The Helio Trilogy: Volumes 1-3

by Valerie Roeseler

  Camael grits, “Let’s take this somewhere else.” With angelic speed, and with ease, my left fingers are forced to slide up the rank on my right forearm.

  One split second, I’m collapsing to the floor. The next, I’m standing in the grayness of the Veil with Camael. He pushes me away from him as his massive, white wings burst from behind him. My own midnight wings respond equally.

  His voice booms, “I’m not the one you should be fighting.”

  “You’re wrong,” I pledge as I charge across the field of tall, gray grass.

  Each move I make is countered with precision and ease. We take to the sky and clamor back to the ground. Camael lands a powerful kick to my chest then pins me down with his booted foot in my throat. He bellows, “What are you fighting for?”

  I grip his foot and twist his ankle as I use my wings to thrust me upright. I’m successful in throwing him back. He almost lands into the Tree of Life. I yell to him, “Respect!”

  “You have to earn it,” he declares.

  I trudge towards him. “Not for me… For them. They have proven themselves time and time again. You think I care what you believe about them? You don’t know their true essences as I do. They may be Fallen, but they have overly earned the right to your respect.”

  Camael’s wings tuck back behind him. “Them or him?”

  “All of them! But especially him. Solas has done more for the Light than you give him credit for. His wings may tell a different story, but his heart is pure.”

  “Is this why you love him?” he asks in earnest.

  I stand firm, “Why I love him is none of your concern. Why I claimed The Gray Legion as my own is because they have proven their loyalty to the Light despite the Darkness inside them. They fight it each day. They deserve your respect, as does Solas, as do I.”

  The internal war battling in Camael’s mind is clear. I add, “You’re either with us or in our fucking way. Don’t come back until you can show them respect. Choose wisely.” Sliding my fingers down my rank from my wrist to my elbow, I return to my body at The Keep, leaving Camael to fester.

  When I return, I’m not alone. I’m never alone. Jack’s beside me on the bed, where he must have moved me, holding my hand. I sit up, noticing Camael’s still frame propped up in the desk chair. My gaze shifts back to Jack, worried he’ll be angry at me for leaving his father in the Veil.

  He apologizes, “I’m sorry my father pushed you. I didn’t know he would take you to the Veil for more training.”

  My voice is rough as if I’d just awoken from a deep sleep, “How long was I gone?”

  “It’s almost morning.” Jack peeks over to his father, then back to me in confusion. “Shouldn’t he return with you?”

  I slip from the bed, facing Jack after chancing a quick glance over my shoulder at Camael. “He can return on his own, right?”

  He appears more puzzled. “No,” he drawls. “Michael and your father are the only Originals able to travel to and from the Veil.” He begins to chuckle. “Did you leave him there?”

  I explain, “We had a disagreement. He forced us into the Veil where we wouldn’t be stopped.”

  “Stopped?” Jack echoes. “You were fighting?”

  “Yeah. I guess we tried to duke it out. I thought he may need some more time to see things my way.”

  Jack stands from the bed, laughing hard. Heading for the door, he motions for me to follow, “Come on. We should go find your father and tell him to go get him.” Despite myself, I giggle at the ludicrous situation.

  As we round the corridor, Alice is beaming at Jack. He gives her a thumbs up. She nods frantically, then bounces in place, clapping with excitement. Jack takes my hand, moving faster through the corridor, “There’s something I want to show you first.”

  “What did you do?” I ask, looking to Alice for an answer as we pass each other.

  She pushes me along, following us past the Dining Hall, “You’re going to love this.” Alice covers my eyes from behind, “Alright. No peeking.”

  I repeat, “What did you do?”

  Jack’s hand leaves mine, “You’ll see.”

  Alice pulls me to a halt, turning us to the left as a door creaks open. The faintest aroma of coffee greets me with a touch of sweetness. There’s a masculine scent in the distance that I know is Eric. I can also hear his heartbeat.

  There’s a prideful lilt to Jack’s voice, “Ok. Open your eyes.”

  Alice lifts her hands from my eyes. I spin around in awe. The small room they’ve directed me into is dimly lit with three rows of industrial bulbs hanging from the ceiling. There’s a seating area to the right, squared off with a maroon couch, two matching armchairs, and a glass coffee table. A fan of magazines cover one side of the table, and a wooden game of chess is meticulously placed on the other. A stone bar floats along the wall across from the entrance with six stools. To the left is a coffee bar, complete with espresso machines, coffee pots, flavored syrups, and a milk steamer. There’s also a stainless steel refrigerator. The stone walls are decorated with vintage posters, bringing life to the comfortable tables and chairs, littering the room. Nestled in the corner, a brightly lit jukebox grabs my attention as Eric plays an alternative rock song. The singer serenades a warning to tread lightly around his tight troop of friends because they can be dangerous. I love it.

  My voice starts out a whisper, pitching higher and higher with each question, “Holy shit! Is this a coffee shop? Like a real coffee shop? In The Keep?”

  Alice takes my hands, spinning us around in circles, “Isn’t it amazing?” We stop next to Jack, and she gives him a hip bump, “It was Jack’s idea.”

  Jack gives me his million dollar smile, “I wanted you to have a place to relax.”

  I can’t stop smiling. “Thank you. This is beyond awesome.”

  Eric and Jack share a look, then Eric starts dragging Alice out the door, “Say ‘Goodnight,’ Alice.”

  Alice mocks, “Goodnight, Alice.”

  I call out to her, “Oh! Wait!” They stop outside the door. “Can you do me a favor before you guys call it a night?” They wait expectantly. “Can you retrieve something from the Veil for me? I kind of left it behind.”

  “What is it?” Eric asks.

  Jack fills in with a laugh, “My father.”

  My face turns red. Alice chokes, “You left him in the Veil?”

  “It’s a long story. Would you just go get him?” They agree, then bid us a good night again.

  Jack walks over to the couch and lounges back. I join him, taking the armchair next to him. I throw my legs over one arm of the chair and lay back against the other. We talk about how he secretly planned all of this while I was sleeping, away or training. I’m blown away by how thoughtful the space is.

  There’s an awkward lull of silence between us, and I think about how he reacted during my training on The Common. I muster up the courage to bring to light what’s on my mind. “Jack? Why didn’t you stop me during training?”

  “When?”

  I drop my voice, not wishing to be overheard, “After my Darkness surfaced.”

  Jack leans forward, his knees on his elbows as he clasps his hands. He regards the ground a moment before peering up to me. “I would do anything for you, Ivy. I don’t ever want to lose you again. If the worst comes to fruition and you turn to the Darkness for good… I won’t leave you. If you go, I go.”

  Waking the next morning, Jack’s words echo in my mind, “If you go, I go.” Something about it doesn’t sit right with me. I feel nauseous as I sit up. I bolt to the bathroom with angelic speed, my wings bursting out behind me, then vomit into the commode. Ten minutes later, I feel slightly better. I wash my mouth, brush my teeth, then turn for the bedroom. I don’t get much further than that. An erratic path of black downy leads from the bathroom. Following the trail, it ends in my bed. I pull the sheets back. They are everywhere. I go back to the bathroom and check my wings in the mirror. Large patches of feathers are missing in various places.


  What the hell?

  I retract my wings inside myself to heal while I pick up the mess. I get dressed for the day and go back to the mirror. Releasing my wings slowly, black feathers fall as they emerge.

  What the fuck?

  I start to panic, run for Alice’s room, and drag her back to mine, closing the door behind us. Alice starts, “Ivy, what the heck is wrong with you?”

  “Do angels go through stages of molting?” I ask quickly.

  “Molting? Like birds?” She laughs at my ridiculous question. “No.”

  I swallow hard, forcing the bile in my throat to stay at bay. It doesn’t work. I rush into the bathroom again to vomit. Alice is by my side, holding my hair back and rubbing my spine. “Are you alright? What’s going on?”

  After composing myself, I stand and tell her, “I don’t know. Something’s wrong with my wings.”

  “What do you mean?”

  I release my wings again, plumes of feathers dropping in piles behind me. Alice’s doe eyes go wide. I start to cry, “I don’t know what’s happening.”

  She motions to touch them, but I’m at the mercy of the commode again. I finish and try to catch my breath. She whispers harshly, “Are you pregnant?”

  My eyes snap to her, “What? No!”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I’m sure!” She eyes me up and down. “Stop it!” I whisper yell. “I am not pregnant!”

  “Well, something’s wrong. We should see what the Originals know about…shedding…and vomiting…and not being pregnant.”

  I agree but fall back to my place at the commode. My body is enervated by the time I've finished again. Every muscle aches, my throat burns, I can hardly stand, and I don’t have the energy to retract my wings. Alice props herself under my arm to help me walk. I catch my reflection as we leave the bathroom. I look like death. Manic giggles work themselves from my tired body.

  Alice examines me in the most baffled and disturbed way, “What is so funny?”

  I laugh a little harder, having to support the counterweight from Alice to the bed. Between laughing and my dry throat, my voice cracks, scratches, and pitches, “I look like death.”

  She’s not amused, forcing me through the threshold of my chamber. The walls of the corridor are cool and dark, inviting me to lean against them. Alice drags me away, leading me further towards the Throne Room. Sounds become muffled. I close my eyes for just a moment, but can’t find the strength to open them again. She calls out, “Help! Somebody come help us! Michael!”

  The sky rumbles, dark clouds moving quickly overhead. A deafening crack of lightning strikes in the distance. I’m surrounded by dry earth, marred with fissures, the wind whipping at my skin savagely. Across the void of nothingness, someone approaches. As they get closer, déjà vu hits me. She seems familiar, yet not. Lingering feet away, her body mirrors my own. Her long, black hair lashes wildly across her face while her green eyes, like jaded marbles, glint with her mischievous smirk. Spread out boldly behind her in a show of power, her iniquitous wings reflect her intent.

  “Who are you?” I demand.

  Her voice pulls at something in my memory I can’t recall, “I’m your abolition.”

  I feel faint, my vision fading.

  I come to, choking on water. Her voice carrying into my kindling thoughts, a residual taunt, “Tick tock. Tick tock.”

  “Easy, easy,” Raphael soothes, propping my head up with one hand and holding a silver flask in the other. “I need you to take another drink.” I nod, opening my mouth as he pours water down my throat, the purest water I’ve come to appreciate for its rejuvenating properties.

  He helps me sit up on a bed of my own fallen feathers. I’m surrounded by the Council, Jack, Solas, Evelyn, Alice, Eric, and Cassius. “What’s wrong with me?” I ask to their forlorn expressions. Solas’ regard snaps to Alice, alarmed and petrified. I know what she’s thinking as I watch Solas’ face go pale.

  I open my mind for him to hear me, I’m not pregnant. Stop flipping out.

  “Are you positive?” he tests.

  I roll my eyes, Yes! I’m sure I would know if I were pregnant. I would be able to detect another essence inside me.

  Solas seems to accept my answer. Raphael claims, “We’re not sure why you’re sick. Are you not able to heal yourself?”

  I shake my head, “No.”

  Jack reaches down to help me up, “Can you stand?”

  “I think so.” Slowly helping me to my feet, Jack’s worried eyes meet mine. I reassure him, “I think I’m good now.”

  Beckett and Theodora march into the Throne Room. Thea announces, “We think it has begun.”

  Beck specifies, “I got a call. Crops all over the world are being destroyed. People don’t know why. There’s no reasoning behind it. Crops are just dying, and quickly.”

  “Where?” Michael stresses.

  Beck lists, “The States, India, Russia, China… You name it, they’re gone. The entire world is flipping out.”

  My father declares what I’m already thinking, “This is why you are sick. If the food supply vanishes, it is a threat to the survival of humanity. Binding yourself to humanity, you are suffering when it suffers.”

  Solas petitions, “China has the largest population. We should start there. If we can figure out what’s happening and how to fix it, Ivy’s health should improve.”

  Michael agrees, “Once the crops are restored there, we move to the next largest population.”

  Camael barks orders, “Everyone, load up and meet back here. Azrael will transport us in small groups to where we need to go. Be vigilant. This isn’t a random happenstance.”

  I nod, swallowing the proverbial pill, “It’s the Horsemen.”

  Michael corrects, “Famine, to be more precise. You need to be careful. The essence of the Horsemen will be unlike any other you’ve come across.”

  “Are you ready?” Jack examines.

  “I don’t know,” I say honestly.

  Camael surprises me, smiling with pride as he alleges, “You’re ready.”

  Alice accompanies me back to my room just in case I start getting sick again. I assure her I’m fine, then she leaves me to change into my gear. Strapping on the sheaths for my weapons, there’s a knock at my door. My stomach churns, but I hold it down, answering, “Come in!”

  Solas enters, closing the door behind him. “Will you be alright?”

  I nod easily, keeping the bile in my throat from rising. “I’m not sure what we’re supposed to do, and I’m a little nervous. I had a dream when I blacked out.”

  He picks up the cedar box containing my pair of sai, “A dream or a vision?”

  I keep my voice low, “It’s hard to tell anymore. There was a Fallen in some desert. She seemed so familiar, but I still can’t figure out why.”

  Opening the box, Solas retrieves the two sai, bringing them over to me, yet admiring them pensively in his hands. “What happened?”

  I profess, “Nothing. I asked who she was. She said she was my destruction. No, that’s not right. She said she was my abolition.”

  Solas moves close, peering down at me. His bright blue eyes are unreadable. He slides my weapons into their sheaths along the outsides of my thighs, leaning down, but not taking his intense gaze from mine. “If anyone wants to be your abolition, they have to go through me.”

  My words are mumbled. I can’t think straight when he’s touching me. “Thank you.” As he rises, his fingertips brush the backs of my hands. We stare at each other, something unsaid stirring inside him. “What’s wrong?”

  He hesitates to answer, closing his eyes and shaking his head. “It can wait.” My heart falls with disappointment. His eyes open, “We should go. The others are waiting.”

  I grab the long duster Alice made for me months ago and follow Solas to the Throne Room. My father, Beckett, and Merrick are the only ones there. I ask, “Where is everyone?”

  Azrael informs, “You are the first group. Others will
be ready when I return for them.”

  Merrick challenges Beck, “Are you positive of the location?”

  Beck rolls his eyes, then places a hand on Azrael’s shoulder as he looks to me, “Ready to rock this?”

  My mouth twitches into a small grin. I take my father’s hand and Solas’. “Let’s do it.”

  Merrick reaches for my father’s other shoulder at the last second, and we blink from the Throne Room. We arrive in a majestic scenery. Everywhere I look, I feel as if I’m in a painting, emulating a blue and green stain glass abstraction. “Where are we?” I ask in wonderment.

  Beck states low, “We’re in the largest paddy fields in China.”

  Azrael stresses, “I will be back with others,” then leaves us.

  I question, “I don’t see anything wrong.”

  Merrick discloses, “There are no people here.”

  Beck adds, “They’ve all left. Everything they’ve tried to harvest comes up dead or empty.”

  Solas examines the terrain like a hawk. “Do you see that?” he points. There’s a figure crouched away from us on the hill along the horizon. Solas takes my hand to get my attention. “No mercy. Do you understand me? None.” I nod, then take to the sky. The others follow.

  The figure stands, turning around as I land. “Uriel?” I gasp. “What are you doing here?”

  The Second Duke of Sheol gives a wicked grin, waiting for the others to land behind me. I sense Solas on the right, Merrick on the left, and Beck further behind them. Uriel snaps his fingers. Black smoke rises from the ground around us, quickly morphing into Fallen.

  “Ambush!” I yell, motioning to charge Uriel. A dagger meets my throat from behind, and I freeze.

  “Princess,” comes a purring voice in a sing-song tone to my ear. “You broke your oath.”

  The Darkness inside of me crashes through, the color of my eyes flooding with black as dark as onyx. I grit my teeth to speak for fear there is Kapet on the blade, “Lucifer.”