by Last, K. A.
“Please don’t burst my bubble.”
“I don’t think it will be me bursting your bubble, Gracie, you’ll have to answer to them.” He pointed to the sky. The sun was setting, turning the clouds blood red. I put my face in my hands and moaned quietly. What had I done?
“But we’re in this together, right?” I looked up at my brother and saw the anger was gone, replaced by sympathy, or was it pity? I didn’t want pity!
“I love you, so yes, we’re in this together. I think we established that when we were born, and again when we agreed to protect a vampire.”
“Speaking of Charlotte,” I said, getting up. “I know how you feel about her.”
“Is there anything you don’t know?”
“Yes, believe it or not. But you of all people know how it works.”
“Definitely hard to have secrets,” he mumbled.
“She has never had a human companion before, give it time.”
Archer gave me a brotherly hug. We walked back to the common room where Josh was waiting for me.
“Oh, hey, you guys are back,” he said cheerfully as we walked through the door.
“I’m going to stay here a while,” I said.
Archer sighed. “Guess I’ll see you later, then.”
I caught a quick exchange between him and Josh before he left. In the meantime, Emma and Claudia had turned up. I didn’t see Abby anywhere which was probably a good thing. I said a quick hello to Claudia before she wandered off to play cards with a group in the far corner.
It turned out I was pretty good at playing pool. Emma and I teamed up and we kicked some serious butt, showing the boys how it’s done.
“How about some one on one this time,” I said.
“You’re on!” Ryan went to rack the balls again.
“Alright everyone, time to get a move on,” a strong male voice boomed. I’d been having so much fun I didn’t realise the time. Mr Bruner stood in the doorway with his arms crossed. “Lights out was ten minutes ago, and you,” he said pointing to Ryan and Josh, “both have an early training session in the morning, first one for the year.”
“Yes sir, Coach sir,” Ryan said comically, standing to attention and saluting him.
“Don’t be smart, Mr Pierce. Five minutes everyone.” He spun on his heels and marched down the hall.
“They start you early,” I said
“We’re playing Macquarie High first up. There’s a bit of competition between us. Coach says we have to be on our game,” Josh replied.
I’d never been interested in soccer, or any sport that didn’t involve killing a vamp for that matter. I didn’t really understand the point. Josh snuggled into my neck and I giggled.
“Room twenty-nine,” he whispered.
“That tickles, and I don’t need to know your room number to find you.”
“So you’ll come?” He stared hopefully into my eyes.
“Why do you think I’ve been hanging around all night, silly?”
I leant in, softly putting my lips on his. When Josh kissed me I no longer felt the dread in the pit of my stomach, and in his arms nothing else mattered. To me he was the sun, moon and stars, and my entire world was in orbit around him.
“See you in a bit,” I said.
I told the others good night and walked slowly back towards the girls’ dorm with Emma and Claudia. I needed to give Josh enough time to get to his room and make it look like I was leaving.
“You and Josh, huh?” Emma said, nudging me. “Good on you, Grace, you were driving me crazy.”
“I don’t think Abby is very happy,” I replied, glancing at Claudia.
“They were together a long time, but we all knew it was going to end,” Claudia said. “She was the only one who couldn’t see it.”
“So you don’t hate me then?”
“Why would I hate you?” Claudia asked.
“You’re Abby’s friend, I just thought…”
“No, don’t be silly,” she said. “Abby will get over it. See you tomorrow.”
Emma and I squealed over some juicy details about Josh before parting ways. I stood in the shadow of the Moreton Bay fig and shivered. It looked creepier in the moonlight. I’d decided to make myself wait five minutes, but five minutes seemed to drag out for eternity and I couldn’t wait any longer. I took cover behind the thick trunk of the tree, checked no one was watching then thought of Josh. My light surrounded me, and moments later I was smiling at his awestruck face as I landed in his room.
“It really amazes me how you do that. I still can’t believe you’re real.”
“Some things just can’t be explained,” I said, curling myself into his arms. “Can I stay all night?”
“I wouldn’t let you go even if you tried.”
We talked for a while about all sorts of things; his dad, his mum, Charlotte, me. Josh’s mum died in a farming accident when he was ten. I didn’t need to ask too many details, it was all there in his head. He liked talking about her; the part he didn’t like was how she died. He felt responsible, and couldn’t understand why it had happened. Everyone knew the story, but no one ever talked about it.
After a while I began to doze. Josh’s fingers gently caressed my cheek, and I fell asleep with my head on his chest listening to the melodic thrum of his heart.
SEVENTEEN
GRACE
Late Wednesday Night
While I lay in Josh’s arms I was summoned before the Council. At that point I knew I was in big trouble, but was beyond caring. I could handle being exiled if it meant I could be with Josh and save Charlotte. The Council was wrong to ask me to take her soul. I stood before them in the light, my white dress flapping in the breeze, and the silence around me was deafening. I felt like a stranger in my own home.
“You bring me here and yet you’re afraid to speak,” I shouted. “What has been asked of me is wrong.”
“No, Grace. You have turned your back on us and sworn to protect your enemy.” The Council’s response echoed around me.
“Archer was right; there are different rules in Heaven. As angels we are supposed to love all God’s creatures unconditionally.”
“Charlotte is not God’s creature…”
“Her soul is pure,” I screamed in frustration.
“She is a creature from Lucifer’s army, a creature of the night. Her soul is trapped. It must be freed.”
“Charlotte has never harmed anyone, she is not evil and I refuse to let her die.”
“She does not belong in existence. If you do not do it, another angel will.”
“You disgust me. To think you would kill someone so freely. I will fight for her. I will not let you do this, even if I have to fight forever.”
“Then let it be so,” the Council said calmly. “There is also the question of your indiscretion. We have been watching this unfold over the past few days.”
“You leave Josh out of this; he has nothing to do with it.” I clenched my hands into fists and my nails dug into my palms.
“He has everything to do with it, Grace. You have pulled him into this situation and he is now in grave danger due to your actions. You are a higher being, and yet you bow down to the weakness of mortal life.”
“I can, and I will, protect him. And Charlotte, too, or I will die trying.”
“You have let your human form cloud your judgement. Eventually they will be gone and you will live on, cast out of your home for eternity.”
“If it means saving them, I don’t care,” I screamed.
“Then go, become one of the fallen and never walk in the heavens again. You have committed the unforgivable sin, turned your back on your God, and we hereby cast you down.”
Then everything went black.
I couldn’t tell which way was up. I tumbled over and over myself, free falling through the darkness. I curled into a tight ball, pulled my knees to my chest, and squeezed my eyes shut. The air rushing past me was icy cold and I shuddered, waiting for it to end. My hair whipped a
t my face and my dress was all tangled in my legs. The fall took longer than I expected. The bitter air began to change, and I was overcome with blazing heat. When I opened my eyes everything around me was black, and the heat was so intense I felt I would burn to ash. I came to an abrupt stop, my stomach rolled over itself and I uncurled from my ball. I hadn’t actually hit anything, but my feet were on solid ground.
An orange light crept into my surroundings and I took a few tentative steps towards it. I emerged from the mouth of a dark cave and stood at the edge of a huge chasm filled with fire. Through the flames I saw the outline of a beautiful iron gate supported by ebony pillars. My jaw dropped; the gate was identical to the one in Heaven, except it was death black. On either side of the gate stood a menacing Moreton Bay Fig, leafless and charred with gnarled and grotesque limbs. Now I understood why those trees gave me the creeps.
“Hell’s Gate,” I whispered to myself. Only a few of Heaven’s angels had ever seen it, and as I stood before it, I was scared. When I looked down at my dress I was horrified to see it was no longer white. It was tattered at the edges and as black as the iron on the gate. I turned to look at my wings and I couldn’t stop the tears that coursed down my cheeks. My feathers were no longer bright white with an ethereal glow; instead they were a dirty grey edged in black.
“The mark of the Fallen,” a voice said from beside me. “Hello, Grace.”
Seth was dressed only in tattered black jeans, his bronzed muscular chest was bare and his wings were completely devoid of colour. They were the colour of death. The tattoo on his left arm was highly noticeable, and for a brief moment I was distracted by its beauty.
“Dare I say, I told you so?” he snickered.
“I am not like you, Seth.”
“Then what on earth are you doing here?”
“My reasons are good and solid,” I said angrily.
“So were mine.”
“I will fight you as long as I walk the earth.”
“Well, now that’s going to be a long time. It should be fun. Don’t stay down here too long, it gets rather hot.” Seth left as quickly as he came.
For a while I listened to the crackling fire and the voices of the infinite damned souls it held, screaming in anger and pain. Some of their faces took shape, writhing and twisting over one another. I didn’t really know how to get back. I hoped the principle was the same, so I closed my eyes and went inside myself. Thinking of earth and Josh, I willed my essence back to my human body.
When I woke I was covered in sweat and something was holding me down. I struggled, broke free and flew across the room.
“Whoa, hold up, it’s just me,” Josh’s kind voice came from the bed.
“Josh! Did I hurt you?”
“I didn’t know you were that strong, but no, I’m ok,” he laughed.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, leaning against the door.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, frowning. “You’ve had a very fitful sleep.”
“I met with the Council.”
That was all I could say before sliding to the floor in a heap. Josh bounded off the bed and pulled me into his arms. He didn’t say anything and let me cry it out. When my sobs reduced to sniffles he took my face in his hands and gently kissed away my tears before softly kissing me. I fell into him and pulled him even closer, twisting my fingers into his soft dark hair. When I finally pulled away he was staring into my eyes.
“Tell me what happened,” he said gently.
“I fell.”
“Just like that?”
I nodded. “They cast me down from Heaven and…” I looked at my hands and fiddled with my ring. I noticed the stone was black. “I stood before Hell’s Gate.”
Josh was silent for a while. I knew he was scared, but I couldn’t read anything that told me he would run.
“It can’t be all bad, you’re still here,” he finally said.
“I can never go back, Josh. I have become one of the Fallen, like Seth.”
I shrank away from him and wrapped my arms around my knees. Josh got to his feet then reached down and helped me up. I moved away towards the window and turned my back to him, but not without first seeing the pained expression in his eyes.
“Please tell me what’s wrong,” he said quietly.
“I’m afraid that you won’t want me anymore.”
“That just isn’t possible, Grace.”
“Everything is different.” I glanced in the mirror and my eyes glistened with fresh tears. “My glow has gone and my wings are black, Josh. What will happen when you see the other changes in me?”
“You’re still glowing, and I know you are good. I have never known anyone as loyal, and faithful, and pure hearted as you. Evil is just not a part of you no matter what colour your wings are.”
“Will you come with me to the rock ledge? I need to show you.”
Josh nodded and I walked into his outstretched arms. I rested my head on his chest, held him tight, and sent my thoughts to our destination. But instead of emanating light, thin fingers of blackness reached out and twisted around us, and we disappeared into a dark mist. We set down softly on the rock ledge. I let go of Josh and took a few steps away.
“See, I’m surrounded by darkness now,” I said.
“Grace…”
“Are you ready?” I cut him off.
“As ready as I was the first time you did this.”
I clasped my hands together and the dark mist flowed out from the centre of my ring. This time I heard the rip as my wings broke through the back of my borrowed T-shirt. Charlotte wouldn’t mind, she had plenty more. It felt good to stretch, and I gave my wings a flutter in the early morning moonlight.
“Hmmm, I see what you mean,” Josh said, trying to make light of the situation.
I scowled at him and began to pace. Absentmindedly, I fiddled with my ring and rattled off the changes I’d already noticed.
“So far, I’ve lost my glow, I now mist instead of orb, my ring has changed and my wings are black. What did I miss?” I stopped pacing and gestured for Josh to look at me.
“Grace, I really think you’re overreacting. You’re worrying about nothing.”
“Nothing! I have been exiled from Heaven, Josh. My wings are black!”
“Actually, they’re a light grey with black edges.”
“This isn’t funny.”
“You’re still beautiful, and I think you’re forgetting the big picture. Do the names Archer and Charlotte ring any bells?” Josh took my hand. I relished his familiar warmth and stepped closer to him. “Do you, yourself, feel any different in here?” He placed his finger gently on my forehead. “Or in here?” He moved his hand and placed his palm across my heart.
He was right, I didn’t feel different. I knew what I was fighting for. I shook my head and Josh wrapped his arms around me. He gently caressed my feathers and ran his fingers along the contours of my wings. His touch was soothing, and I began to calm down.
“Then everything will be fine,” he said. “You’re still a bad-ass Protection Angel, and watch out anyone who tries to get in your way.”
EIGHTEEN
JOSH
Early Thursday Morning
Holding Grace while she slept was an amazing feeling. I was the happiest I’d ever been lying there soaking up her warmth. She’d had a very fitful sleep and I wasn’t surprised. Becoming a fallen angel in your dreams did kind of suck—big time.
Grace was sleeping soundly. I imagined she’d be exhausted after her ordeal, but my eyes were like saucers, and Ryan and I had a seven am training session in a few hours. There were so many things running through my mind I had no hope of falling asleep, and even less hope of putting my thoughts into order. I’d only just come to terms with finding out Grace was an angel, and that vampires existed, then she fell. I knew on the outside I looked like I had it together, but it was all very confusing, and weird.
Suddenly, Grace flew off the bed.
“We have to go. Now!” she sa
id, grabbing my arm.
Before I knew what was happening we were standing in a clearing, the dark morning sky weighing down on us. I didn’t feel as sick this time with the whole Grace travel thing, but it still rocked me. I was also glad I hadn’t changed the night before, I didn’t fancy standing out in the open in my boxers. In the darkness I could make out the shape of a large shed and a small house.
“Where are we?” I asked. “And what’s the matter? You’re freaking me out.”
She didn’t answer, just stood and looked around, turning slowly in a circle. I waved my hand across her line of sight and she ignored me, batting it away.
“Grace?” I planted myself in front of her and grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look at me. “I can’t help if you don’t tell me what’s going on.”
“Charlotte and Arch, I’m trying to find them.”
Her eyes looked a little crazed, darting here and there, reflecting the moonlight. Ok, this was getting weirder. Standing in the middle of god knows where, watching my girlfriend go crazy.
Girlfriend, I liked the sound of that.
“Josh.” She snapped her fingers at me. “Focus!”
“Well, I would if you’d tell me what’s…”
“Found them.”
Grace grabbed my arm and within seconds we were surrounded by thick forest—yep, definitely getting used to Angel Air. She pulled me down into the bracken fern and held her finger to her lips. My eyes adjusted to the gloom and I saw the silhouettes of four or five people. Two of them were standing very close together.
“Do you think you can stay here and not get yourself into trouble?” Grace whispered.
Before I could answer she did her misty thing and disappeared. My heart was pounding in my chest so hard it felt like it would explode. Stay out of trouble, I could do that. Boy was I wrong.
Grace materialised in the middle of the group and punched one guy in the face. Another went blurry and lunged at her; she took him out with a round-house kick. If I went by what Grace had told me, they were obviously vampires.
The sky was beginning to lighten so sunrise wasn’t far off. The two figures standing close together were actually tied to each other at the wrists, back to back. One of them turned and I looked straight into Archer’s eyes. I watched in awe as Grace bent down and drew a knife from his ankle. She flicked it up to cut the rope that bound him to Charlotte.