Crossroads

by Nicole Coverdale

  “Then you will die!” Myron shouted, raising his hand. The door behind him swung open. Two men and three women dressed in black walked out the doors. Each of them holding a bow and arrow.

  “The black angels?” Sky asked, his mouth dropping open. “But it’s forbidden for them to be up here! They were banished!”

  “Not when there’s a bounty on your head,” Myron said, grinning. “Goodbye Sky.” And he disappeared in a reign of light.

  “Myron!” Sky shouted, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of an arrow coming their way. “Jasmine, get down!” he shouted, wrapping his arms around her and shoving her to the floor. “We have to get out of here!”

  “But how?” Jasmine asked, raising her head to stare at the angels. “These are black angels? But I thought they poisoned hearts!”

  “Those are dark angels, these are black angels. They come from the dark angels, only, they have weapons. Arrows and knives that are laced with scorpion venom. It can kill you or me in an instant. Come on!” He grabbed her by the arm, dragging to her feet. “We have to go!”

  “But where! There’s five of them, and only two of us. We’ll never outrun them! Plus, you’re weak, Sky.”

  “I might be weak, but I still know these heavens better than anyone else up here,” Sky said, sending her a wink. “I know all the good hiding spots, now come on! We gotta get a head start on them!”

  “Ahh!”

  Screams sounded nearby, and Josslyn braked the Jeep to a stop, glancing around at the chaos surrounding her. “This is a nightmare!” she cried, as she stepped out from the car. Staring at the fire streaking down the streets, the smoke pouring out from the buildings, and she glanced to her left, watching as people raced down the street. Screaming as they ran for their lives, and out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of something thumping down the street.

  “Holy crap! It’s a freaking lizard demon!” she cried as it walked down the street. Its large feet thumped on the black top, and it wrapped its large hands around the car sitting on the street, throwing it against the building. The building shook, crumbling to the ground, and Josslyn grimaced as the large, green lizard opened its mouth. Green goo spewing from its lips and drowsing the street. “A huge lizard.”

  The lizard jerked its head around, its eyes zeroing in on her. “Chosen one,” he said, an evil smile spreading across his lips as he bounded forward. “You’re mine!”

  “As if!” Josslyn cried, rolling her eyes. If she got a dime for every time she heard a demon say those words, she’d be rich. She ducked, his skinny arms reaching for her, just missing his sharp nails, and behind her, she heard a sharp gasp. She glanced over her shoulder, staring at the people behind her. Be careful, Joss. You can’t use your powers. If they saw what you could do, it could be very, very bad.

  “Witch!” The lizard swung around, a loud squeal escaping its lips, and it lunged forward. It opened its mouth, green liquid spewing from its lips, and Josslyn ducked. She dropped to the ground, rolling across the pavement, and wrapped her hand around the metal pole lying next to her. This might work!

  “I will have you!” he shouted, racing forward, his feet thumping loudly on the pavement. His mouth opened once more, and she pivoted, missing the green goo and struck the pole forward.

  “Argh!” The lizard groaned, lowering his eyes to stare down at the metal sticking out from his chest. He lifted his head to stare at her, another evil smile splaying across his lips. “I may have failed, Witch, but no worry more will be coming,” he said, his voice fading. “There’s a bounty on all of your heads.” His eyes drooped down, and he dropped to the ground. His body turning to a pile of mush.

  “Did you see that?” Someone gasped behind her.

  “It’s gotta be fake,” another one said. “There’s no way that was real!”

  If only they knew the truth, Josslyn thought, turning, and racing off down the street. Ignoring the people staring at her. She had to find Julie!

  She rounded the corner, and underneath her, the ground suddenly shook. She stumbled, glancing below her at the crack lying underneath her feet. Stumbling backward as it widened. Oh crap.

  Bright orange flames spewed up from below, and she jumped back. Glancing behind her at the people still standing on the sidewalk. “You have to go!” she shouted, as she jumped over the crack, and raced down the street. “Before it’s too late!”

  They scattered, and she blew out a sigh of relief. Raising her head to the sky as lightning struck through the red depths, then back at the orange flames below her. “Well, looks like the worlds are connected,” she whispered. “Hell has finally come to earth.”

  “Eek! Eek”

  The loud noise filled her ears, and she jumped. Her eyes widening as a large, winged beast flew overhead. Is that…

  “Vargus.” She recognized him almost immediately, and she ducked behind the dumpster next to her, trying to stay out of his sight. Don’t let him see you, Joss! Remember, when you were in that alternate universe? He wants souls, and he would love to have yours.

  “What do you want from me?”

  The cry sounded behind her, and she glanced over her shoulder. “Julie?” She jumped to her feet, racing down the alley, as she appeared from out of the shadows. She grabbed a man by the throat, shoving him back against the wall. “Julie, no!”

  “You’re a monster,” Julie said, waving the newspaper in her hand. “All those people you hurt! Innocent people! You deserve to pay for what you’ve done.” She clenched her fist, raising the ball of fire in her hand. “It amazes me that you’re even walking these streets after what you did, but you won’t be able to run from me.” She brought her hand forward.

  “Julie! No!”

  Josslyn raced forward, wrapping her hands around Julie’s waist, and tossing her to the ground. “Go!” she shouted, glancing at the man behind her. “Get out of here! Now!”

  The man nodded, racing out of the alley.

  “Josslyn! What the hell!” Julie shoved Josslyn out of the way, jumping to her feet. “You let him get away!”

  “Damn right I did,” Josslyn said, propping her hands on her hips. “Julie, what the hell do you think you’re doing? We are not supposed to use our powers to punish people, remember? It’s what separates us from demons and warlocks!”

  “There are other evils in this world, Joss,” Julie said, glancing over her shoulder at her sister. “Criminals need to pay for their sins too.”

  “That’s what the justice system is for.”

  “As if it’s ever done a load of good.”

  “Julie! Stop it!” Josslyn cried, grabbing Julie by the shoulders and shaking her. “Snap out of it, will you? This isn’t you! I know you, Julie! You believe in the justice system. You believe in the law and you would never harm someone! It’s the darkness. It’s taking over. Come on, Julie, I need you to come back to me. I know you’re in there somewhere!”

  “But this is me, Joss,” Julie said, her voice cold and dark.

  Josslyn swallowed, watching as Julie’s hair changed from brown to black. I’m losing her. “Julie…”

  “I’ve been through hell, Joss!” Julie snapped, breaking free of Josslyn’s grasp. “I nearly died and all you and Jade can ever do is boss me around. Well no more, because I am finally free! Free to be myself. Free to make my own choices. Free to do whatever I want, and kill who ever I want. I have the power, and the sister you knew is gone! Forever!”

  “No! Julie!” Josslyn lunged forward, reaching her fingers out, but Julie disappeared in a scorch of flames before she could grab her. “Dammitt, Julie, this is not cool!” she shouted, raising her head as the ball of fire flung through the sky. “You do not just abandon your family! Dammitt, I need you!”

  “Ahh!”

  Jade screamed as she fell through the door. Her body propelled downward, and she gasped, glancing around her. Images surrounded her, and she noticed an image of a young woman holding a baby. “Wait. Is that me?”

  She smil
ed, glancing at the newborn, thinking of how cute she had been! And her mother… oh how she missed her.

  “Whoa!”

  She gasped, as she dove downward. Another picture surfaced in front of her. Of her, Julie, and Josslyn playing in the back yard. Further down, there was an image of her with her grandparents. “Oh my! There are so many memories in here! Memories I totally forgot about!” she cried.

  “Jade, you need to focus. Focus on your thoughts. Your emotions. Where do you want to go? What answers do you seek?”

  The voice sounded nearby, and Jade closed her eyes, letting go of all of her thoughts, of all of her emotions, knowing the number one reason she had come here.

  Her feet hit the ground, and she opened her eyes. A door swung open in front of her, and she stepped through it, the door slamming shut behind her.

  “Hello, Jade.”

  The voice sounded nearby, and Jade frowned, narrowing her eyes. That voice. I know that voice. Where do I know that voice from?

  Footsteps sounded, and she glanced over her shoulder, jumping back as Tony appeared out of the darkness. “Tony!” She stumbled back, fear filling her as he walked toward her. Sickened that she had loved this man. Trusted him. “Go away! I don’t want to see you! Not ever, ever again!”

  “But it’s part of why you’re here,” a voice said in her ear. “He took something from you, Jade. A part of you, that you’re afraid to open up again.”

  “But I didn’t come here to get answers about him! I want to know about my baby!”

  “And you will, but you must follow the path first.”

  Jade swallowed, thinking this was the stupidest thing she had ever done, but she stepped forward. Where else was she going to go? It wasn’t like she could just snap her fingers and go back home.

  But it sure was tempting, Jade thought, as voices rippled around her.

  “You’re strong, Jade,” Jeffrey Morgan said in her ear. “Stronger than me even.”

  “You’re the glue that holds this family together,” her mother said, her voice sounding nearby.

  “It’s because of you, I’m alive,” Josslyn whispered, her voice breaking.

  “You lifted me up, when I was down,” Julie said.

  “You opened your home to me. Gave me a family,” Jasmine said.

  “You have a destiny,” Grandmother Juliette said.

  “A destiny, you can only fulfill, by truly understanding what’s happened to you,” Grandfather Jeremiah said.

  “And it starts here,” Sky said.

  The voices rippled around her, and Jade blinked back tears.

  “I love you, Jade.”

  She jerked her head up, Tony’s voice sounding in her ear. “Lies. Tony never loved me!”

  “But you loved him.” The images disappeared from around her, and a woman with dark, blonde hair stepped out from the shadows. “Hello, Jade.”

  “Cynthia?”

  “The one and only,” Cynthia said, taking a seat on the floor and gesturing Jade forward. “Please. Come and sit.”

  “What is this place?” Jade asked, regarding the woman and taking a seat on the floor.

  “The hall of memories,” Cynthia said. “It’s part of your journey.”

  “My journey? Cynthia, I don’t know what you’ve been told, but I’m not looking for a stroll down memory lane. I just want answers. Answers about my baby.”

  “And you’ll get them,” Cynthia said. “But in order to find the root to your problems, we have to go back. We have to visit your past, your present, and your future.”

  “But I don’t want to go back!” Jade cried. “It’s too painful!”

  “You don’t have a choice, Jade. It’s why you’re here, and the secrets we unveil, could be the key to helping your entire family.” Cynthia held her hands out. “Take my hands, Jade, because we’re about to go on quite a ride.”

  “Sky! Look!” Jasmine lunged forward, racing down the abandoned street amongst the clouds. “I think I see something! An old, abandoned building, I think. Look!” She frowned. “Sky?” She glanced over her shoulder, her breath catching when she saw him stumble. “Oh my God! Sky!” She raced back to him, touching a hand to his cheek. “Sky, you’re burning up! We need to get you somewhere where you can rest.”

  “We don’t have time,” Sky said, his voice breaking, glancing over his shoulder as footsteps sounded nearby. “They found us.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I just do.”

  “There has to be something we can do. Somewhere we can go. Sky, you said you know these heavens! Where can we go?”

  “I wish I knew,” Sky gasped out. “But these heavens, they’re different. They’re not the heavens I remember. Something’s changed.” He gripped her hand, disappearing through the doorway next to them. “Everything I thought I knew, isn’t. Even Myron, my dear friend turned his back on me. I don’t understand.” He bowed his head, quietly closing the door and turned to Jasmine, lifting a finger to his lips.

  “I think they’re in here!”

  The voice sounded from the other side of the door, and Jasmine lunged forward. She slammed the board over the door, watching as it shook. “Sky, this isn’t going to hold very long. Sky?”

  Silence sounded behind her, and she glanced over her shoulder. “Sky? Sky!” She screamed, racing forward, as he collapsed against the wall. “Oh my God! Sky!” She dropped to her knees next to him, cradling his head in her arms as sweat beaded across his forehead. “Don’t you dare leave me,” she scolded. “Open your eyes!”

  Sky creaked open an eye. “I’m trying, but I’m so tired, Jasmine. I just want to sleep.”

  “No! You are not to fall asleep! Do you hear me? I need you.” She sniffed, pressing her cheek against his hair. “I can’t lose you, Sky. I only just found you.” A tear streaked down her cheek, and she closed her eyes. “Please, if anyone can hear me. Please help me.”

  “Jasmine?”

  A rush of wind rushed against her face, and Jasmine snapped her eyes open. Blinking as a blinding, yellow light suddenly filled the room. A dark-haired man rushing forward. “Aaron?”

  “Jasmine, what’s going on?” Aaron asked, hurrying toward her. “I heard your cry for help. It sounded desperate.”

  “It is desperate!” Jasmine cried, pointing to Sky. “He’s dying, Aaron and I don’t know what to do.”

  “It’s his heart, isn’t it?” Aaron asked, placing his hand over Sky’s chest. “I felt his pain all the way down on earth, but I had no idea where he was! Someone stole it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Who?”

  “That’s what we’re trying to figure out, but these damned black angels are trying to kill us! We can’t keep running from them Aaron! Sky can’t keep running from them. He’s too weak, and he is definitely not in shape to go on a damned treasure hunt!”

  “Then I guess it’s a good thing I found you,” Aaron said, reaching forward and squeezing her hand. “Don’t worry, Jasmine, we’ll get his heart back, but I have to take Sky. I have to get him away from here. Somewhere safe. I promise I won’t let anything happen to him.”

  “I know. I trust you, Aaron. But where are you going to take him?”

  “Back down to earth. The Gods and black angels can’t reach him there.” He glanced down at Sky. “You just couldn’t stay out of trouble, could you, Sky?”

  Sky creaked open an eye. “What can I say. I like adventure.”

  “I’d say. You’re the biggest pain in the ass I’ve ever trained,” Aaron said, rolling his eyes. “Come on. We have to get going.” He nodded to the door behind them. “They’re going to be breaking through any minute.”

  “But I can’t leave her!” Sky cried. “They’ll kill her!”

  “She’ll be fine.”

  “You don’t know that!”

  “True, nothing in life is certain, but Sky you have to trust her. Trust that she’s strong enough to handle this. If you really love her, you’ll trust her to bring your heart back to
you.”

  “I trust her with my life,” Sky said. “But I don’t like this. Something’s not right here, Aaron. Everything seems topsy curvy here! Oh ouch!” He suddenly let out a cry of pain, clutching his head in his hands. “Oh my God! It hurts! It hurts!”

  “Sky?” Jasmine glanced over at Aaron. “Aaron, what’s going on? What’s wrong with him?”

  “It’s one of my charges,” Sky said, grimacing, as he lifted his head. “Something’s wrong with… Julie. She’s… gone evil.”

  “Evil? Did you just say evil?” Jasmine asked, her jaw dropping open. “How? Julie doesn’t have an evil bone in her body!”

  “It was the spell,” Aaron said, eyeing Sky. “You didn’t read the warning before you cast the spell, did you?”

  “What warning?”

  “That the spell should be used only in a case of dire emergency, and if the spell is cast, one soul who has been tempted by evil will fully convert to the dark side.”

  “What? But Julie has never been tempted by evil!”

  “Yes she has. On Halloween. She had all four powers inside of her. She got the taste of true power, and now, she wants more. But there’s more to the warning.”

  “What more could there possibly be?”

  “If more than one person walks through the gates of heaven, all hell will ring down on earth and bring forth the apocalypse.”

  “What!”

  “Josslyn’s dealing with it, as best as she can. But we have to go.” He glanced at Jasmine. “You have to find his heart, Jasmine. It’s the only way to save him.”

  “I’ll do what I can,” Jasmine said as they disappeared in a reign of light. She sighed, leaning back against the wall, and closed her eyes. Very thankful that Aaron had heard her cry for help. What would she had done if he hadn’t come?

  “There’s time to ponder that later, Jasmine,” she said, rising to her feet. Behind her, the door slammed open and she spun on her heel. She raced through the small house, wrapping her hand around the door, and shoved it open. Her gaze landing on the white clock tower lying high in the sky.