by E. A. Abel
When he stood up, she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.
Erica practically pulled her off him. “I’m so happy for you.” She was crying.
Then Jules grabbed her and hugged her tightly. “I’m only happy if you’re happy,” she said.
Alivia nodded. “I’m happy.”
“I would like to congratulate the happy couple once again,” Demeetrie said.
Demeetrie hugged Alivia and whispered.
“I am afraid it is time for you to make your journey.”
Alivia nodded. She glanced at Chace and moved toward the edge of the cliff. “I love you,” she said over her shoulder.
☼
Chace tried to stop Alivia, but she leaped through the fog before he had the chance. Seconds later, her body appeared on the ground at the edge of the cliff.
Chace stood over her.
“Do not move her,” Demeetrie said and grabbed his arm.
Chace raised his brow questioningly.
“Her spirit has left her physical body. If she cannot find the physical body where she left it, she may never return.” Demeetrie turned to Erica. “Have you brought what I asked you to bring?”
Erica nodded, walked to where they were standing and handed Demeetrie a small jar.
Demeetrie opened the jar and sprinkled ash over Alivias’ body.
“What is that?” Chace asked.
“It’s the ash from the sacred oak tree. It will help protect her body from other spirits that try to enter her physical body.”
Erica went to kneel down beside Alivia. She pressed her two fingers against her neck. “She has a strong pulse.”
“Alivia is not dead. She is unconscious,” Demeetrie said.
Chace stared at the ring on her left hand. He should have stopped her. Devin didn’t deserve to be rescued. Devin did nothing to protect her when she was lying at the side of the road in the woods near death. He should have taken her and sped off with her to a place where no one would have found them. He shook his head and moved closer to the edge of the cliff. He brushed his hand over the fog. The fog parted and the door to the spiritual realm was right in front of him. Chace tried to push his hand through the opening but he couldn’t.
Jules was beside him in an instant. “I can hear her.”
“Hear who?” Chace asked, giving her a sideways glance.
“Alivia,” Jules said.
Demeetrie moved closer to them. “Try talking to her.”
Jules nodded. “Alivia can you hear me?”
YES…
“Did you find the door that leads to Hellsgrave?” Jules asked.
Yes, but there is a huge disfigured creature guarding the door. He told me to turn back.
Jules repeated every word that Alivia said.
“Tell her to use the jar that I gave to her,” Demeetrie said.
“Demeetrie says to use the jar he gave you,” Jules said.
“What jar?” Chace asked.
“Mercy had sleeping gas trapped inside a jar and I gave it to Alivia before she left,” Demeetrie said.
I used it, but nothings’ happening.
“Tell her to get back here before something goes wrong,” Chace said.
Demeetrie stared at Chace. “Don’t you dare do that. Tell her it is a good time to use the crystal.”
“Alivia, Demeetrie says to use the crystal,” Jules said.
Minutes passed and Jules said nothing.
“Well did it work?” Chace asked.
“Alivia are you there? Did the crystal work?”
Chace stared at Jules and waited.
Jules shook her head. “I’m sorry Chace she’s not answering.”
Chace glared at Demeetrie. “Okay, what the hell did you give her?”
“It’s a cloaking crystal. She can travel through
Hellsgrave unnoticed,” Demeetrie said.
“Then why can’t Jules hear her?”
Demeetrie rested his hand on his shoulder. “The cloaking crystal protects her. Its magic will shield her from anyone or anything being able to see her.”
Chace nodded.
☼
Alivia searched through several torture cells before she found the one Devin was in.
She remembered the story when Dahlia explained the torture that she and Danzanelli suffered through, but that was nothing compared to what Devin was going through. She stood in front of Devins' cell and couldn't believe her eyes.
Several dark shadows with glowing yellow eyes were circling around Devin with a machine in their hands. Devin was lying on the cell floor sprawled out, screaming. His wrists and feet were being restricted with shackles and chains. The machines, which resembled mini lawn mowers, were chopping away at his limbs. Each blade cut threw his limbs and chopped him into tiny shreds. When the process was complete, Devin became his physical self once more and it started all over again.
Alivia continued her search. Mercy had to be close by. She floated down the narrow dark hall of the prison and glanced into each cell. Dahlia was in a cell about ten cells down from Devins’. Dahlia was hanging from chains as the wolves ate away at her face, hands and feet. Each time they grew back, they ate them again.
She kept going. Finally, at the end of the dimly lit hall, she saw Mercy. Mercy was sitting on the ground in the middle of eight large grotesque snakes. Each snake took turns biting different spots on her body. Green acidic venom lit up inside her veins and began to burn through to the outer layers of her skin. Mercy was screaming and Alivia couldn't take it anymore.
She turned away and searched for the keys to the cells. She made her way down another narrow hall. That’s when she spotted the giant black pig sitting at a table. She looked above its head a saw the keys hanging on a hook on the stone-wall. Then a large green pig walked toward the black pig on its hind legs. Alivia stuck out her leg and tripped the green pig just as it walked past the black pig. The green pig fell hard. Within seconds, the pig hopped up onto its hind legs. He glared at the black pig and launched himself at him. Alivia rushed past the both of them as they rolled around the ground hitting one another. She reached for the keys and lifted them off the hook as quietly as possible. Once she had the keys in her hand, she floated back toward the direction she had come from.
She unlocked the cell that held Mercy first. She waited for Mercys’ body to come back to normal. “Hold onto me and don’t let go,” she whispered in her ear once she released her.
Together they quietly walked down the hall to Dahlias’ cell. Alivia unlocked the cell and stepped inside. She undid the chains from around Dahlias’ wrists and legs and Dahlia fell to the floor. The sound of Dahlia falling to the floor was so loud that Alivia thought for sure one of the pig guards had heard. Again she waited for Dahlias’ face, hands and feet to take shape.
“Grab onto me and don’t let go. If you do those pigs will see you.” Alivia said to Dahlia.
Dahlia nodded.
The three of them rushed to Devins’ cell. Once they were inside Alivia went to whisper in his ear. “It’s Alivia, Devin. I’m going to get the shackles and chains off you. Devin listen to me once I take the chains off make sure you grab onto me. I am holding a crystal that makes me invisible. Do you understand?”
Devin nodded.
Alivia undid the shackles and chains and waited for Devin to get up. Once he was his normal self again and standing, Alivia reached for his hand and held it.
“Don’t let go, no matter what happens,” she whispered.
Dahlia had Alivias’ other hand and Mercy jumped onto her back. Together they walked down the hall slowly.
“Stop,” Devin whispered. “That cell right there is where they’re torturing the sunvamps.”
“Are you sure?” she whispered.
“Yes, I heard the pig guards talking,” Devin said.
“Okay, I’ll let them out, but after this Devin we’re leaving, deal.”
“Deal,” he said.
Alivia released the four sunvamps w
hile still holding onto Devin, Dahlia and Mercy. Once they had their full bodies back, she explained to them to hold on and not to let go no matter what. They agreed. Two of them grabbed a hold of each of her shoulders and walked backwards. The other two sunvamps linked their arm through hers from behind.
They passed several snorting guards quietly and slowly. They stopped when they finally came to the door. The disfigured creature was asleep on the ground curled up into a ball. They passed over top of him. Just as they were about to walk through the realm door a loud siren went off.
“Go,” Alivia said and threw the crystal onto the stairs.
Every one of them rushed through the door and began to climb the staircase. Half way up the staircase, Alivia stopped. She glanced down quickly and that’s when she saw about twenty little demon monsters climbing the stairs toward them. She shoved Devin, then Dahlia, then Mercy through the realm door to the other side. Then she did the same to the four sunvamps. She glanced down again at the demons that were only a few steps away from her.
☼
Chace watched as Devin, Dahlia, Mercy and four people who he didn’t recognize came leaping out of the door.
Danzanelli rushed to Dahlia. Dahlia hugged her husband. “You must hurry and give the sunvamps’ your blood.” Dahlia said.
Danzanelli rushed over to where the sunvamps’ were standing beside Demeetrie. He bit his fangs into his wrist and offered the first sunvamp his blood.
When he got to the second one, the third and fourth one were beginning to turn into their translucent form.
Danzanelli moved on to the third one. When he was finished, he was just about to give the fourth one his blood, but the fourth sunvamp disintegrated into a pile of ash right before their very eyes.
Erica gasped and Tucker put his arm around her. “Holy shit, that was incredible.” Tucker said.
Chace shot Tucker a dirty look.
“Sorry, it’s just that that was the freakiest shit I have ever seen.” Tucker said.
Erica elbowed Tucker hard in the ribs.
Chace turned and stared at the realm door. There was still no sign of Alivia. He turned to stare at her body, still nothing.
“Where’s Alivia?” Chace asked.
“She was right behind us,” Devin said.
Demeetrie rushed to Alivias’ body lying on the ground and began to brush away the oak ash. “Help me get the ash off of her before it’s too late,” Demeetrie said.
Devin, Chace, Erica, Jules and Demeetrie frantically brushed away at the ash. Mercy stood beside Alivia and waved her hand over her body. Within seconds, all the remaining ash flew off.
They waited.
Nothing happened.
“Okay something isn’t right here.” Chace said.
“Jules see if you can talk to her.” Erica said.
Jules walked up to the door of the realm.
“Alivia can you hear me?”
Jules shook her head. “She won’t answer.” Jules looked as if she was beginning to panic just as much as Chace was.
“Umm…guys do you see what I’m seeing?” Tucker said and pointed to the realm door.
Little tiny demons jumped out. They scattered about until they formed a line, ten in front and ten in the back.
Chace laughed as he stared at the hand-sized demons and Jules backed away. The middle demon in the front snarled and just suddenly began to grow bigger. Chace stopped laughing. The demon was now the same size as Chace.
“Holy freaking shit, what the hell are those things?” Tucker shouted.
Demeetrie, Devin, Danzanelli and the three sunvamps sped to stand beside Chace as the other demons grew as big as the first one.
“Testificor!” one of the demons shouted.
The first row of demons charged ahead. Chace lifted up his leg and kicked the creature in his face. The creature flew back. Devin leaped up into the air and dropped kicked one of the creatures in the head. That creature flew through the air and landed somewhere inside the realm door.
Demeetrie and Danzanelli along with the three sunvamps’ started kicking and punching the demons. The other ten creatures scattered and began fighting with Jules, Erica, Mercy and Tucker.
Chace went to help Jules.
Devin went to help Mercy.
Dahlia sped over to Erica and punched the creature that hit her in the face.
Tucker grabbed the demon by the neck, lifted him up and slammed him down to the ground.
Devin grabbed the creature that was choking Mercy and sank his fangs deep in his neck. The creature screamed out in pain.
Chace pulled the demon off Jules, who was on the ground scratching and clawing away at the demons face, Chace held the creature in the air by his throat and snapped its neck. The creature fell to the ground.
Danzanelli, Demeetrie, Dahlia, Devin and Chace grabbed the creatures one by one and snapped their necks.
When the last creature fell to the ground Erica was kneeling at Jules’ side.
“Chace she’s hurt pretty bad.” Erica said pressing both her hands down to stop the blood from gushing out of the hole in her neck. Chace knelt over Jules and placed his hand on her neck to heal her.
When nothing happened, Demeetrie came and knelt down and gently pushed Chace out of the way.
“I don’t understand.” Chace said shaking his head. “I could heal people before, what happened?”
Dahlia looked at Danzanelli and then at Chace. “I’m afraid that when you shifted the last time into your bird form you lost the ability to heal.”
Chace frowned. “Will I ever get it back?”
“It all depends. Over the centuries, your father had abilities and then he lost them. Years later, he would get another ability but different from the first. In your case, you may shift again and this time your healing ability will be different from the first time you had it. Do you understand?” Dahlia asked.
Chace nodded.
“Thank you Demeetrie,” Jules said as she sat up and then lifted herself to her feet.
“My pleasure,” Demeetrie said.
Chace shifted his gaze to Alivia just as she started to sit up. Chace rushed to her side and picked her up. He twirled her around happy to see her. “You did it,” he said.
Alivia stared into his eyes. Her gaze was glossed over with happiness and Chace couldn’t hold back any longer. He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her passionately.
Demeetrie was smiling when Chace finally lowered her to her feet.
“I am forever in your debt, Bella. Not only have you brought back my family but also you managed to release many others.” Demeetrie hugged her tightly.
“I can’t take credit for rescuing the others that was all Devins’ idea,” Alivia said.
“Yes, but without you no one would be here right now,” Demeetrie said and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
“I would like you to meet Alivia,” Demeetrie said taking his arm away from her shoulders.
“Please to make your acquaintance,” Each one of the sunvamps said.
Alivia smiled and shook their hand. Chace walked up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her back to rest against him.
“Well, it has been a long night. It is time to take a well deserved rest.” Demeetrie turned to Chace. “You must take Alivia home and let her relax. Tomorrow we will meet at the Casa De Luca for a feast, yes.”
Chace nodded and smiled.
“Everyone here is welcomed to join us. This is a momentous occasion and it must be celebrated,” Demeetrie said.
Everyone nodded in agreement and headed off in their separate directions.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Alivia and Chace spent the night together and the following day as well. It was perfect. There were no text messages. No phone calls and the most wonderful thing of all, there was no one in danger. Jules had closed the Cafe and spent the day laughing and joking with Alivia, Lawson and Chace. It turned out to be one of the happiest days that Alivia had in a
while.
At 5:00 p.m., they all piled into Chaces’ BMW and drove to the Casa De Luca.
Demeetrie greeted them at the door. “Wonderful, the guest of honor has arrived,” Demeetrie said and pulled Alivia down the wide hall toward the Grand living room. Erica, Tucker, Danzanelli, Dahlia, the three sunvamps, Zio Sandino and Mercy were all standing around with a glass of wine in their hands
“Won’t Lawson being here pose a problem?” she asked.
Demeetrie laughed. “Today every person that came through the spiritual realm was cloaked to hide their existence. Added to the cloaking spell was another much more complex spell that shields them from knowing what they are and where they came from. In other words, anyone who sees them will believe they are actually humans.”
She nodded. She hoped for everyone’s sake that the combination of spells worked just as Demeetrie believed they would.
Lawson walked in the room just as she turned around. He grabbed a glass of wine off the tray that the young waiter had offered him and he took a sip. Alivia waited for disaster to hit.
Minutes later, everything remained peaceful.
Chace walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “It all seems so perfect, doesn’t it?”
She nodded. “I’m expecting something to go wrong.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean. It seems too good to be true,” he said.
Dahlia and Danzanelli walked up to them. “I suppose we must congratulate you both on your recent engagement,” Dahlia said and smiled sweetly as she glanced briefly at her ring.
“We’ve been engaged for a week but only made it official last night,” Chace said.
“It is rare to happen upon your soulmate. But once you do, it makes life all so much more exciting,” Danzanelli said.
Chace laughed. “These days we would like a little less excitement.”
Alivia nodded. “Yes, a little less excitement would suit me just fine.”
Devin joined them. “Have you thanked Alivia for rescuing you from Hellsgrave Devin?” Dahlia asked.