Minutes bled into hours …
The grandfather clock chimed twice; chong, chong … Two o’clock … and the echo dissolved.
The sound of the door opening made me snap my head up. I aimed eyes at Dad and Jaydenn as they trooped in, weapon belts empty of syringes. They didn’t need to say anything; it was on their faces.
And I began to sink into the depths.
Dad said anyway, “I’m sorry, honey. We couldn’t—”
Mom’s hand may have lifted to cover her mouth, I wasn’t sure. Indistinct sounds filled the room, sobs maybe? A frigid feeling came over me. In a dreamlike state, I was alone, wandering in a blizzard of isolation, searching for my Vyn in the biting cold.
Mom said something like, “I’m so sorry, Ellie.” And I thought she might have stood, and she may have been walking toward me. “Ellie,” her voice said, “are you …”
No. I wasn’t okay in the least. Something took charge of my body, a separation of mind and form. My legs lifted me out of the chair and carried me across the room. My arms pushed the weapon wall around. My hands pulled a weapon belt off a hook, strapped it around my waist, and gathered up syringes. They also decided to pull a long spear off the wall. Like a vision, my eyes simply watched the motions of some sort of manifesting purpose. My legs spun me around and marched me across the room.
“Honey,” Dad said, “I don’t think you shou—” His gasp cut him short as his eyes met mine. With that, I stopped and stood before him. It was the first time I’d ever heard him gasp. With a curious head tilt, I observed him, sending a message: I have to go now, Daddy.
“Ellie?” Mom questioned, drawing my gaze to her as she froze. When I blinked, her hand lifted over her mouth.
After turning back to Dad, I gave him a nod. He seemed to understand. With a firm set to his jaw, a taut face holding an intense green gaze, he sidestepped out of my way … A beat, and another. Then long strides carried me toward the door.
Mom’s voice behind me, “What happened to her eyes, they’re white?”
Dad’s gruff reply, “It’s fine. They’ll come back. It’s the power of Source.”
Frantic sounds filled the room behind me. Dad and Jaydenn were gathering up weapons, I assumed. Until the sound of heavy footsteps followed me out the door.…
CHAPTER 35
On the porch deck I stood with Dad and Jaydenn. A faint hint of light pollution lifted from the city. Hunters and angels dotted the night sky over Boden. After jamming a syringe into my thigh, I tossed the empty to the driveway, looked at them and lifted a finger point to the distant battle. No words necessary. They each held a spear as they gave me a firm nod, unfurled their wings, took two steps off the deck and took flight. I followed.
We pushed our way through the night. Stars glittered. My vision was normal, yet crisp and clear and I could see for miles. When I focused on something, I could zoom in like a telescope. Then the finest of details would become clear as if through the lens of a microscope.
When the hunter let out a mucus-garbled yawp, a question came to my mind: Was it I who flipped over in mid-flight, and plunged my spear through the hunters back between his dark wings?
Whoever it was, I watched through my eyes, memories of Vyn storming my senses.
The lifeless vulture tumbled downward.
Another hunter was on the way. I hovered in wait. Approaching, he opened his beak and screeched aloud.
A full rotation backflip as I dropped down and thrust my spear upward through his breast—he let out a death squawk—before I yanked it out to see blood glinting on blade. The vulture seesawed toward the ground like a black-feathered rag, swallowed up by the dark.
Dad and Jaydenn had their eyes locked on me in some sort of awe. My arm lifted a finger point as I directed them toward the hunter-infected sky over Boden.
They understood without question, pushed away to the city while I hung back in thought.
Angel wings glowed across the sky, with the hunters just as numerous.
Which one took Vyn?
Hovering, I watched the war from my new vantage point. A realization came to mind; I had never flown at night. I don’t like it. In a sea of black depths, the monsters lurked above. Yet the change was undeniable.
I was the predator, and the hunters my prey.
An angel and hunter rolled in battle in the distance. The dark spot flew off and the angel began to plummet from the sky, wings flailing in desperation. My lungs pulled full of night air. Two thrusts of my wings before I folded them back into a descending acceleration. A few hundred feet above the city, I lowered beneath the injured angel, held my spear across his body and pushed into his weight to slow his descent. He had life. Blood and anguish stained him, but he still managed a wrinkled grin on his stubbled face as I helped him touch down to the street.
We stood together on the concrete, ambient light from streetlamps pushing through shadows. Inhale. Exhale.
Glass-fronted, brick and wood shops lined the road, sales and specials painted on windows:
GRAND OPENING SALE 30% OFF STOREWIDE. Another read: FRUIT BUFFET, ALL YOU CAN EAT, 1.79 DIAMOND CARATS. BARTERS WELCOME. On the sidewalk before the building, propped against a bent lamppost, a dead hunter lay twisted in a pool of lamplight. And over there, a lifeless black wing dangled off the roof edge of another brick building. Torn fabric from the storefront awning flapped on a light wind. I watched a leaf, or scrap of paper, skitter down the street. Distant screeches filled the sky, echoes of war in the night.
The rescued angel towered at team height as he set curious eyes down on me, a hobbled wing against his side with the tip bent on the ground. “Elle?” he questioned.
Did I know him? I gave him a head tilt, straightened it. Words seemed to crawl up my throat and I spoke the first words since the den, in an odd, vibratory tone, “Yes. I am Elle, and you are?”
He placed his right hand on his wounded left shoulder, winced. “It’s me girl, Tyr. What happened to you?”
Senses lifted, memories, the stadium, Tyr ... I replied, “Oh, yes, Tyr. I didn’t recognize you.” My voice was back to normal. I pushed windblown hair off my face, tucked it behind my ear. With the butt of my spear on the ground, bloodied tip to the sky, I held my gaze on Tyr.
“You really are part of the team, aren’t you?” Tyr said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m sorry I ever doubted you. You saved my life, girl.” He gave me a pinched- and pained grin on his battle-worn face.
Purpose flashed in my mind as I pleaded, “Have you seen, Vyn?”
“No, I haven’t.” His expression went to confusion. “Shouldn’t he be at the lab?”
Yes, he should be. I felt my face wilt into a frown.
At the sound of wings, I wheeled around to catch sight of a falling hunter just as it hit the roof with a loud thwump. The pink neon-lighted sign that hung in the storefront window read, Angel’s Closet. It doesn’t matter, nothing matters. As my bottom lip started to quiver, I took wing before the sobs came.
“Thanks, Elle,” Tyr called from the ground. I sniffled, rubbed my nose, and pushed a few wing thrusts …Up … up … into reality I ascended.
Flight … Memories of Vyn rushed into my mind: His dimpled, innocent smile. Those soft lips. His laughter. The time when he dipped me down and kissed me in front of the cave. Our moments of touching wings. How I relished his heartbeat next to mine.
All the memories of our life were there like watching a love story, already knowing the ending.
Oh, Source, he can’t be gone. He just can’t. He hasn’t told me he loves me yet. Please. Please! … My mind sparked into words, “Source, what did you do to me? I never did any-thing wrong. And you— Why, why would you let this happen? If you let anything happen to him, I’ll find you. And I will end you! Do you hear me? I’m coming for you!”
Emotions spilled. I cried aloud, “Vyn! Where are you?”
A lightning jolt of energy went through me as a hunter swooped down from the moon. “I don’t flappin thi
nk so,” I growled.
My jaw muscles worked a clench. The spear knifed through his black feathers and he yawped with the sound of his last heartbeat. I yanked the spear out, spat the words at him, “You filthy murderer.”
He dropped out of sight.
Not yet! I’m not done with you!
I streaked after him, caught up, and lost my mind:
While maniacally screaming and crying, while grating fury between my teeth, while mucus shook from my nose and slobber sprayed—I stabbed, and stabbed, and tore, and tore black feathers from his body. Until I backed off and he slammed into the ground in a puff of dirt.
Rage kept me company as I took out all in my path without care of my life or death. Self-propelled night wind rushed through my hair and wings. Burning blisters formed on my palms.
Minutes …
Hours …
I reached to my weapon belt, pulled a syringe and plunged it into my thigh, yanked it out and tossed the empty into the abyss.
Lifeless hunters littered the city. I searched for my love, tears sprinkling the earth.
What would I see if I did find him? It doesn’t matter, just find him.
Angie’s words whispered in my mind; He loves you, Ellie. He would die for you.
An endless night wore on….
****
The sun crawled up over the mountainous horizon like a deviant ball of flame. Day came, bringing with it silence. Angels returned to their homes.
Pity awaited me, I suspected, so I decided to stay out for a while. My engine still sputtered with shards of hope. But there was nothing left in the sky.
My wings set me down in a field of wild grass and weeds, pine forest all around. Jagged mountaintops of the Crags lifted thousands of feet above. The scent of nature rode on a chilled breeze. A hawk call pierced the sky.
Deceitful beauty.
Colors were too vivid, sky too clear, smells too sweet.
I tossed the spear aside, unbuckled the weapon belt and dropped it, then lowered to sit on the damp cold, pulled my knees to my chest and hugged them. Hair fell around my face as I sat with my head bowed; my stinging eyes to the ground. Drenched in loss, my heart weighed thick and heavy as it thumped. I counted the beats—one, and another. Minutes passed. I rubbed my leaking nose with the back of my hand, and sniffled with the only question: I’m supposed to save the children. Who’s going to save me?
My mother and everyone else would search for me, I knew, so I got to my feet, bent to pick up the spear and felt the razor sting of open blisters on my palm flesh. Looking around, I made the decision to head into the woods. My legs pushed through the tall grass as I trudged across the field, morning dew wetting my jeans to the knees.
The dirt path narrowed under the shade of pines, alder bushes bordering. I moved along.
Birdsong filled the forest as they flittered from branch to bush and back. A morning dove cooed softly, coo-oo, coo, hoo, oo. Squirrels chattered. Rabbits scurried. A hawk called, kee-eee-aar … In all my life, I had never felt more alone.
Giggles lifted from the bushes ahead, and again. My head swiveled around on a squinting search, until I spotted a little girl in a dress. My eyes narrowed in suspicion when I noticed her pointed ears and yellow eyes. Without my bow, I had no choice but to follow.
She hid behind a tree, giggled. With a playful squeal, she jumped out and skipped away, leaves and twigs kicking up from her shoes, until she disappeared behind an alder bush. The pattern continued as I followed along. My vision would flash white, and fizzle back to normal, as if the ability were dying.
Dread tugged at me. I readied my spear, moved along in a cat-like crouch down the sun-dappled path. A tangle of knots lay in my belly, churning up a coil of nausea. My mouth was dry like the sand that scratched at my eyes. I licked my lips, tasted tear salt.
The girl would dash across the path to a bush or tree, tittering. I wished she would stop that; making it harder to concentrate on terminating her existence. Ahead, an earthen cave came into view through an alder thicket. The hive?
“Ellieee,” Mom’s anguish-filled voice called out above the forest.
The girl disappeared into the cave. I walked to the entrance. Vegetation overhung and wrapped around the mouth. Standing there, I glanced up through the trees to see Mom, Dad, Jaydenn and Luca flying above while they scanned the forest. They couldn’t see me. Ginelle and Angie must be home with Steffunnie, I assumed. Thoughts of Steff made me lift some sort of smile. But I knew where I needed to be. The smile fell away. I said my goodbyes to them, turned, gazed into a dark gateway of uncertainty … and stepped into the earth.
****
Surrounded by dirt, cold, and a musty stench, I moved along in a semi-crouch. My natural glow provided just enough light as I held my spear in one hand, leaving my other hand to clear my way. Roots filled the narrow, claustrophobic tunnel, some draped like tangled hair, others embedded and jutting out to snag any passerby. I imagined some spider waiting to feel the vibrations in the web of roots, waiting to sink his fangs into an unfortunate one and drink my blood like an angelic cocktail. I shivered. Then shook it off when I caught a glimpse of the girl. Her giggles tinkled in the distance. She shuffled across the cave floor and disappeared like an apparition, testing my sanity over the reality of her existence. Her giggle brought me back and pulled me forward, deeper into the dark. I pushed a root out of my way, continued.
The cave was widening, yet still felt like some sort of black hole porthole, sucking the air from my lungs and tightening my chest. I pushed away the panic by calling out, “I know you’re back there.” A breath. “You might as well come out and face it.” A step. “I’m going to end every one of you.” With a memory of Vyn, I yelled, “Do you hear me? I’m going to kill all of you!” I slapped a dangling root out of my way and took another step.
Distant frantic noises scuffled, sending a twinge of fright up my spine, until I realized they weren’t running toward me, but away. I stalked along with a ready spear.
Shallow panting breaths as the memories of the drek “family” around the campfire skittered across my mind, how they had tried to fool me. No, not this time. Footprints led away, many—the floor covered with them. With each step I took, dirt grew colder, along with my thoughts.
A room opening ahead and to the right caught my attention. The sight halted me to stand with my choices … I decided to edge along the cave wall on a slow approach. Footprints trailed and disappeared into the room. Pulse thumped in my neck. I expelled a breath, drew in more.
Leaning my back against the main cave wall next to the entrance, I prepared myself to look in. I rubbed my eyes and face, felt the grit. Licked my dry lips, tasted salty dirt. Roots pressed into my wings, I could feel bugs climbing on, but it didn’t faze me. What was I doing? I should just leave and go get everyone else. The thought of Vyn reminded of purpose. After a decisive back-of-the-head tap to the wall, I snapped a glance into and out of the room. One glance was all I needed. My back to the main cave wall again, waves of panic pumped through my veins. The sight had turned my legs to liquid, squeezed my lungs and clenched my heart. Run. No.
Did I really just see that? I have to get out of here. No. Pull yourself together.
Seconds beat into torturous minutes. Okay, this is it.
I pulled off the wall, turned, sidestepped to the front of the entrance, stood … and peered in.
His red, vulture eyes blinked at me.
Every snap of Dakarai’s eyelids sent a valve in my heart to jump. My terrified gaze slid to the right of him, to the floor, and tears stung my eyes. Blood spattered the cave floor, angel blood. A blood-soaked lab coat lay on the dirt. Vyn’s coat. A scattering of angel bones lay around. Vyn’s bones.
Stark horror paralyzed, pushed through me, sent my face into uncontrollable quivers and wracked my body with violent trembling.
Dakarai simply watched me, clicked his black vulture beak, taunted. Then let out the sound of my nightmares—a throaty sound pushing from
his long windpipe, URRRRRR.
NO.
The flame inside me sparked, grew, and forged a new wrath.
His red eyes blinked again. Time’s up … for one of us.
CHAPTER 36
Dakarai clacked his beak, chattered. Was he laughing at me? A jaw clench as I lifted the spear, glanced down at the lab coat and back, fueling my fire. Fear festered inside, but I forced it away with a spear thrust. Dakarai snapped at it, chattered again. He threw his head back and screeched aloud. The sound was like tearing metal as it ricocheted off the stone walls of the cave room. I held a wince of pain, the grating volume threatening to rip my eardrums.
Another spear thrust pushed the pain aside.
He stopped, snapped at it, another vulture squawk. With every jab, I inched closer, his beak barely missing the spear. Now mere feet away, I stood with the realization that I had crossed a line. I jabbed, knowing his pattern, and that he would soon throw his head back for another screech.
Thrust, jab, snap … Thrust, jab, snap.
He halted, blinked, shifted his weight from foot to foot, and seemed to study me as he cocked his head. Then reared back, stood tall and stretched his wings, stomped his talons to the dirt. My heart thumped. Eyes burned with sweat. Breaths panted.
The moment came.
Time it right, Elle. You only get one chance.
His head threw back.
I lunged forward.
He swiveled back to catch me, and Yawped.
The spear tip disappeared through his neck feathers just above the breastbone.
After shuffling out of the room, I spun to watch with a quaking hand over my mouth.
Dakarai wobbled, looked around. He seemed confused as to what hung from his black-feathered body.
Blood appeared on the spear, syrupy ribbons oozing and stretching to the dirt.
Wings of Boden Page 26