by Mary Ting
The next day, I called Balen and Paymon and asked them to act on their promise. I’d ingeniously set up a meeting for Malum with the nightclub managers to discuss the vampire incident.
Today, I planned to defy Malum’s order: to stay away from that damn globe that called to me. I would finally get an answer.
Balen and Paymon entered through the east wing where my bedroom was located. My massive room was furnished with the highest quality pieces, chosen by the best designer. While they waited for me in my room, I went to Malum’s office.
Whispers filled my mind when I neared the globe. Softly at first, and they grew stronger the closer I approached. The feather swirled, as if floating with a brisk breeze, something it hadn’t done before.
I stiffened at ancient voices I couldn’t understand, and chills slithered up my arms. I felt as though they murmured of life and death.
Hurry.
At this point, I didn’t care if Malum had the video camera turned on. I grabbed the globe and got the hell out.
Balen examined the globe when I set it on my desk.
“What do you want me to do?” Balen waved his hands over it, not touching it.
“I need to know why it calls me. I hear whispers every damn time I’m near it, but today it’s louder. Maybe it senses something I can’t detect. Perhaps it knows I’m going to set it free.”
“Can you hear it now?”
“Yes. Do you think Malum might have gotten someone to cast a spell so if a person neared it, the murmurs would scare them off? I mean, he was very protective of it. I sound crazy, don’t I?” I sighed. “Do you hear anything?”
Balen and Paymon shook their heads.
“What do you hear?” Paymon leaned closer next to Balen, his eyes fixed on the feather.
“I don’t understand what it’s saying. Can you help me or not?” I didn’t mean to sound harsh, especially when I was putting their lives on the line.
Balen met my gaze. “Yes. I believe I can. I’m going to channel the feather to you. You might see things you don’t want. Perhaps things from your past. Do you want to do this?”
I considered the repercussions. I was sure there would be none. My human family’s deaths, I already knew about. What could possibly be worse?
“Sure. Let’s get this over with. Malum will be home in a couple of hours.”
Balen rubbed his hands together, his eyes beaming with excitement. “Okay. Take the globe with you to your bed and lie down. Place one hand on the globe. Hurry. Don’t just stand there and stare at me, Paymon might get jealous.” Balen smirked, humor sparkling in his eyes. Then he winked at Paymon.
After I did as told, I closed my eyes. I trusted Balen because Paymon trusted him.
“Okay, I’m ready.” I inhaled a deep breath and opened my eyes. No matter how many times I told myself everything would be fine, I still worried.
The globe felt icy under my palm. Anxiety coursed through my veins.
You want to do this. Don’t chicken out now.
“Okay. Here we go.” Balen extended his hands over my body and gave me a nod before beginning.
He closed his eyes. Starting from my toes, he moved upward to my head, chanting words I couldn’t understand. Paymon stood at the foot of the bed watching me and became a blur.
The room faded in and out, and so did Balen.
Then darkness.
A middle-aged woman rushed out of her cottage and ran toward me in a forest. I didn’t know who she was, but her clothes told me she was not of this time. She wore a long woolen skirt and heavy shoes.
I put out my hand to stop her, but she either didn’t care or didn’t see me.
“Wait … hold …”
She went right through me like a ghost.
“Abigale. Oh my heavens. Are you okay? Why are you here alone? Where are your parents and your sister?”
The woman’s voice was frantic as she embraced a younger woman. They walked together through the front door.
The traveler looked disheveled, her face unwashed, her hair rumpled, and clothes caked with grime.
“Auntie. Yes, I’m fine now that I’m here.” Tears filled her eyes.
“Tell me all about it.” The older woman led her niece to the chair and helped her settle into it.
Abigale shoved her face into her hands and sobbed while her aunt placed a hand on her back. When she finished, she peered up and wiped her eyes.
“Auntie.” She took her auntie’s hand, her lips trembling. “The watchers, they killed them. All of them. They wanted a book called the Book of Watchers, and when the archangels would not give it to them, they killed everyone in our town.”
“Oh, dear child.” Her aunt wrapped her arms around her. “How did you escape?”
Abigale folded her fingers together and leaned lower as if preparing to vomit. “I … this is going to sound so bad. But I fell in love with Uriel.”
Her auntie paled. “You mean the archangel, Uriel?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.” She got down on her knees next to Abigale, ditching the chair beside her.
“One of the watchers named Samyaza held me prisoner, and he was going to kill me.”
“Why? Why would he do such a thing? You’re a good girl.”
Abigale sniffed and wiped her tears again. “They gathered us to show the archangels they have power over us. They threatened our lives. But I stabbed Samyaza before he could kill me and Uriel saved my life. He took me to the forest. He told me to run, and that he would find me later. I pretended to agree, but instead, I went back to my family. But they were all dead and they burned down all the homes. I came here as fast as I could.”
Her auntie stroked her hair. “It’s a good thing Uriel had saved you, or you might have faced the same fate. I’m sorry about your parents and your sister. This is horrible. The watchers were sent to teach us, to show us the way, but instead, they’ve done nothing but bring Hell to us.”
“I have another problem.” Abigale sobbed harder.
Her auntie grabbed a towel and handed it to her. “Here. Use this. What is it? Whatever it is, I’m here for you. You are my sister’s daughter. She is no longer with us, but I am here. I am your mother now.”
Abigale hugged the woman and pulled her close to whisper in her ear. “Auntie … I’m so afraid. I am with Uriel’s child. If the watchers ever found out, they would come for us.”
Everything went dark, and then sunlight.
Abigale and her little girl twirled like ballerinas in front of the cabin somewhere deep in the forest, their footsteps stamping the damp dirt. Their heart-shaped faces and especially their eyes—the shape and chestnut color were so alike—it was uncanny.
The darling little girl stopped laughing and spinning when she saw a man riding toward them.
The man hopped off his horse and opened his arms. “Keira. Come to Uncle.”
Keira giggled and ran to his outstretched arms, her long dark hair dancing with the breeze.
“That’s my girl.” He swung her and steadied her back on the ground. “How are you today?”
“Good.” She nodded, placing out her hand.
“You want candy, don’t you?”
“No candy before lunch.” Abigale frowned and kissed her uncle’s cheek.
“Sorry, sweetheart. I have to listen to your mom, or she’ll punish me.”
Keira ran back to her mom and hugged her mom’s leg.
“What brings you here, Ezekiel? You have news for me, or is this an I’m hungry so feed me visit?” She snorted.
“Hey. I wouldn’t use you that way. Besides, what are friends for?” He took off his hat, wiped the sweat off his forehead, and placed the hat back on. “Do you want to talk in front of her?” He gestured at Keira. “She’s only two. Maybe it’s fine.”
“It doesn’t matter anyhow. I’m going to make her forget.”
“Are you sure that’s what you want?”
“I have no choice. Do you have news for me?”
> Ezekiel looked over his shoulder to check his horse when it neighed.
“I had my men follow Ko. They’re going to be at St. Margaret’s cemetery at midnight. I have a feeling Uriel will be there. You should go. It may be your only chance to find him.”
Abigale scowled, but a hint of hurt flashed in her eyes. “He never came for me. He promised to come for me. I wanted to tell him about our child, but he …”
“I know.” Ezekiel inclined his head. “But you raised her well. Besides, he doesn’t deserve you.”
“No. I don’t deserve him. He’s doing what he was born to do. To serve others with his brothers. I was the one who led him astray. It’s my fault. Even archangels are not perfect. They too have weaknesses, and I preyed on his. No, I was his weakness. I wanted him … wanted us to be together so much that I pushed him further than I should have. Once I was out of the picture, it was easier for him to forget me.”
“But you have Keira.”
Abigale stroked her daughter’s hair. “I wouldn’t trade anything for her. She was born for a reason. Born with archangel blood from Uriel, and witch, demon, and vampire from my family line. She will be the strongest, fastest, and no power will match hers when she reaches her potential.”
“Do you want to go inside and talk?” Ezekiel surveyed the perimeter. Nothing but encroaching trees surrounded them.
“Sure.” She grabbed Keira’s small hand and they walked to the cabin. “If I don’t come back, promise me you’ll take the best care of her. Tell her that her parents loved her and demons killed us. Keep her safe and hidden until she can take care of herself. Teach her everything you know. Raise her to be a good Nephilim and to always be kind and humble.”
“Stop talking like you’re not coming back.”
Abigale halted and spun face to face with Ezekiel, stopping him in his tracks. “Promise me. Swear you’ll take care of her as if she was your own flesh and blood.”
Ezekiel blinked, all humor gone. “I swear it. I swear it on my life. But I don’t know the first thing about raising a child.”
“You’ll be great. Don’t worry. You can practice, starting today. I need you to watch Keira tonight. I’m going to St. Margaret’s Cemetery.”
I jerked back to reality, gasping for air. Sitting upright, I surveyed my surroundings. Finding myself in my own bedroom gave me comfort.
“Are you okay?” Paymon placed a gentle hand on my leg. “What did you see?” His other hand flew to his mouth, and he bit his knuckles anxiously.
“I’m not sure.” I turned to Balen sitting leisurely on my desk chair. His causal demeanor made me want to choke him. “What does my vision mean?”
“I don’t know, Liana. You need to tell me what you saw. I’m not a psychic, and I certainly can’t read your mind.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. A part of me felt afraid to tell him. I didn’t know if he would use it against me. Something about him gave me an inkling he couldn’t be trusted.
“Fine.”
Balen stiffened and rose from his seat when I told him everything.
“The … spell I cast …” He rubbed the back of his head, looking perplexed. “It’s supposed to find your connection. It seems this feather belongs to you, and you just saw your past. The life you had before you were Liana.”
“What?” My shriek shook the walls. “How? Why? When?” Each question sounded ridiculous, and Balen had no answers.
“We can travel back to the past and see if what I’m saying is true.”
He jerked when I grabbed his arm so fast he didn’t see it coming. “You can take me back to any part of my past?”
“If the feather is yours, then yes. If it happens, then you know without a doubt that it’s yours. Why Malum has it, I have no idea.”
“Neither do I. But I have an idea. Take me back to when I was twelve.”
I lay back down and placed my hand on the globe. If what Balen said was true, then the chanting whispers only I could hear made sense—the globe belonged to me. It wanted me to know.
I closed my eyes, and darkness fell upon the room as Balen’s chanting hummed in my ear.
Blood painted our beige carpet and fine wooden floor. Malum had killed my parents and eaten my sister. Her bones were piled beside the sofa. My younger self wanted to vomit, but I was scared shitless.
I concentrated on my younger self and tried not to observe the rest, and by doing so, my body melded into hers. I felt her horror, her fear, and her anger.
Malum stood next to me. His tank-like body bigger than life. For a demon, he had a handsome human face. He didn’t deserve to be good-looking. The urge to claw at his eyes surged through me. But I was no match for him.
“Don’t cry, Liana. You’ll have all the riches in the world. You’ll rule beside your brothers and sisters. And soon, everyone will bow before us. Now let me see your wings.”
When I hesitated, Malum let out a warning growl. I shuddered and whimpered, calling out for my mom.
Malum tightened his fists and sighed to release his temper. “It’s okay. I know you have them. I have them too.”
He slowly expanded his ebony wings to fill the whole room, knocking over a lamp and other ornate decorations.
My eyes grew wide and my tears stopped. I released some feathers, and then with encouragement, the rest of my dove-like wings opened.
“Beautiful. Now pluck one of your feathers and hand it to me.”
Taking out a feather was agony, as if one of my limbs had been broken. So I screamed. Everything that was glass shattered to bits, windows and all. I had no idea I held such power.
My family hadn’t known I had wings. I had never showed them, afraid they would send me away. I’d always known I was different. So perhaps I did belong with him … No. This creature, this thing from hell had killed my parents, my sister, and now he was going to take me.
Malum scooped my shaking body into his arms and tucked me close. “Good. When you listen, I don’t get mad. Remember that. The pain will go away soon.”
Then he wrapped his black-as-night wings around me and bolted through the roof. We landed in front of the biggest home I’d ever seen, a gated mansion with pretty rose bushes along the walkway by the front door.
He took us inside and into another room. His office. A long computer-topped desk sat in front of a tall shelf that covered the back wall. Books filled the space, along with many snow globes.
Malum took one that was empty aside from the floating snow. Then he took my feather and placed it on top. Slowly, my feather slipped through the glass like a magic trick and bobbed gracefully.
“There.” He looked so pleased, his grin too big for his face. “In a few days, you’ll forget your past, and you’ll be completely mine to control.”
He stroked my face, but I didn’t flinch. I felt numb. I had to feel nothing, become nothing. If I didn’t, I would go crazy.
Would he turn me into a monster like him? Would he make me kill people? Demons like him only existed in the movies, TV shows, and in nightmares. Was I dreaming? I tried to wake up.
“I’ll take you to your room. You’ll have the east wing all to yourself. No one will bother you, not even your demon siblings—that I promise you. You are my greatest achievement, my ultimate prize. You and I will conquer and rule the world.”
My gut twisted, acid rising to my throat. I bent over and threw up my dinner on his feet.
Malum laughed. That bastard laughed and patted my head as if I were a pet.
“There. There. I’ll tolerate it this once.”
Air rushed out of my lungs so fast, I couldn’t breathe. I gasped and bent over to stop the pain inside my chest.
“What did you see?” Paymon’s face blurred in front of mine.
“My past,” I managed to say and inhaled a deep breath to calm my nerves. “The feather is mine. And I know how it got there.” I pointed to the globe. “Malum did it.”
I jumped off the bed and cradled the globe. I didn’t care if Malum foun
d out I’d taken it. Furthermore, I didn’t care if he found out I knew about my past.
Damn you, Malum.
I tossed it on the ground with all my strength, pouring out my frustration and anger. Instead of crashing, the liquid gushing out, it rebounded as if the glass was made from rubber. It bounced like a tennis ball around the room.
I did it again.
Son of bitch wouldn’t break.
What the freakin’ hell?
And yet, even as I accepted the horrible things Malum had done, I didn’t have the urge to kill him. Why?
“Oh dear, holy freakin’ …” Paymon paced about the room, his face paler than my wall.
“What are you going to do?” Balen asked. “He can’t know that you know, for all our sake. He’ll kill us.”
“I know. Don’t worry.” I patted his face and smiled. “Thank you.” I kissed his cheek. “I know what I need to do. I need to find a girl named Keira.”
“Are you serious? Do you know how many Keiras there are?”
“I don’t need to search for a human Keira. I need to find … I believe she would be a Nephilim. Which would place her under NU. Do you want to help me?”
“Hell yes. This is getting really interesting.” Balen flashed a cunning grin.
“And also, I almost forgot. Do you happen to know a supernatural being named Ezekiel?”
Balen’s eyes beamed. “Oh, yes I do. I do indeed.”
Paymon stopped and scrubbed his face. “Whatever you need. I’ll help you too.”
His tone did not convince me. Paymon sounded scared.
Chapter 16
Illusion
Keira
I didn’t know what was worse. The feeling of my stomach dropping or the impact of my body on the hard surface. Others fell beside me and groaned, letting me know I wasn’t alone.
Thank God.
My worst fear was to be in another dimension all alone.
I was flat on my stomach, sand warmed my palms and my cheek. Sitting up, I dusted myself off as waves crashed against the shore.