I stepped forward, forcing my voice out from my gut. I refused to let him see me quaking in my boots. I sure as hell wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction. Shoulders straightened, I responded with renewed strength. “I might share your DNA, but I am not your daughter, Mustafa!” My green eyes shot daggers at the dark angel.
Suddenly his sick laughter echoed among the sea of red.
I pushed past the urge to go commando on his evil ass as I slowly inched closer to my child. With one quick glimpse, my heart sank at her sight.
The toddler had Aidan’s black hair, but she had my freckles. By my calculations, Dawn couldn’t have been older than three years old. Despite her condition, she was beautiful. I bit down on my lip to keep from losing it. I smiled into her sweet face. She smiled back, but her eyes were tormented. My heart was breaking in two. I had to save her! I didn’t care if I lost my life doing so.
“Aw!” The dark angel reigned in my attention. I snapped my head up in his direction. I paused, remaining cautious as I kept Dawn in the corner of my eye. He spoke out, “you are more like me than you know.” His voice was musical, yet cold. My finger twitched for my dagger as I kept my eyes centered on the dark angel. I crept closer to Dawn, hoping I’d go unnoticed. “She is quite lovely.” The creature paused. “How wonderful you have decided to join us in our celebration.”
“Yes, sorry to pop in uninvited.” I tried not to sneer. Still I never was one to hide my true feelings.
“You are most welcome, my daughter,” I flinched at his reference to me. I’d never claim him as my father, on second thought just maybe it might appease him.
“Since you speak of me as
your blood, perhaps you will permit one request?”
“Only one?” the dark angel smiled. “You are quite bold asking such. I have yet to receive a thank-you for my help in freeing you from prison.” The dark angel sat back in his throne, his eyes raked over me with disappointment.
“What are you talking about?” Narcissist much!
“Do you honestly think the human system would’ve let you go free with three murders against your name?”
I didn’t answer.
“Of course not. It was I who set you free. And due to such, I’m afraid that you have run out of favors, dear one.”
“Then let me offer something you can’t refuse.” I inched closer. Only a few more feet to go, and I’d be by Dawn’s side. “If you accept me as your daughter, then you must accept this child as your granddaughter. Can you not take mercy upon her and allow me to take her place? My life for hers. Let my child go free, and I will stand by your side in your crusade to conquer the world!”
Yet the second I saw his bitter regard, my bargain had fallen upon muted ears.
As I stared into the depth of pure evil, I realized his part in this contrivance. He had been the anonymity who masterminded my father’s death. It may have been by my mother’s hand that carried out the insidious act, but it was his doings that set it into motion. It was he who brought it to the forefront. It was he who played God, destroying my life and now possibly my firstborn. For that, I had never loathed a living being more than him.
The enlightened beast eyed me with great caution as he sat with an ostentatious smirk. He was in control, and he didn’t hide his obvious enjoyment either. “Yes. How righteous of you to offer yourself.” One could easily fall prey to his hypnotic voice. Its strange mellow inflection was enchanting, yet it sickened me, for it was methodical. “Therefore, you must realize my answer.” His eyes grew taut and deadly.
My breath caught in my throat. The dark angel had denied my plea. He wanted me gone. Perhaps my thorn in his side was a bit too much, though I didn’t give a rat’s ass if I inconvenienced him or not. He wouldn’t get rid of me that easily.
So I went into action, letting my Zophasemin instinct take charge. I drew my dagger, aiming for the beast’s cold black heart. As the knife left my palm, sailing through the air at a remarkable speed headed right for my target, I rolled on the floor in a somersault. In a fraction of a second, I’d landed by my daughter’s side like a cat on all fours. Not wasting a precious moment, I began unfastening the restraints. I rushed with trembling hands, fearing I would fail. Where is Aidan! I frantically wondered. I needed goddamn backup!
Before I could gather my daughter in my arms, my body was thrust into the air, thirty feet high, dangling in suspension like a trapeze artist, only free of wires. I glimpsed below, realizing if I fell, it would be my death. Frozen, I couldn’t move. I was helpless and worse, useless. Mounting fear shredded my insides. “Mustafa, please!” I cried out. Instead of his mercy, something glimmered in the corner of my eyes. I slowly lifted my eyes, and to my horror my knife hovered, pointing its deadly blade at eye level. Panic seized me and tears streamed down my cheeks. I’d whispered a prayer right before I hurled curses at the dark angel. A fool I had become for making such a hasty move, and now I may have cost my child’s life. I cursed again.
Mustafa rose to his feet. “You have made a grave mistake testing me, my daughter. You cannot defeat me. I am wise, far beyond your years. That move, Essence cost your child’s life!” His depraved voice sliced through my heart.
“No! Mustafa, wait! Can you not see I am terrified of you? I acted hastily. I know that now. Please forgive me. I only want to protect my child. Haven’t you ever wanted to protect someone dear to you?”
“You have been with the humans far too long my young foolish daughter. Mystical creatures like us do not waste emotions on needless things. We accept our destiny and embrace it.” His voice came across as foreign and something far from natural.
“Human or not, I know you have a heart. Can you not have mercy on this innocent child and let her live?”
“There is a much-greater cause we must confront rather than saving a child’s life.”
“In my book, there is nothing grander than the life of an innocent child.” I had to make him understand.
The dark angel gave me a sideways glance. “How so, my human daughter?”
“I may not have had the pleasure of spending time with my daughter, yet it doesn’t waver my feelings. I love her with all my heart. I’d be willing to sacrifice my life, my magickal abilities, if you would let her live.”
“You’d give your entire existence up for your child’s life in return?”
I didn’t hesitate for an instant. “Yes! A million times, yes. Anything. Take me! I will bow down at your feet. You will become my god, if that is what you wish. Just relinquish the child to Aidan, and I will leave with you right now. Whatever you want I will do if you spare her life. You have my loyalty!” My heart was pounding against my chest.
The dark angel pondered a moment. “For a hybrid, you do know how to appease to one’s greed.” He drew in a long drawl. “In spite of your offer, as grand as it may be, it is still not as grand as your daughter’s life force.”
“Then if not for the benefits, do the right thing and let this child go with her life still intact. You know you are wrong for doing this!” Horror seeped into my bones. It was clear to me that he’d made up his mind, he wasn’t relenting.
In a desperate attempt, I searched for Aidan, hoping he would be advancing on the dark angel. As I caught sight of him, my last hope plummeted to the ground. He had been taken down by the guardsmen. His body lay lifeless on the floor. He appeared dead as blood seeped from his forehead. Realization struck. I’d been left alone to face Mustafa.
Despair gushed through my veins.
I turned my gaze upon my child’s sweet but tortured face. Even still, she managed a smile under a pool of tears. I smiled back as my spirit longed for her. This couldn’t be happening! Not to this innocent child. Not my child! Is there a God who would have mercy upon me and spare my baby? Never have I asked for anything but this! “Please...save my daughter!” I begged of this God I didn’t know.
Unexpectedly the toddler began softly singing a lullaby, one I remembered as a child that my father use to sing to me. In a soft, gentle melody, she sang.
Star light, star bright,
The first star I see tonight;
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight.
Through choked tears, I began singing with her. As my voice intertwined with hers, our eyes locked. I struggled to loosen the magickal grip, but it was pointless. My mind flooded with desperation, yearning to scoop her up into my arms, promising her I would love and protect her always. I wanted to whisper in her ear, reassuring her that everything was going to be all right. Yet I knew it wasn’t.
My pleas fell upon muted ears. The dark angel wouldn’t allow such a privilege, and my prayers went unanswered. In the next breath while forced to dangle in the air, I eyed that monster stripping my child’s essence. Within seconds, Dawn’s tiny body went limp, softly closing her sweet eyes as if she had fallen asleep. So peacefully, her body stilled. I knew she was gone forever, and I, an all-powerful, genetically altered angel was powerless in saving my own daughter. I’d failed. I lost her before I ever had a chance.
Tears blinded my vision as I cried out in raw anguish. The chamber echoed from my bloodcurdling screams.
Then an inner strength took hold. I reigned in my stricken heart and turned it into savage fury. Deadly calm fell over me as my eyes meet Mustafa’s. In the pools of my menacing greens, a reflection of my threat gleamed. “Wherever you hide I will find you. I will get justice for the death of my daughter. You mark my word, Dark One!”
Yet my promise didn’t faze him as his body quivered. I knew what had transpired—the full moon, the gathering, the ensue of my daughter’s essence. The dark angel had stole
n her life force for his own selfish gain.
Ironic, I thought. The very protection Aidan and I used to save our own lives cost the life of our firstborn. At that moment, I had a new goal in life, and as I held my blazing glare at the dark angel, I hoped he realized it too.
With no warning, I heard a familiar voice shouting in Zophasemin language. Val! Still jutting in the air, I twisted in the direction of his voice, and my eyes fell upon his golden glitter, and through my raspy voice, I called his name. “Val!”
He returned a look of longing, and I watched as he went into skilled action. Fighting broke out. Fireballs whizzed past me, men in armor swinging swords and violent clashing of steel ringing in my ears. My eyes followed as the Zop leader and his fighters took the red cloaks by leaps and bounds.
I turned my attention back to the dark angel. His eyes appeared glossy and his lids were droopy. For the first time, I could see his effusion illuminate. That sick son of a bitch was drunk on my daughter’s life force. Worse, he took delight knowing I knew by the amusement in his face.
Then he spoke in a hurried voice. “I must leave now. It was so nice of you to drop by. We shall meet again, my daughter.” A triumphant grin had spread across his hardened face right before he vanished out of sight. The murderous Zophasemin dissolved, leaving his followers to their doom.
Along with his disappearance came his release. Suddenly I began spiraling to the ground, falling to my death. I braced myself for the impact, yet to my surprise, I landed into a cushion of sturdy arms. When my gaze lifted, my eyes fell upon Val. I whispered, misty eyed, “I couldn’t save her!” A deep pain struck my heart like a cold dead frost.
When our eyes locked, I threw my arms around him and hugged him tightly, weeping into his shoulder.
“You tried! You did your best!” Tenderly Val consoled me. “I got you. It’s over. It’s over.” He repeated as he cradled me in his arms. Through the heart-wrenching tears, I pulled myself away and quickly ran to Dawn’s side.