“And that means there has to be a clue on all of these images!” Jorja cried, turning and racing off. “I’ve got the Eiffel Tower!”
“And nobody had better take the Taj Mahal from me!” Jade shouted, racing after her.
“And I’m not giving up a second changed at exploring the Statue of Liberty!” Josslyn added.
“I guess that means I’m left with the Coliseum,” Jasmine said, as she trotted off across the valley. “So, everyone got their clue?”
“Yup!”
“Then let’s go! We’ll meet back here …” She glanced at her watch. “By midnight tomorrow?”
“Sounds good to me,” Jorja said, glancing over at Jade. “You mind giving me a ride?”
“So you lost the witches,” Liam said, as he stirred the potion, dipping the syringe into the liquid. “And how did that manage to happen?” he asked, narrowing his eyes on the black angel.
“The damned waterfall!” the black angel shouted, seething with rage. “It tricked us! It wanted forgiveness. To replenish. To erase you of your sins. It wouldn’t let us in!”
“And you know where the witches are now?”
“My angels told me that they’ve separated. Each going to a different part of the world.”
“Which is where each of the five parts of the Sapphire must be,” Liam said, as he extracted the liquid into the syringe. He spun on his heel, striding across the room, and grasping Sky by the chin. “A stone that belongs to me!”
“You’ll never get to it in time,” Sky said, jerking his chin from Liam’s grasp, and spitting at the God. “None of you will. It’s not meant for any of you.”
“And it doesn’t belong to the witches either,” Liam said, as he waved the serum in front of him. “But it’s not like you’ll remember any of it.” He snickered, gripping Sky’s arm and plunging the syringe downward.
“What… what are you doing?” Sky asked, sputtering, fear filling him as he watched the green liquid disappear from the syringe. “What is that?”
“A serum that’s going to get rid of you… finally!” Liam shouted, and Sky blinked, his mind going blank. Who is this man? he wondered. And why was he dressed so funny? And where was he? This was all just really, really weird!
“Be gone!” Liam demanded, flicking his hand up, a whirl of wind surrounding them as a portal opened up behind them. Sky gasped, his eyes full of fear, as he looked at the man. “What… what is that?”
“Your ticket home,” Liam said, smiling. “Or at least, your new home. You’re the only one brave enough to stand up to me, Sky. The only one capable of defeating me, but now that I took your memories, your powers, you won’t remember any of it, and now without you I’ll be free to carry out my plan. To get rid of the Gods, the half-witches, the half-demons, and half-angels. The universe… will be mine!” He snapped his fingers, the ropes disappearing from around Sky and flung his hand forward. Sky’s body rose from the metal slab, slinging forward, and disappeared through the portal.
“Well, there’s one menace out of the way,” Liam said, wiping his hand together. “Now, onto the next phase of my plan.”
“You do realize the witch is going to be coming for you, right, sir?”
“Of course,” Liam said, laughing. “But I’m not concerned, considering soon she’ll be dead!” He narrowed his eyes on the black angel. “And you. You need to get your butt back down there to earth and get to the stone before they do!”
“Don’t worry, sir. The stone will be yours,” the black angel said, before disappearing.
It better be, Liam thought, as he stared around at the girls lying in the glass containers around him. For my plan to succeed, everything must go according to plan. Even the witches.
“Thanks for dropping me off, Joss,” Julie said, as they landed in the middle of the street. She turned, peering around the building, at the quiet streets of London. “It would have taken me hours to get here!”
“Well, this power does come in handy,” Josslyn said, laughing. “Have fun, Julie, and don’t forget to be at Big Ben by midnight. Which is…” she glanced at her watch. “Only an hour away.”
“So much for allowing me to sight-see,” Julie said, sighing. “Okay. I got this. I’ll see you tomorrow, Joss.”
“See you tomorrow.” Josslyn disappeared in a reign of icicles, and Julie stepped out from the building. She strode forward, wrapping her hand around the bridge, and staring off across the water. The blue depths danced underneath the pitch-black sky, and she raised her head, to stare at the twinkling stars as they lay in the big, black mass, the clock tower gleaming at her from where it sat in the distance.
Well, I guess I shouldn’t complain too much about my assignment, huh? she thought, as she walked across the bridge. After all, I do get to see London!
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the queen herself,” the black angel said, crossing his arms in front of his chest as he appeared before her.
“I’m not a queen,” Julie said, narrowing her eyes.
“Sure you are. You married Elijah, who was, the ruler of the underworld. Maybe not officially, but he still had a lot of demons who supported him, and now, with him still alive you’re still his wife which means you’re still evil.”
“I’m not evil!”
“Yes you are.”
“No, I’m not!” Julie shouted, her eyes turned to a shade of black, and she closed her eyes. She drew in a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and slowly opened her eyes. “I’m not evil,” she repeated. “I’m human. I make mistakes. I give into fear, into hate, into anger, and you guys took advantage of that! Elijah took advantage of that, and that is something I will never forgive him for.”
“But you still have the power inside of you, Julie. It’s just aching to come out.”
“And it is never coming out!” Julie snapped, spinning on her heel, and stomping across the bridge. She ignored the black angel as he followed her, his comrades appearing next to him in a whirl of black smoke, silently hating Jade and Josslyn. Why was it that they could teleport, but she couldn’t? It would really come in handy about now!
“Hey. Are those guys bugging you?” a man asked, sliding to a stop in his sleek, black car, as he rolled down the window. “They look like they’re following you.”
“That’s because they are,” Julie said, gasping, as the skies suddenly opened. Rain pelted down from above, and she shuddered. “Whoa! Where’d the rain come from?”
“Welcome to London,” the man said, throwing open the passenger door. “Come on. Where are you headed?”
“To Big Ben.”
“You’ve never been to England before?” he asked, raising a brow, as she slid inside. “I’m Micah, by the way.”
“Julie,” Julie said, glancing over her shoulder, laughing, as the black angels raced after her. “And no. I’ve never been to England before.”
“Figures, because Big Ben is the first thing everyone comes to see,” Micah said, laughing. “People are so predictable.” He stepped on the gas, weaving through the light traffic. “So, why are those guys following you?”
“They’re after the same thing I am.”
“And what is that?”
“A sacred treasure.”
“You’re hunting treasure?” Micah asked, his jaw dropping open. “Not to sound all condescending and all, but you don’t look like the type.”
“Well, I’m not. My sister is, but this time, she needed help,” Julie said, as she gripped the door, wincing as he took a sharp turn. “But I do live an interesting life.”
“Oh? What do you do?”
“What’s with the third degree?” Julie asked, glancing back over at him. “You’re the stranger here! I should be asking the questions. After all, I did just jump into the car with a stranger!”
“And I just let a weird woman, I’ve never met into the car. For all I could know, you could have a knife!”
“In my world… knives are the least of your worries. Or mine.”
&nbs
p; “What do you mean?”
“Never mind.” Julie sighed, turning to stare out the window again. “You want to know what I do? I do nothing. I’m a boring, college student, who really wanted to do something great with her life. Who wanted to help save lives by becoming a cop, but that’s kind of a long shot now.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because of my overprotective sister.” She winced. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. She means well, and she’s always been there for me. I can forgive her for being a little crazy.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.”
They drove along the quiet road, silence descending between them, and Julie stared out the window, mesmerized by the sight. “It’s so beautiful. And quiet.”
“It’s quiet right now,” Micah said, glancing over at her. “But come morning, there will be double buses driving along the streets, tourists taking pictures, people enjoying breakfast, it’s quite the sight. Are you going to be here tomorrow?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Well if you do, there are a few things that I would love to show you,” Micah said, braking to a stop “Well, there you go, Julie. I hope you find the sapphire.”
“What?” Julie gripped the door, swinging her head around, staring at him in shock. “I never told you what I was looking for!” She held her hand out, fire spreading from her palm. “Who are you?”
“Put that away,” Micah said, wrapping his fingers around her wrist, and lowering her arm. “I’m a friend of Sky’s. I’ve been sent to keep an eye on you.”
“So you’re an angel?”
Micah shook his head.
“A God.”
He shook his head again.
“Oh no! Please don’t tell me you’re a demon!”
“Please. I’m not any of those things,” Micah said, rolling his eyes. “I’m just a regular, old fashioned human with knowledge about this world.” If only she knew the truth, he thought. “Come on. We’re wasting time.”
“So… you’re coming with me?” Julie asked, hurrying after him. “But I didn’t say I wanted help!”
“And I didn’t ask,” Micah said, as he pulled the door open, winking at her. “But Sky wouldn’t send out that S.O.S if it weren’t important, and he certainly wouldn’t send it out if he wasn’t in trouble. He’s my friend, Julie, and I damn well am not going to let him down. Now, do you have your clue?”
“Of course I have the clue!” Julie shouted, racing after him. “You can’t go on a treasure hunt without a clue.” She stumbled, wrapping her hand around the banister, staring up the steps, and swallowed. “Whoa. That’s a long way up.”
“And well worth it,” Micah said, as he pulled her forward. “Just wait until you see the view from the top. It’s breathtaking!”
“Well, there you go,” Jade said, appearing in a reign of electricity, and dropping her hand from Jorja’s. “You know what you need to do?”
“Find the Eiffel tower,” Jorja said, grabbing the map from the cart next to her, and walking forward. “Thanks for the ride, Jade!”
“Of course!”
Jade disappeared from sight, and Jorja squinted, trying to see the map in the dark. Man, I’m getting old! Maybe I need to invest in a pair of glasses.
No way! She shook the thought away, instead focusing on the task at hand, and stepped forward. She turned the corner, pointing to the map. “So according to this, the Eiffel tower should be…” She lowered the map, lifting her head, her jaw dropping open as she stared at the raging beauty standing before her. The bronze structure standing tall, high in the air, lit up underneath the night sky. “Oh, wow. Now that’s a sight!” She pulled her phone out of her pocket, snapping a picture. “This is so going in my scrapbook.”
She hurried forward along the dirt path, toward the office, wrapping her hand around the handle. She tugged, growling, when it didn’t open. “Really? You’re closed at…” She glanced at her watch. 12:30 am. “Well, I guess it is pretty late, and the last tour was at midnight.” She blew out a breath, pulling the lock pick from her pocket. “Then we’re going to do this the old-fashioned way, huh?”
“You know, I could arrest you for what you’re doing right now, right?”
The deep, masculine voice sounded behind her and Jorja sighed. She glanced over her shoulder, staring at the cop standing just a behind her. “You could,” she said, rising to her feet, and walking toward him. “Or you could just let me inside.”
“And why would I do that?”
“Because I’m trying to find my daughter,” she said, truthfully, showing him a picture of Jordyn. “This is my daughter, Jordyn,” she said, pointing to the portrait she’d kept in her pocket the last three years. “It’s been three years since I’ve seen her, and I’m this close to finding her!” she cried. “Three years of searching. Three years of wondering. Three years of hoping, and I am so close. Do you know that she was thirteen years old when she was taken from me? She’s missed so much! Birthday parties, slumber parties, going shopping with her Mom, her aunts. She might miss graduation, and the only thing that can point me in the right direction is in there!” She stabbed her finger toward the Eiffel Tower. “Please, you have to help me!”
“As far as stories go, yours is plausible, but I still can’t let you in. It’s against the rules.”
“Then you’re useless to me!” Jorja shouted. “If you’re not going to help me, I’ll just have to do it myself. Nothing is keeping me from my daughter!”
“Again?” the black angel asked, sneering, as he and his buddies appearing in front of her. “You mean again, right, Jorja?”
“Shut up,” Jorja said, her eyes narrowing on the black angels. “You know nothing about me.”
“And who are they?” the cop asked, glancing over his shoulder at the intruders.
“Not important,” Jorja said, grabbing him by the arm and racing around the corner. “But we need to go! They… duck!”
She shouted the words, as black arrows slung through the air. She ducked behind the wall, peering over it.
“Why are we running for them?” the cop asked, as he hunkered next to her. “I have a gun!”
“A gun will do you no good in this situation,” Jorja said, as the black angels appeared around the corner. She opened her mouth, letting out a loud yell.
Air rushed from her mouth, rippling through the air, and the black angels stumbled back. Their weapons fell to the ground, and she grabbed the cop by the arm again. “Come on! Now’s our chance!”
“But…”
“No buts!” Jorja cried, jumping to her feet, and racing back across the platform. “We have to unlock the door!”
“But you… you have powers!” the cop shouted, staring at her in shock. “Just like that woman from that show! What’s it called?” He stopped, thinking. “You’re…like a hero!”
“I’m no hero, buster,” Jorja said, pulling him forward. “Now, will you hurry! I need you to open the door.”
“I—”
“Oh please don’t tell me you’re going to tell me no!” Jorja cried, spinning around, stumbling back as an arrow suddenly pierced through the air, striking the man in the chest. “No!”
She dove downward, as he fell to the ground, cradling him in his arms. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, stroking his cheek, watching the light fade from his lights. “I didn’t want you to die! I didn’t want anyone to die!” She sniffed, glancing at the black angel as he neared her. “Why did you do that?” she asked, sobbing. “You didn’t have to kill him!”
“It’s what I do, plus he was in the way,” the black angel said, as he and his buddies swarmed around her. “And now, so are you.” He aimed his bow and arrow at her.
“Aah!”
Jorja opened her mouth, letting out another loud scream, her eyes widening when the black angels didn’t flinch. “What the hell?”
“Liam has taught us a few things since he’s recruited us,” the black angel said, as he stro
de toward her. “Including sharing the recipe for a potion that can repel your powers.” He gripped the arrow in his hand, striking it forward.
Jorja ducked, the arrow just missing her, and she dove to the ground. She rolled under his legs, shoving him to the ground, grabbing the keys that were lying on the ground. She jumped to her feet, racing across the platform toward the door.
“Get her!”
The angels raced after her, arrows flung through the air, and she ducked. She slid to a stop, sticking the key in the locket, and opened the door. She slammed it shut, sticking her tongue out at the black angels. “Ha. Ha.”
“Hey! No fair!”
“You snooze, you lose, black angels,” Jorja said, as she flipped the lock. “Now I’m going to go find myself a sapphire!” She turned and raced up the steps, sliding to a stop once she got to the second level, and staring over the platform at the view of Paris far below. She swallowed, that’s a long way down. The black angels appearing behind her.
“Dang, you guys are annoying!” Jorja cried, turning to stare at them. “If you could teleport, why didn’t you just do it in the first place?”
“It’s more fun this way,” the black angel said, laughing. “Plus, you’re the only one with the clue!” he shouted, raising his weapon. “Kill her!”
They drew their weapons, and Jorja gulped. She glanced behind her, down far below into the dark city, then above her at the pole lying ahead of her. They let the arrows go, and she jumped. She grabbed ahold of the pole, swinging high and leaping over them as she let out a loud scream.
Why am I screaming? It’s not like it has any effect, she thought, as soundwaves danced over her foot.
“Whoa!” She teetered, as she flew through the air, her eyes widening. “Holy crap! I can ride soundwaves. That’s so cool!”
She jumped, dropping to the ground and jabbed the button. The lift sounded above her, and she glanced over her shoulder.
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