WeavingDestinyebook

by Ching, G. P.

  He turned toward her, orangey flames licking up around her reflection in his pupils. "I enjoy dancing with you Malini. You are the first in over a century to make me think about beginnings. My world is usually about endings."

  "Do you think it's because of the hand? It vibrates a little when I'm near you."

  "It is highly possible. Your hand is a piece of me. I've never given a gift of that magnitude before."

  Malini leaned back in the seat and tossed the comment around in her head. It was odd to think of having a piece of someone attached to your body. Frankenstein-ish. If she hadn't been a freak before, this certainly pushed her over the edge. She couldn't meet his eyes, so she looked out toward the driver and the horses. A ray of light from the sunset broke through the clouds and she could see their bones x-ray style.

  "The driver is dead." It wasn't a question.

  "Yes. As are the horses. Besides you and the immortals, all of my friends are dead."

  Malini smoothed her dress as they pulled into the parking lot of Paris High School. "Maybe it would be best if the other students didn't know who you were. Can we just say you're from a school up north?"

  "Agreed. And don't worry, the only reason you can tell about the driver and the horses is your hand. To humans they appear quite alive."

  "That's a relief."

  The carriage came to a halt. The driver jumped down from his bench and swung open the door, reaching for her hand to help her down. At first she offered her left but the man snatched his away before she could touch him.

  "Not your healing hand, Malini. Sam is perfectly happy with remaining dead."

  She offered her right and gingerly stepped down to the pavement. There were hoards of students arriving and they were all staring. A couple of the wealthier students had rented limos but no one had procured a horse drawn carriage. As far as Malini knew, this was a first for Paris. But the carriage wasn't the only reason the other students were snapping pictures, some more candidly than others.

  "Henry, has anyone ever told you, you look remarkably like a certain pop star?"

  "What's a pop star?"

  "Pop is a type of music. Popular stuff. You look like a certain popular musician."

  "Like Mozart? I look like a modern day Mozart?"

  "I was actually thinking more like a modern day Bieber."

  "Bieber? Never heard of him."

  "You could be brothers."

  "I hope he's a respectable musician then. I would hate our resemblance to sully your friends' first impression of me."

  "Oh, he's respectable. There will be no sullying," Malini said. If anything there might be jealousy, and she was hoping that one boy in particular would suffer from the green monster.

  He took her elbow and led her toward the double doors in a straight-backed gesture that belonged somewhere in the past or in a fairy tale but not in Paris, Illinois. There were people attending in jeans and sport jackets. Malini was certain that no one would suspect that Henry was Death, but the way he looked, everyone would know he wasn't from Paris.

  Henry held the door for her and she walked to a welcome table surrounded by students. When the crowd broke, she saw Dane handing out favors.

  "Malini! Happy prom. Here's your table card. Would you like halo or wings?"

  "What?"

  "The theme….Haven't you noticed? It's heaven on earth."

  Malini took a good look around. Cut out clouds hung from the ceiling, puffy cotton mounds filled the corners and the signs were decorated in sparkly gold. The doors to the gym were painted to look like the pearly gates.

  "Wow…this is…"

  "Heavenly?" He held up a headband with a tinsel halo and a set of feathery white wings with elastic straps. "They hook on your shoulders. I have them in black, too"

  "I'll take a halo," Malini said. Henry reached for a pair of black wings.

  "What happened to your zombie idea?"

  Malini turned at the sound of Jacob's voice behind her. He was dressed in a black tux with a gray cummerbund that matched the color of Mara's filmy spaghetti strap dress. She realized she was staring but couldn't stop herself.

  "If either of you would have attended any of the prom planning meetings, you would know that the zombie idea was shot down. Not romantic enough. This little stroke of genius was also my idea however. I feel vindicated." Dane handed Jacob and Mara wings, pausing once he noticed the stare-fest between Malini and Jacob.

  "You look beautiful, Malini," Jacob said. His eyes washed over her, then settled on Henry. His lids lowered to a more menacing glare. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Jacob." He extended his hand in Henry's direction.

  Henry shook the hand offered to him and bowed slightly at the waist. "I'm Henry," he said, "Malini's date." Malini knew when Jacob noticed Henry's inhuman gaze. He jumped backwards a little, dropping Henry's hand like it was hot.

  Mara scowled, embarrassed by the rude gesture and took up Henry's hand. "I'm Mara. It's nice to meet you, Henry."

  Henry met her eyes as he had Jacob's but she didn't jerk when she noticed what he was. Instead, she sunk into his stare with a sort of open-mouthed enthrallment that Malini found slightly unsettling.

  "You all should go inside," Dane interrupted, clearing his throat. "They're going to serve dinner soon. It's chicken. Everyone loves chicken."

  All four of them turned to look at Dane. After an awkward pause, Malini remembered her manners. "Will you be joining us at our table, Dane?"

  "You bet. I'll see ya in there." Dane turned to greet Phillip Westcott who was attending with Amy Barger and Malini felt her stomach sink. She thought of how hard this must be for Dane. She made a silent promise to try to help him have a good time tonight and gave him a reassuring nod.

  Taking Henry's hand, she led him through the pearly gates. Inside the gym, Malini wove her way to table eight, taking in the dance floor and the D.J. who was looking bored in the corner. The walls were decorated with black material and peppered with stars. A shiny moon crescent dangled from the ceiling along with more clouds and stars.

  "This doesn't look anything like heaven, Malini," Henry said. He scowled at the celestial decorations.

  Mara who'd followed them to the table grabbed his elbow. "You've been to heaven?"

  "Not exactly. I've seen what it looks like through the door—"

  "Henry!" Malini snapped. She lowered her voice to a harsh whisper. "Remember what we talked about. You're a normal teenage boy from a different school."

  "Is she not a Soulkeeper?" he whispered back.

  "Yes, but there are ears everywhere. This is not the time."

  Mara crossed her arms across the front of her dress and glowered at Malini. "Oh please." She waved her hand around the room. "Look at these people. They're so into themselves. No one gives a damn what we're talking about."

  Henry raised his eyebrows in her direction and smiled. He crossed to Mara and pulled out a chair at the table for her. "As I was saying…," he began again, taking a seat next to her.

  Furious, Malini turned her back on the conversation, which left her staring out at an empty dance floor.

  "You look amazing, Malini," Jacob said from behind her right shoulder. "Breathtaking actually. No one here can hold a candle."

  She turned toward him. "What about Mara?"

  "What about her? I said no one." Jacob's face was gravely serious. "I just wanted you to know." He backed away toward the table and took a seat next to Mara who was deep in conversation with Henry.

  Malini watched him go, a warm melty feeling creeping through her chest. She sat down next to Henry, which at the round table left her facing Jacob. For a moment, there was no one else in the room. Their eyes met across the bursting silver centerpiece, and it was all there in his face, a mutual agreement that they'd come with the wrong people. There was still something between them.

  "Ranch, Italian, or French?" A waitress leaned over Malini's shoulder with a tray full of salad dressing options.

  "French," Malini said.
Henry was quick to mimic her response although he didn't seem to recognize any of the flavors. The waitress ladled the dressing onto the salad that had magically appeared in front of them. When had that happened? Maybe at the same time as Dane had taken his seat next to her.

  "So what do you guys think?" Dane waved his hand at the decorations.

  "It's perfect!" Jacob said, a little too quickly. Malini nodded enthusiastically.

  Dane beamed. "I thought you would like it!" He wore a white tux with a lavender cummerbund, an odd choice considering he didn't have a date. A pair of white wings were strapped to his shoulders. "Too bad Gideon isn't here, right?"

  Malini laughed. There was no way Gideon wouldn't stand out like a beacon anywhere he went in his angel form. The comment reminded her how much she missed him. Gideon had been such a great help to her, the only help she'd received before her initiation. She hoped watching over Katrina wasn't too much of a burden for him.

  Although she went through the motions of forking it in, chewing, and swallowing, she barely tasted her food. It felt like a string or a very strong magnet was implanted in her chest, and every five minutes or so she would find her attention drifting back toward Jacob. It didn't help that Henry and Mara were deep in conversation, which left her ample opportunity. Thank goodness for Dane. He was chattering on about how they found a company to donate the wings and halos.

  "Would you like to dance?" Jacob asked. When had he made his way around the table? Malini glanced at the dance floor, filling fast as couples finished dinner. She was going to say that she should have the first dance with Henry, to be polite, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw him rise and take Mara's hand. They scurried toward the dance floor as if they were afraid she might say something if given the chance. She gave up on propriety and reached for Jacob's hand.

  "I'd love to." She rose from the chair and allowed him to lead her to the floor. The music was slow and he pulled her into his chest. She ached to close that wretched inch between them, to grab his face and dig her fingers into his hair. She reminded herself that he was here with someone else. He'd kissed Mara. The act itself was bad enough but when she considered the timing it was so much worse. She could've died during the initiation and he was passing the time making out with someone else.

  "Don't do that. Don't leave me again," he whispered into her ear.

  "What do you mean? I'm right here."

  "Your body is, but your mind is somewhere else. You're thinking about it, about what I did."

  "How can I not think about it?" Her eyes stung but she refused to cry.

  "I told you before, I didn't initiate it. I should've done more to stop it and sooner. I admit that and I'm sorry. But do you want to go on like this? Staring at each other across the table like we're twelve?"

  She rolled her eyes and put some space between them as they swayed to the music.

  "Don't deny it. I saw the way you looked at me. You know as well as I do that we're supposed to be together."

  "I told you, Jacob. We're not destined for each other like I thought. We don't have to be together. If you want Mara, you can have her."

  "I don't want Mara."

  "Then why did you bring her?"

  "For the same reason you brought Henry."

  "I like Henry."

  "You also like cheese, and by the chemistry or lack of it between you two, I'm guessing Henry is a close second."

  She was about to protest and say with certainty that she liked Henry better than cheese when a scream rose up from the center of the crowd. Malini pivoted toward the sound, the smell of Watcher scorching her nose.

  "Jacob, they're here!" she yelled.

  The crowd parted. People ran for the exits. Malini saw him then, the man in the light gray suit. He could have been one of the other student's parents if it weren't for two things: he had an obsidian blade held against the neck of Amy Barger, and he reeked of Watcher.

  "Come here, Healer, or the girl dies." The man's voice hissed like fire dowsed with water.

  "Who are you?" Malini asked, remaining exactly where she was.

  "You Soulkeepers never recognize me as you should. You'd do well to remember my face. I can do things for you that He never would." His hair was blonde and meticulously groomed, and like all Watchers he was tall and muscular, as attractive as a movie star. Watchers could change their appearance at will, which meant they chose to be forever beautiful. But Malini knew what lingered beneath the false exterior.

  "You’re a Watcher. Are you some kind of leader?"

  He jerked back in offense, pressing the blade into the girl's neck. Amy screamed and a drop of blood trailed down her throat.

  "I am the morning star! I am the leader of all!" he seethed.

  Malini recognized the biblical reference. "Lucifer!" she said. Jacob and Mara came up behind her, flanking her right and left. Henry fell back, inching his way toward the door.

  "Where do you think you're going, Death?" Lucifer asked.

  Henry froze, his chin lowering. "You know I can not choose sides."

  "This time my side has chosen you to STAY IN THIS FUCKING ROOM!" Lucifer seethed. All the doors to the gym slammed shut and locked themselves.

  Most of the students had made it into the hall but a few stragglers pressed themselves against the metal bar handles of the gym doors. One of them was Dane. He'd had plenty of time to get away. Malini wondered briefly why he'd dallied, if it was Amy or them he was concerned about leaving.

  Lucifer's eyes burned in her direction and Malini was shocked how much they reminded her of Henry's. "I invite you to join me, Malini. A second flood is coming and this time I own the ark. Join me and you shall be the new world's first queen, revered by all. I promise you this. I have seen the future and this time, I win. Come now. Join me and I will spare this girl and your friends."

  The blood increased its flow down Amy's neck. The top of her white dress was soaked with it. Tears flowed down her cheeks and tiny sobs escaped her. Gathering her courage, Malini walked toward Lucifer, knowing each step could be her last. "You can't see the future, Lucifer. No one can."

  "Stupid girl. You could be great. You could be powerful!" He grabbed Amy's chin and wrenched it to the side eliciting a high-pitched squeal.

  Malini shook her head and glanced back at Mara and Jacob. "No thanks. I'm happy being me."

  "Cord said you'd be self-righteous."

  "There's one thing Cord didn't tell you about me, Lucifer."

  "What?"

  "I've gone through some changes—" Lightning quick Malini grabbed his wrist with her left hand and yanked the knife away from Amy's throat. She used her foot to shove her out of the way. Beneath her hand, Lucifer's flesh bubbled against hers.

  He laughed and pulled her closer. "You're quick. But I live in hell, sweetheart. I love the burn. You'll see. When we're home, you'll come to enjoy it too."

  She had a second to regret her decision to attack him before she was lying on the floor under a folding chair and Mara was holding her hand. Lucifer was frozen above her.

  "Sorry. You're going to have a bruise tomorrow but I couldn't touch you while you were touching him or he wouldn't freeze. I used the chair to knock you out of his arms."

  "Thanks," Malini said, rubbing a sore spot on her shoulder.

  "That's a very powerful gift," Henry said from his spot near the door.

  Mara jumped, clutching Malini's hand tighter in surprise. "Why the hell aren't you frozen?"

  "Death stops for no one, Mara. My existence isn't ruled by time."

  Malini rolled her eyes. "As interesting as this is, can we get the hell out of here?"

  Mara pulled Malini over to Jacob, reaching for his hand. He snapped out of it, relieved to see Lucifer hadn't taken Malini. Next stop was Dane who woke slower than the others.

  "What the F—" His mouth dropped open. Malini felt his grip loosen with his surprise and squeezed his fingers.

  "Stay with us, Dane. We're getting you out of here." Malini tugged
his arm until he nodded.

  "Shit!" They'd reached the door. It was still locked. They kicked at the metal bar.

  Jacob called water from the glasses but the mechanism was locked by magic not by mechanics. "I can't open it!"

  Henry strolled to the door and with a wave of his hand flung it open. He turned back toward them in the doorway. "Like I told Lucifer, I am not allowed to take sides. But as he chose to use his power unfairly to lock me in against my will, I choose to be freed. Let me be clear, I am not helping you, Soulkeepers. Death is a neutral party in the battle between good and evil. But should you choose to follow me through the open door, I will not prevent it."

  He turned and strolled down the hall. Malini launched herself through the closing door, pulling the other Soulkeepers and Dane along with her.

  "What about the others?" Dane said, gesturing his head toward the crowd of students frozen in various states of running in the parking lot.

  "I'm not strong enough to take more. No offense Dane, but since you're not a Soulkeeper, it's taking a tremendous amount of energy to bring you along." Mara was already shivering, her lips taking on a blue tinge.

  "No offense taken. Just glad to be here."

  Jacob tugged them toward his truck. "Come on. He's after Malini. Don't worry about the others. We need to get her out of here."

  "No." Malini stood her ground. "When I touched him, I saw inside his mind. The ark that he spoke of – it's full of people not animals. The increase in missing persons…it's the Watchers, Jacob. They're taking the weak to farm later when they're living above ground. After they kill off all of us, they plan to live up here and in order to do that they need flesh. Human flesh. All of these people? Lucifer is just mad enough to take them all. We can't leave them. They're defenseless!"

  "Too late," Mara whispered. "I can't hold it any longer." Malini felt Mara's icy grip drop away.

  All hell broke loose in the parking lot as people returned to running and screaming. A car swerved to avoid hitting them where they stood.

  Mara's knees gave out. Malini lurched forward, breaking her fall with her arms. Jacob and Dane came to her aid, catching Mara before her head hit the concrete.