by Laury Falter
I didn’t bother to stand, already knowing that my time here would be short. Campion, knowing it also, simply knelt beside me.
“Thanks again for the escort,” he said, confirming he had remembered my assistance in Gettysburg. “Tell Eran that if he calls on me again, I’ll be ready.”
“I will,” I replied warmly.
“Now go,” he insisted, standing.
No sooner were the words out of his mouth did I end up back in the prison, directly beside Campion’s now vacant body.
Others were now being laid next to him. Alterums, each struggling for life. My housemates, Eran, and others, anyone who was able moved quietly and quickly to sift through the bodies, carrying those still moving to the outcropping. I didn’t hesitate. Without addressing anyone nearby me, Eran included, I found the ones closest to death and escorted each to the other side, one by one, until I returned the last time and found no other Alterums living.
“Welcome back,” Eran said, stepping towards me to tenderly brush the hair from my cheek.
I smiled my thanks at him and delivered Campion’s message, my eyes making one final sweep of the bodies to ensure I hadn’t missed any.
“They’re all gone,” Eran said gently. “Your job here is done. You can rest now. They are all safe.”
“And we have you to thank.” The statement came from a man behind us, one with a thick German accent. Turning, I found him to more closely resemble a Greek god than an Alterum. His face twitched as the flicker of a smile crossed over it. “Because of you, they will live to fight another day.”
“Well, let’s hope that won’t be necessary,” said Ezra, pointedly from a few feet away.
The man’s lips pinched closed briefly before acknowledging, “This battle…It won’t be the last.”
With that ominous statement, we stood in silence, absorbing all that had just taken place. When Eran could take no more of it, he turned and said to the Greek god, “Magnus, I would like you to meet Magdalene.”
My heart flipped at the way he said my name.
“It is an honor,” said Magnus with unquestionable sincerity.
“Thank you for coming back,” I replied, surprising him a little. He hadn’t expected me to be so forthright, I assumed.
“Took me a while to gather them,” he slowly motioned towards the Alterums, some of whom were alive and trying to recover from their battle wounds. “Wasn’t sure we’d get here in time.”
“We are glad you did,” said Felix, his face lifting in a shaky smile of appreciation.
No one else smiled.
We studied the cavern and realized how close we’d come to being annihilated.
Movement from the Elsics, all of whom still lived despite their injuries, caught my eye. Among them, I did not see Abaddon.
“We have one more thing to do…” They each rotated their heads towards me. “Seal the cave.”
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE: GOODBYE
We reached New Orleans just as the sun set over the horizon. The fact that it was the end of the day took on a different meaning then. Deep down, I’m not certain I believed we would ever see another sun set.
Eran and I had flown back as close to each other as possible, so close the tips of our wings brushed against each other at times. Each touch sent a thrill through me and lifted my face in a smile. His response was his signature smirk and I wondered at times if he wasn’t doing it on purpose. Not that it mattered. I adored the moments when we touched and those moments would come to an end soon.
His wounds were rapidly healing now. The swelling was gone and his eyelids could open fully. Bruising still showed but rather than the greenish-purple hue they had been, his damaged skin was now a pale yellow. He would still need a shower to wash off the blood caked to him.
The streetlight went on just as our feet touched the gravel driveway at the side of our house. A hazy, yellow illumination stretched across the side and over the shed, giving us enough light to see where we landed.
The kitchen light was on, making most of us bristle.
Ezra, who had brought Ms. Beedinwigg back with her, stepped up to the door and peered inside without much concern.
“Looks like cornbread and chicken,” she muttered before glancing over her shoulder at us. “Comfort food…Don’t know about you but I could use some right about now.”
She opened the door and Alfred stepped into view, his butler uniform untouched by a single morsel of food. Mr. Hamilton followed, covered in flour and paste from head to toe.
It didn’t matter much what they looked like. We were just glad to see them.
Dinner was soothing, as much as it could be. Neither Mr. Hamilton nor Alfred asked about the mission. The state of Eran’s face and Campion’s absence told them enough. Mr. Hamilton informed us that the local news channel had covered the disturbance at the school and an investigation was being launched into the prank that left the school nearly destroyed. Students and faculty were safe and, in their panic, had apparently not seen any Fallen Ones since none were reported. Conversation from that point on was kept to safer topics such as Mr. Hamilton’s attempt to drive Ms. Beedinwigg’s SUV and Alfred’s questionable choices in cologne.
We all helped with the dishes and when the evening was over, I walked Ms. Beedinwigg, Mr. Hamilton, and Alfred to the front porch where the SUV waited, one wheel parked up on the curb.
As Mr. Hamilton and Alfred waited by the vehicle, Ms. Beedinwigg paused at the bottom of the steps. “See you in class on Monday?” The way she asked her question made me think she already knew the answer.
I smiled back at her, unable to lie. She would have seen through it anyways. I had the feeling that even my silence told her with certainty that she should expect me to be absent.
Smiling sadly to herself, she started down the path again.
“Ms. Beedinwigg,” I stopped her and she slowly turned. “When you said I wasn’t ready…for the mission against the Elsics…I now know what you meant.”
She nodded once, resolutely.
“Thank you…” I paused and looked her directly in the eye, hoping she would understand what I was about to say. “Because of you…because of my death, I believe I am ready now.”
She briefly hung her head wistfully and then looked up. “You are, Maggie. There is no doubt about that.” Her lips lifted in a soft smile. “I’m going to miss you.” It was the first and only time she’d ever admitted that she thought of me as anything more than a responsibility, a student.
She gave me one last, lingering look, as if she were capturing my image in her memory, and then headed for the vehicle.
I watched as she drove away, feeling a loss, a vacancy inside. It was the same kind of emptiness that I imagined a fighter feels entering the rink without his trainer or a captain feels taking over the vessel for the very first time.
I was now on my own. Whether I won or lost, survived or died, I would do it alone.
Later that night, as Eran showered, I stood on my balcony, watching over the rooftops of the city I had come to love. Cherishing it, I breathed in the salty sea air; listened to the melodic jazz music playing down the street; feeling the humidity envelope and comfort my skin, wondering if all the Fallen Ones had been scared off by today’s incident.
This would be the last peaceful night I would allow myself.
Eran entered my room behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, stepping into my world for a moment and silently appreciating it alongside me.
His arms were strong and firm, forming a protective barrier. The warmth of his body, still moist from the shower, pressed against my back, settling against me.
I was going to miss him so much.
Not long after, we left the balcony and he made his way to the door.
“Stay with me,” I whispered.
Something in my voice made him listen and he came quietly to my bedside. We slipped in and he pulled the covers over us, our eyes adjusting to the darkness.
I found him watching me,
his expression filled with love…and appreciation that we were both still here. Then his lids closed and his breathing deepened and I knew it was time.
Still, I couldn’t bring myself to move. I couldn’t free myself from our entwined hands. I couldn’t roll to the side, put my feet on the ground, and walk away. I could envision it, but I couldn’t do it. My entire being refused. Doing so meant putting distance between me and Eran and the very thought of it sickened me. We’d endured enough distance, we had the right to be together.
Yet, it was exactly what I was about to do. He could not come with me. I wouldn’t allow it. Doing so meant putting him at risk again. No, I said silently to him. You’ll remain here, out of harm's way. Only this will give me the peace of mind to do what must be done.
My eyes landed on the scars left behind from the Elsics’ beatings in the prison and my resolve was reinforced.
It took the full measure of my will power to pull away from him, to end our touch, the action making me feel as if my chest were caving in.
Still, I carefully slipped out of bed and stood over him. Now deep asleep, he had no idea that I had left him. I didn’t blame him. After everything he had been through, the weeks of sleepless nights, the emotional turmoil, the fear of losing me, he deserved peace.
My eyes traced the contours of his chiseled face. He was handsome even in exhaustion. The very sight of him comforted me, making me feel as if everything would be all right. That, I knew, was not true.
Not only were his wounds still visible, so many Alterums had endured incredible pain to save us…to save me. Everyone I loved had again been placed in grave danger…because of me.
Ironically, Eran rarely rested in order to ensure I was protected. Now I would forgo sleep to ensure he and all others were protected. Although he didn’t know it yet, our roles had now been reversed.
Quietly, I redressed and, choosing my wardrobe selectively, packed what few belongings I needed into my backpack. From the same pocket, I withdrew a note I’d written just as Eran had left for the shower. It was brief, since I had little time to write it, but it was to the point.
My eyes scanned it once before setting it down.
Eran, I am in love with you. When you wake and find me gone, please don’t take it as any sign to the contrary. Leaving is unavoidable. I can’t put you or any more of those I love at risk any longer. As odd as it may seem, I am doing this for you. I will miss you – all of you. I realize you know this – but I’m going to mention it anyways - there won’t be a second that goes by without my heart aching to be with you. With all of my eternal love, Magdalene Talor.
My heart broke as I left the note on my pillow.
When I left my room, closing my door behind me, I never took my eyes off Eran, locking in the memory of him as Ms. Beedinwigg had done with me.
After I made my way down the stairs and out the back door, I pushed my Harley Davidson down the driveway and, for extra measure, halfway down the street. Kick starting it, I then made my way through the now familiar route across the city towards Mr. Hamilton’s house.
Stopping there, I parked my bike at the path leading to the front door. It was midnight now. The streets were silent. Not even the crickets called out. My knock on her door will wake the neighborhood, I thought. But as it turned out, I never found the need to knock.
Taking the steps two at a time, I found that what I had come for was already there.
Leaned against the door, hidden in the shadows, was the book of notes the Beedinwigg’s had collected over the years. Picking it up, I realized the importance of this tome of information. All the Fallen Ones were listed inside, their descriptions, their acquaintances, their strengths, their weaknesses, and most importantly their common residences.
I remembered the warning Magnus had left us with inside the prison cavern. The fight was not over, he’d said, and I knew just what he meant. So long as the Fallen Ones existed we would always be in peril.
That was exactly what I was going to change.
Beware Fallen Ones, I thought while gazing out into the night. You asked for a fight and I’ll be bringing it to you.
Opening the book, I flipped to the first dossier. “Marilyn Hauser…Fort Lauderdale…” I muttered to myself. Quickly committing the rest of the Fallen One’s profile to memory, I closed the book and walked it back to my bike.
After securing it inside my backpack, I slipped on my bike and started the engine.
I would have to hurry if I was going to make it to Florida by morning…
Brief Biography
Laury Falter graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University and a Master’s degree from Michigan State University. She lives with her husband and two stray dogs in Las Vegas. She has been secretly writing for most of her life and only released her first novel, Fallen, after the insistence of her sister, Babs.