Nick screamed as the long teeth penetrated the scissor’s steel tube. Its snake-tail rose up in an attempt to strike at Nick, but he sliced the snake’s head from its body. Nick turned to Ramel with the thrashing cerberus still attached to his arm.
Their swords clashed. Moonlight glinted off the metal as they repeatedly clanked together. The cerberus used its massive weight to awkwardly twist Nick’s body. Ramel struck at Nick while the cerberus pushed against him. Nick couldn’t respond fast enough. Ramel’s sword sliced Nick’s upper arm and left a bright line of red in its path.
Cold air burned my lungs as I inhaled sharply. My heart constricted as Nick’s precious blood oozed from the wound.
The sounds of the fight filled the night: the metal swords scratched together, the cerberus growled and chuffed, Ramel cursed, and Nick panted and grunted to stay upright.
The cerberus, its teeth still stuck in Nick’s arm, continued to try to knock Nick off balance as he fought with Ramel. Finally, the cerberus forced Nick down. The beast was on top of him. Its massive paws pinned Nick to the ground. The huge beast raised its front paw, claws extended, to rake across Nick’s face. As it lowered its paw, Nick shoved his sword into the beast’s side. Did he go far enough? Did he pierce the beast’s heart? The paw dropped. The head drooped, still attached to Nick’s arm. Nick rolled and stood. Claw marks stained Nick’s abdomen. Blood trickled from his abs.
“My, my, my,” Ramel said smiling. “That’s quite a little problem you have there.” He pointed to the dead cerberus attached to Nick’s arm.
Nick couldn’t win a battle if he had to drag around a dead body. He awkwardly chopped at the beast’s muzzle with his sword. Bloody bits of fur and tissue flung through the air with each hack. In seconds, only the two saber teeth and part of the muzzle were still attached to Nick’s arm. Blood dripped onto the grass from the end of the muzzle. Tendons and skin hung like macabre spaghetti noodles.
Ramel didn’t hesitate. He attacked again while the muzzle was still on Nick’s arm. Their swords clashed. Ramel slipped on the blood-soaked grass. Nick’s sword came down at him, but Ramel rolled left. Nick stabbed the ground, just missing him. Ramel stepped away from Nick.
Nick clutched the muzzle and peeled back the jaws. He pried the teeth out of his arm. Nick removed the steel tube scissor weapon and inspected the punctures the teeth had left. Blood dripped down his arm.
My nerves were shredded, much like the macabre pieces of spaghetti. Things like this happened in movies, not in real life.
The wind blew in our direction and carried the scent of sulfuric blood our way. The scent was almost overwhelming. I covered my nose with my hand and breathed in the smell of my glove instead.
Nick wiped his hand across his sliced shoulder, bite marks, and clawed abs. A glow shimmered for a second and disappeared. The cuts vanished. His skin looked fresh and new where moments before he was bleeding and gauged.
“That’s a neat little trick.” Ramel pointed his sword at Nick. “You’ll have to teach me that someday.”
“That’s not going to happen.” Nick held his sword. I held my breath.
“Shall we finish this like men?”
“What?” Nick asked. “Hand to hand?”
Ramel threw his sword on the blood stained grass. Nick threw his down too. They moved towards each other.
Ramel threw the first punch. Nick blocked it and returned with a jab. Ramel roared in pain as his head popped back and blood poured from his recently broken nose. Ramel knelt down, lowering his center of gravity, and then he rose up as he attacked Nick, lifting him off of the ground. Nick landed with a thud on the ground. Ramel jumped onto Nick and pinned him to the ground. His blood dripped onto Nick’s face as he clenched Nick’s throat with one hand. A silver shimmer sliced through the night air, but Nick grabbed Ramel’s hand and stopped the dagger before it dug into his heart. Simultaneously, with Nick’s free hand, he sliced the air with a silvery streak and cut into Ramel’s arm. Then Nick curled up his legs and pressed them against Ramel’s abdomen. As he straightened his legs, he forced Ramel off of him. Nick shot up, and prepared for the next round.
Ramel spat blood onto the ground. “You caught me,” Ramel smirked as he held the dagger. “Integrity and honor isn’t really my thing.”
“What a surprise,” Nick said. He tossed his dagger from hand to hand. “They’re really not my forte either.”
Ramel moved forward, cautiously. He jabbed at Nick, but Nick blocked the strike with his arm. Ramel attacked again, this time with a kick. Nick caught the kick between his hands and swept Ramel’s leg, taking him down. Nick grabbed Ramel’s foot, pulled it up towards himself, and stomped on Ramel’s kneecap. Ramel roared in pain as his leg broke. He raked his claws through the grass. Nick grabbed the other leg, pulled it up and broke the other kneecap the same way. Ramel’s cries filled the night.
Nick walked over and picked up his sword. Then he marched back to Ramel as he tried to slither away. “You brought this on yourself,” Nick said as he stood over Ramel. The moonlight glinted off his sword. “How many have you mercilessly killed?”
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Ramel shrieked. He held his bloody claws up to Nick. “I can’t help it. It’s who I am. You’re not going to hurt a creature of God’s are you?”
“It’s not my job to forgive. You’re in God’s hands now.” Nick raised his sword and brought it down on Ramel’s neck. His head tumbled across the grass.
I was stunned. I guess I wasn’t sure what to expect. Did I think they’d talk it out? That pure evil would promise to be nicer? How else could this end? With Nick dying? That wasn’t acceptable. This was the only way the battle could end.
“Come on.” Alex squeezed my arm and roused me from my stupor. As he helped me walk into the clearing, he called out, “Nick, look who I brought.”
He said this so casually, as if we were showing up for a party.
The grass was slippery with blood as I walked to meet my knight in shining armor. The sulfuric stench filled my nose as I passed the cerberus with its abdomen ripped open; its intestines were splayed out on the grass. Is this my future?
“What are you doing here?” Nick asked, smeared with blood.
“So this was your important thing,” I whispered.
Ramel’s body lay mangled on the grass. His legs twisted unnaturally along the sides of his torso. Blood trickled from his neck. A small puddle formed on the ground. His head, a few feet away, stared up into the night. His red pupils no longer glowed, and the obsidian had turned a dull shade of gray.
I wasn’t sad he was dead. I was relieved. He’d stalked me, tried to kill me. He’d tried to kill my friends and innocent bystanders when he attacked me on New Year’s Eve. It was right to kill him. He deserved to die because leaving him alive was too dangerous.
No, I wasn’t sad he was dead, but I was overwhelmed by everything I’d learned tonight.
Ramel was a monster. Wait… was he a monster because he wasn’t human or because of his choices?
I’m not wholly human. What am I?
Surely an Asteri doesn’t qualify as a monster, but I’m not human either, am I? But I’m not fully an angel. What am I?
My world was upside-down. Twenty-four hours ago I wouldn’t have believed any of this. I believed in right and wrong. I believed in redemption and grace, mercy and forgiveness. But this… this creature… was there forgiveness for a creature like him?
Can you forgive someone who kills so randomly and on such a massive scale? He was the ultimate serial killer, killing for decades, centuries, or perhaps millennia. What do you do with someone like that? What is a just punishment for a monster like him?
“He can’t hurt you anymore,” Nick said, the bloody sword still in his hand.
“Thanks.” Is that what you say when someone kills for you? Was I destined to battle wickedness in all its forms? Was this my future?
“You should probably go home,” Nick said. “I’ll be awhile. I have to cl
ean this up.” He looked at the mangled carcasses.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought her,” Alex said. He stepped closer to me. “I thought we’d miss the fight. I thought you could explain what you did and then she’d know that she’s safe.”
“He was late.” Nick threw the sword into the grass. The blade went in several inches. It swayed gently back and forth. “Who knows what trouble he caused?”
The ride back was quiet. Neither of us said a word. Alex walked me to the bedroom I was sleeping in.
“Alex.” I clung to the bedpost as he stood in the doorway.
“Yes.”
“Does it get easier? Dealing with the monsters and death?”
“Yes.” He walked over and placed his hand on the bedpost. “I’m sorry you saw all that tonight. When you woke up terrified, I wanted you to feel safe. I wanted you to know that Nick was dealing with Ramel, that he hadn’t abandoned you. I didn’t think about that fact that you might actually see the fight and how that could impact you.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “The worst part was worrying about Nick. I’m actually glad Ramel’s dead. What does that make me?”
“Human.” Alex squeezed my hand.
I felt some peace when he said that. I wasn’t the monster. Ramel was. We are the good guys.
“You should get some sleep,” Alex said softly.
I changed into my pajamas, pulled the blankets up to my chin, and curled up. A light knock sounded on my door. “Come in.”
Alex walked into the room and sat on the bed. “I’ll be across the hall if you need me.” He squeezed my feet through the comforter. “I probably won’t sleep tonight.”
“Are you going to be too tired tomorrow if you stay up all night?” I asked.
“No. We don’t need as much sleep as regular people do, but the dreams are wonderful. That’s why we enjoy sleeping. We can relive our best memories through them.”
“That must be incredible, to choose your dreams.”
“I have my favorites,” Alex whispered. His eyes appeared a darker green in the shadows of the bedroom.
“What do you dream about?”
“People I love.” He smiled. “Being with them again.”
“Do you have someone special you dream about?”
“Yes, every chance I get.” He looked at me. “I should let you get to sleep.”
“Yeah, I’m sure I’ll fall right to sleep. It’s not like anything exciting happened tonight.” I chuckled and tucked some hair behind my ear. “Thanks for taking me to see Nick. Believe it or not, I think I needed to see that. Somehow it just makes all this even more real. It’s like I can’t wake up tomorrow and pretend none of this happened.”
“I know what you mean. Facing reality can be terrifying, but it has to be done. You’re going to be fine.” Alex got up, walked towards the hallway, and paused at the door. “Good night, Kate.”
“Good night, Alex.” I rolled over, and very quickly sweet dreams filled my head. I relived wonderful memories from vacations with my family: swimming at Myrtle Beach, hunting for shells on the Caribbean beaches, and taking carriage rides through Charleston.
The following morning, when I awoke, Nick sat on the floor next to me, reading a book. I propped myself up on my fist. “Good morning.” I smiled, happy to see him.
“So last night was a little weird, huh,” Nick said. He got onto the bed.
“Yeah, it started out with a nightmare. Then reality became worse when I watched my boyfriend fight a demon and the beasts of Hell.” I sat up, took his arm in my hand and examined it. The puncture marks were gone. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“I thought about you all night.”
“I can’t believe you fought him.” My fingers floated over his hand. “You’ve been so wonderful to me this whole time. I’d be dead if you hadn’t shown up.” I caressed his cheek. “Thanks for saving my life.”
“You’re safe for now.” He smiled and slowly brought his fingers down my face. We lips pressed together as we exchanged a reuniting kiss. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that he loved me. He fought for me.
“I’m so glad it was you and not Reese,” he said with a mischievous smile.
“What? Who was born with the Asteri DNA?” I laughed, gently pushing him in the chest. “I know why you’re saying that! Actually, I can think of two reasons why you’re saying that. Reese is a big bore, and it’s a lot more fun kissing me. Am I right?”
“I’m just saying, it seems like a waste to have another guy Asteri. A girl Asteri is a much wiser use of the rare DNA.”
“You are incorrigible.”
“I’m just having a little fun.” His hand squeezed my leg through the bed covers. “I’m so glad you finally know. This will actually make things a lot easier. Now we can begin your training.”
“My training?”
“Yes, you don’t want to remain helpless and vulnerable do you?”
“No, I guess it makes sense that I have to learn how to use my powers. Do I have powers?” Being bombarded by life-altering information can leave one confused.
“Yes, you could call them that. You are an amazing woman, and pretty soon you’ll be nearly unstoppable. In fact, we should go for a run this morning.”
“Now?”
“Yep, put on your running clothes. Zoe went over and got them for you. They’re on the counter in the bathroom. I’ll meet you downstairs.” He stood up and left the room.
I trudged into the bathroom and spotted my clothes on the counter. As I looked into the mirror, I realized that there were two versions of myself. My reflection, which was an illusion of me, and then there was the true physical me. My life from now on would have two versions: the true version that my Asteri family would know, and the façade or reflection of me that everyone else would know.
How would my double life progress? Would I be able to hide my true identity from my parents? How long could I keep up the deception? What would happen if Nephilim or cerberi attacked me in my home? Would my family get caught in the crossfire? Could I protect them without revealing my true identity? What would they think if they realized what I really was? Would they still love me and accept me, or would I frighten them? I steadied myself against the marble counter as I debated whether my parents could handle a daughter who fought cerberi and Nephilim. I prayed they would never know.
I jogged down the steps and met Nick in the living room. He stood by the front door, waiting. “We’re going,” he shouted as he opened the door.
We stepped into the crisp morning air. I breathed in its freshness and felt the chill on my face. This was so different from last night’s dream of smoke and sulfur and from the bloody battle that I witnessed at Jordan Lake. The beauty of today, the cleanness that surrounded us was breathtaking. I was lost in the moment.
“Are you ready?” Nick’s finger brushed the side of my face.
I smiled. “Yes, I’m ready to go with you.”
Cupid’s Dance
“Here, let me help you with that.” Mom smiled as she lifted the gown onto my shoulders. “You look beautiful,” she whispered in my ear. Her hands adjusted the spaghetti straps while her proud reflection smiled at me in the bathroom mirror.
“Thanks, Mom.” I blushed and ran my hands lightly over the fitted bodice. Elaborate crystal encrusted flowers flowed down across the right side of the ivory bodice and then joined more flowers that encircled my hips. A few flowers trailed down the left side of the gown and accented the flaring skirt. This dress would make anyone feel beautiful: the soft fabric, the sweetheart bodice, and the shimmering flowers that accentuated my curves.
“I can’t believe you found a dress that doesn’t compete with that necklace,” Mom said.
“I know.” My fingers ran along the chain and then rested on the butterfly. “I knew as soon as I saw this dress that it was perfect.”
Before I understood my destiny, the necklace was a symbol of Nick’s affection. Now it was a symbol of who I was — an A
steri in transition — an Asteri in need of protection. The necklace wasn’t just a piece of adornment. It was a piece of armament. It shielded me, protected me. It was essential to my survival, and my heart told me that I still didn’t understand the full value of the necklace.
“Do you want to wear my diamond earrings?” Mom asked, already knowing the answer.
“Yes,” I replied excitedly.
“I’ll go get them.” Mom walked out of the bathroom.
I examined myself in the mirror. I didn’t look any different. I was just a girl going to a ball with her boyfriend. All this new knowledge was overwhelming, but for tonight, I wasn’t going to worry about it. I was going to enjoy myself.
The doorbell rang as I met Mom in the hallway. “Here you go, Katie,” she said and handed me the diamonds.
“Thanks.” I put them in and screwed the backs in place to secure them.
Reese popped his head out of his bedroom. “Is that what you’re wearing?” he asked, his eyes bulging.
“She looks beautiful,” Mom said, her sweet tone of voice in stark contrast to the glare she sent Reese’s way.
“Hmm, that’s one word for it,” he scoffed. Mom’s eyes narrowed as he continued his rant. “I’m sure Nick will have a hard time keeping his hands off of you.”
“Thank you for your concern,” I replied sarcastically.
“Kate,” Dad called, “Nick’s here.” Dad smiled up at me as he walked towards the door.
I maintained my balance on my slow trek down the stairs by gripping the handrail. I wasn’t used to maneuvering the stairs in heels and a long gown. This was new territory for me.
Dad opened the door, and Nick stepped in wearing a black tuxedo with the traditional black tie and cummerbund. He looked fabulous. His blue eyes were bright with exuberance. My heart picked up speed with each step towards him.
Scintillate (Scintillate Series Book 1) Page 31