by P. C. Benson
I stepped outside and walked to the main room. Paul was on the couch, reading something. I sat next to him, but he didn’t look up. I tapped on the magazine, still nothing. I smiled and got up, waved my hand in front of his face, still nothing. I walked behind him and touched his neck. He twitched a little but ignored it. Hmm… Okay, no touching. I went back to my room and grabbed my stuff. Yep, I could still touch stuff.
I disapparated to my room at home and dropped my bag. I walked through the door—it felt weird and uncomfortable. Mrs. Wilson and Roger were in the kitchen. They acted like nothing had changed. I looked in the office. Someone had been signing our names on the company document. I didn’t understand why they kept up the facade?
Should I see if Alec would recognize my energy?
I thought of Alec, and I transported to his side. Wow, I guess it works both ways. This is amazing!
He was sitting on the beach. I wanted to touch his hair but tried something first. I thought of Ti. Hmm… Nope, I couldn’t get to her just by thinking of her—I needed to know where she was, so I could only do this with Alex. I sat next to Alec on the beach. He turned to me then, and I held my breath. For a second, I thought he knew I was there, but he let out a heavy breath and sighed, with a frown on his face. He pulled out his phone and stared at my picture. My heart ached, and I got up. It was time for me to return to Alec.
Seven
Chapter 6: Darkness
I landed back on the empty roof deck, headed to the main floor, stopped at the stairs, and inched closer.
“Are we certain she can’t hear us?” Jake asked.
“Yes, I tried entering the room. It’s sealed shut,” Lilly responded.
“I can feel her energy in there,” Amy confirmed. “As I was saying, Abaddon called all of his lieutenants to get on this case, and I was the one chosen,” she said proudly. “He wants Lilly at full power as soon as possible. He wants the Regent on their knees.”
“Do we have a deadline?” Daemon asked.
“You know he’s not very patient. That’s why he sent me.”
“Well, as you know, we’ve had the savior to navigate around,” Allen said.
“He’s still holding out hope,” Amy said.
“Good luck with that,” Paul said under his breath.
“Lilly, is there any hope of converting your sister?” Amy asked.
I peeked around the corner to look at Lilly.
She looked jealous, which she covered up immediately. “No chance. She loves her guardian.”
“Who is this guardian?” Amy asked.
“Alec, the first Nephilim’s son,” Daemon said. His voice sounded detached from the conversation.
Her tone rose in malice. “The pretty boy?”
I clenched my fist. I didn’t like the tone of her voice.
“Yes. They’re connected. They fulfilled the prophecy. There’s no separating the two,” Daemon said dismissively.
“That’s too bad. She’s powerful. She would have been a great asset to our side.”
“What do you suggest we do about her while she’s with us?” Allen asked.
“Don’t antagonize her. She has the means to eliminate you all. We don’t want to lose before it even begins. In the meantime, get Lilly ready. When it’s time to move, we will let you know. The savior will make her choice then.”
“Are you leaving?” Lilly asked. She sounded upset.
“Lilly, remember what we talked about. Keep practicing. Don’t hesitate. I’ll check in when I can.” She placed her hand on her shoulder, turned to Daemon, and winked.
I peeked again, then inched my way to the balcony and into our room.
I sent a text to Alec. New development. Don’t come until I tell you to. Please trust me. I’ll explain more when I can. Will happen soon. Promise. I love you.
I needed to speak with Lilly and Daemon alone, and then I was leaving for good.
Alec responded right away. What new development? Please give me more details, Gabrielle. Whatever you’re doing, please be careful. I love you too.
I remembered the Regent and disapparated to Alec.
☈ ☇ ☈
I put up a shield as a small knife soared towards me. It bounced against the barrier I had erected over Alec and me.
“Ti!” Alec bellowed.
“Oh, my god. I am so sorry. She came out of nowhere, so I reacted.”
Alec pulled me close and kissed the top of my head. “Are you okay? Why are you here?”
Ti and Vik came closer. “Good reflexes,” Vik said as he raised his hand for a high five. We were in a gym. Of course, the glass house has a gym! It looked like a smaller version of the one they had in the mansion.
Celeste entered, wearing her usual long flowing skirt and a tank top. “I had a vision and saw you’d be here, and I had to be here.”
“What’s wrong, Gabrielle? What’s with the cryptic text?”
“I eavesdropped on the Fallen, and I learned a lot. I had to warn you guys that Abaddon—” There was a collective gasp as soon as I mentioned the name. I looked around and paused. “Okay, the name is significant, I see. Anyway, he wants Lilly at full power as soon as possible and sent someone high up to sort it.”
“Who?” Vik interrupted.
I turned to him and said dismissively, “Some sex vixen.”
Ti placed her hand on her hip and asked, “Who?”
“Tall, blond, giant boobs. Oozing sex appeal…”
“Amy!” Alec interrupted before I finished my description.
“Fuck!” Vik cursed.
My eyes narrowed at them both and settled on Alec. “Do you know her?”
“Oh, yes. Don’t worry. Her charms don’t work on me. She is vicious and cunning. She has killed and lured a lot of Nephilim in the past.” He looked at Vik uneasily.
Ti’s lips were pale and pursed tightly—her fists clenched.
Vik had his arms crossed and was quiet.
I didn’t have time to figure out the history between Amy and Viktor, but I would later. “Anyway, Abaddon wants Lilly ready because he wants the Regent on their knees. Those were her words. I don’t know the timeline, but soon.”
They all went on alert with this news. They started talking all at once, making plans. Tension was thick in the air.
Alec pulled me aside. “What’s going on, Gabrielle? What did you do?”
Damn, couldn’t get anything past him. I smiled and planted a kiss on his lips. I missed him. I kept my hand on his face and gazed deeply in his gorgeous eyes. “I plan on coming home to you. I’ve been away too long.”
His eyes lit up, and he smiled, his hands gripping my hips as he pulled me closer. “Promise?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
He pressed his lips on mine. “Good.” Then he kissed me again. “I hate being away from you. What’s the plan?”
“Yes. What’s the plan, Gab?” Viktor asked.
We both turned, and I shrugged. “Same plan, just this time hold off until you hear from me. I just need to do two things, and then I’m out of there.” I raised my hand because I could tell they wanted to interrupt. “I want to talk to Lilly one last time, and I wanted to talk to Daemon. I don’t think it will take longer than a day or two. You get the Regent ready for an attack. Lilly is almost ready.” They agreed. I could see the hesitation on Vik’s and Alec’s faces, but they didn’t argue.
I paused and glanced at Celeste with sad eyes.
She seemed to have read my meaning. She bowed her head. I hesitated, but then I pulled her in for a hug. “We will fix this. I promise.”
She nodded and forced a smile. “I know you will. No one else could, Gabby.” She hugged me tighter and released me.
I waved at the couple and kissed Alec. “I’ll see you soon,” I promised before I disapparated.
☈ ☇ ☈
I walked out of the room with determination and confidence. Fuck, it was empty. Where the hell were they?
I closed my eyes and sensed only Daemon
on the rooftop again. I sought him out. He was leaning over the banister, so I crossed my arms and waited for him to turn. When he finally did, I stared at him with a blank expression.
His arms were crossed, and I could see the tension in his torso as the vein pulsed in his neck. He glanced at the sky and said, “Go ahead. Let me have it.”
“I didn’t say anything.” I raised my brows.
“You want to,” he accused.
“Where’s the girlfriend? Or better yet? Where are the girlfriends? What happened to ‘I don’t partake’? Was everything you told me a lie, Daemon? Was that your way of trying to dig out information?” My voice rose. I took a deep breath and let it out of my nose.
The muscle in his jaw twitched. “I can’t blame you for thinking that. Amy and I…we have a complicated history. Now is not the time to turn her away. If I had, it would have called unnecessary attention. Showing off is her thing. I don’t usually partake with the girls. I wanted to see if something had changed. You woke something up in me, and I wanted to see if I could enjoy what a normal man would feel since I’ve been robbed of it for decades.”
I gaped at his admission. “I don’t understand.”
He forcefully pushed off the side rails. “My body responds to stimulation, but I don’t feel it. It’s like I’m watching from above, but I’m dead inside.” He clenched his jaw. “When they corrupted my soul, they killed everything inside of me. I have no feelings. Not even pain. Everything’s controlled by my thoughts.” His eyes blazed, and his chest rose and fell from his hard breathing. He bowed his head and took slow, deep breaths. He then looked up but avoided my eyes. “You were the first person that made me feel something,” he whispered.
“Good.” I stepped closer and grabbed his forearm. He didn’t fight me, and he didn’t even have his shield up. I pushed my energy into his system fast. I wasn’t gentle about it. At the same time, I erected the same shield we had the first time.
Gasping for air, he lost his balance and fell on his knees but managed to keep eye contact. His whole body was as rigid as a board, but he welcomed my energy. I drove out the darkness and overpowered it in seconds. Eventually, Daemon lost consciousness. I didn’t release him until only a sliver of darkness was left. He needed it to mask his light soul. It was brutal, but we didn’t have time to beat around the bush.
I stared at him a moment longer, and unease filled me. I saw his past and knew who he was. I wouldn’t meddle in their affairs. It was up to him to find the path to his old life. He would get there when he was ready. He needed to atone for his sins to return to the man that he once was. I would not stand in his way. He might not even be the same man—an ordeal like his changes people.
I studied him and tried to decipher this connection we had. I wasn’t part of his past, so it confused me. I trusted my gut—it told me he was important and deserved my protection and guidance.
What had happened to him was horrible. I had seen what Abaddon did to turn Daemon into the Dark one.
Abaddon would pay for all the pain he had caused me and everyone else. The darkness in me strengthened with my thirst for revenge.
I glanced at Daemon again and saw the rise and fall of his chest. He was breathing, just out cold.
I sat on the sofa and watched the sun get lower, before Daemon stirred, sat, clutched his head and groaned.
“I can fix that.” I placed my hands on his head and pushed healing energy in. I didn’t know what I was doing, but my energy responded to my intention. It was like pure goodness—the exact opposite of the dark, cold void of Lilly’s energy.
“Better?”
He nodded.
I offered my hand and pulled him up. I eyed him. He looked lost, but his aura was brighter.
I suppressed a smile.
He met my eyes, and slowly, a smile spread across his face, then he pulled me in for a hug. I tensed at first, then hugged him back. “Oh my god, Gabby. I feel this—your hug! I can’t believe it! Thank you, Gabby! I can’t thank you enough.” His eyes glistened with tears.
“What do you remember?”
He grimaced and tilted his head to the right. “I don’t know. It’s all jumbled up. It’s frustrating.”
I patted his hand. “It will come with time. Don’t rush it.” He clutched my hand and beamed.
“Listen, I left a little bit of the darkness inside of you.” His pupils constricted. I hurried on to say, “It’s the only way for you to stay safe. You can mask your light aura with it. You have to pretend that nothing’s changed. When you’re ready to make a stand and pick a side, come and find me, and I’ll remove it completely.”
“Wait. Are you leaving?”
I squeezed his hand before releasing it.
I looked towards the horizon, took a deep breath, and inhaled the salty breeze. “Yes, it’s time. She’s gone, Daemon. I can’t stay here. It’s time for me to pick a side,” I whispered.
“I haven’t held up my end of the deal.” He looked upset.
I looked at him with a sad smile.
“You’ve done enough.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
He nodded.
I got up and patted his shoulder. “Stay safe, Daemon. Make the right choices, and you’ll find happiness again.” I flashed him a knowing smile and left.
I looked back, and he was frozen in place with a confused frown on his face.
I texted Alec: Be ready. It might happen tonight.
Alec: Be safe, love.
I needed time to think, so I walked around the boardwalk, through the main artery, which coalesced with the cyclists and skateboarders along muscle beach where sand spilled onto the sidewalk. The smog, thick in the late afternoon, mixed with the smell of smoky, grilled food permeating from the restaurants.
The throng of locals and tourists, along with the bright graffiti art on every surface, was a sight to witness. Excitement coursed through me from being in the center of this circus—everyone was filled with an intoxicating energy.
Picking a side was liberating. Sure, I mourned the loss of my sister, but the desire for revenge fueled me. Evil had taken her—a sister that was a dream—a sister that should have been. Abaddon would pay for what he had done to me, and all the pain he had caused to others, including Daemon.
I’d seen everything. His past and the circumstances in which he was turned—that knowledge affected others and could be devastating, so I couldn’t divulge the information. It was not my secret to tell. It would hurt too many. This must be how Celeste felt. Having this knowledge made me uneasy, but this was the best choice, and I was sticking to it. I buried the guilt but allowed it to fuel my determination to help Daemon and crush Abaddon.
I watched the sun descend lower. The wind blew, and I shivered as it got chilly, but I didn’t move, just continued to watch the horizon. At one point, everything turned a pretty peach color as the sun traveled lower, and the moon peeked from high above. It was the most majestic sight.
When both celestial bodies were this close, the energy was astronomical. I could feel their energy saturate the atmosphere. I took a deep, controlled breath, then dissipated my energy and traced the energy from the sun, moon, ocean, and wind—what I discovered terrified me. That much power in the wrong hands could have devastating effects. I stopped my train of thought because to think it put life to it, and I didn’t want to go there.
The sun sank faster and faster until it was completely swallowed by the horizon. It was dark by the time I got up and made my way back to the house. I was ready. I’d made my peace. It’s time to say goodbye to Lilly—my true family awaited. Daemon had his own path to walk.
Once again, music was blasting. I rolled my eyes and expected a raging party, so it surprised me to see that there were only a few females on the main floor. When I reached the top floor, I paused, as Lilly’s dark energy hit me. It was darker and more sinister. Fuck! She’d embraced her full darkness. I sent a quick text: It’s time, stay outside and wait for my sig
nal. Stay safe. Lilly’s stronger.
Alec: Okay. Please be careful.
I reinforced my shield and squared my shoulders, letting my energy surround me. I felt stronger from the energy at the beach. As soon as I got closer, Lilly looked up.
I was expecting it, so I wasn’t surprised to see her dark eyes and sinister smile. “There’s my sister,” she cooed.
I flashed her a fake smile and looked around. “This seems like a step down from your usual.” I gestured around the living room.
She raised her brow. “Oh, this is special. Are you sure you wanted to be here for this, Sister?”
I sat on the couch and crossed my legs. “Knock your socks off, Sister.” I smirked.
I saw the doubt in her eyes as she eyed Daemon and Jake. They shook their heads minutely. Her energy pulsed but didn’t engage me further.
As a matter of fact, no one paid me any attention over the next couple of hours. I watched them take shots as Lilly’s energy saturated the air. She tried to reach me a couple of times, but her darkness didn’t touch me. I sneered at her and saw her face tighten up in frustration.
The brothers, Daemon, Lilly, and about ten scantily-clad women in high heels did shots of whatever alcohol took their fancy, and occasionally they would disappear to take a hit of something.
At one point, a couple of the girls danced provocatively and started kissing, the others draped around the men. Another joined the two dancing. Their show was getting raunchy, as one reached for the string top of the girl in the middle and pulled. The other two started to take their tops off.
I narrowed my eyes and zeroed in on the brothers. Paul was enjoying the show, as the girl next to him had her hands down his pants. Allen glanced nervously at me. Lilly sat on Jake’s lap, and they whispered to each other.