Winter's Fall

by Alessandra Jay

  “What the hell is happening?” Evan shouts at everyone, as he panics and pulls out his phone.

  “Demi, we need to come over. Something is happening with Scar.” Evan hangs up and Charlie scoops me in her arms.

  “I’ll fly her there, it’ll be faster. Just put that invisibility thing on us for extra protection.”

  Evan does as she asks, then casts his own two feet. As we take off in the air, I watch him and the rest of the group speed run through the park towards my sister’s house. I am paralyzed with my fist closed tightly by my aching heart. I feel the tears escape my eyes as I surrender to the unfamiliar pain that is engulfing my entire body.

  “Do not start crying on me, Scar. You will get through this. It’s not your time yet. Woman up.”

  Charlie sounds like she is trying to convince herself as much as she is trying to convince me. As I feel myself begin to black out, I only hope that when I wake, the pain will be gone.

  Chapter 28

  Recon Only

  Evan

  The frequency that Scarlet passes out from pain worries me. It happens so often. If she was mortal, I would be ill at ease about her health. I suppose I'm grateful that she is ethereal. But still, it doesn't sit well with me.

  As I pace the living room floor waiting for Scar to wake, Demi has lit about a hundred or so lavender incense around her entire house. Lavender is used heavily in calming elixirs. When you light them to fill the air, it’s supposed to keep you relaxed. Supposed to.

  Everyone else seems to be as serene as the lavender can make them. I smell a hint of something else she laced her lavender with, but I can’t figure out what it is. It seems like it has a drugging effect because I can feel my mind fighting against the urge to be completely calm.

  Demi knows her stuff; the mixture of the incense and the Etta James playlist softly playing in the background is slowly calling my name. Then, as I look at Scarlet laying on the couch peacefully, I become anxious all over again.

  “I love this song!” Victoria loudly sings along to My Dearest Darling and snaps me out of my own mind.

  Charlie joins Victoria in a powerful and beautiful duet that captures my attention. I notice Chloe and Hunter laying on their stomachs with the silver book open in front of them. I know I should be doing something productive like the two of them, but my main worry is Scarlet.

  Luke walks up and pats me on the shoulder. “You all right?”

  I can only nod as I sit in the chair across from where Scar sleeps. Luke, of all people, understands when someone just needs to sit in silence. For a moment I am relieved that it is Luke that came over and not Derek, who already offered me a joint and is currently outside with Mack smoking said joint.

  “She’s gonna be…” Luke is about to say okay. I know he is. But he gets cut off by Scarlet.

  She sits up abruptly and takes a deep breath in and her hand flies to clutch at her chest. I hoped that when she woke the pain would be gone. By the looks of it, it isn't, and my heart breaks for her.

  Chloe figured out there wasn't a venomous cast on the book. So whatever is happening to Scarlet is something else entirely. Surprising us all, Scarlet lets out a deafening shriek that pierces through all of our ears. We all raise our hands to cover our ears. When the scream abruptly stops, everyone rushes over to the couch to crowd over Scar. None of us make a sound, not even Scarlet.

  Scarlet’s chest rises and falls at a fast and unhealthy speed. I can’t just sit here, so I raise my hand to place it on hers. As if I poked a hole in a balloon, Scarlet just deflates.

  She lays there for a second too long and I can’t hold back my tears. I feel them flooding down my cheeks and pooling in her hair as I leaned over her still body. With everyone in the room silent, the only sound is the music playing in the background. Just as I am going to cast it off, Scarlet’s melodic voice sounds next to my head.

  “This is one of her greatest songs.” It’s raspy, which, after that scream, is expected. She looks normal, like nothing happened.

  Scarlet sits up slowly and I take a step back, afraid anything I do might cause a relapse.

  “What happened?” Like a cat, she raises her arms slowly above her head in a long and heavy stretch.

  “Um, what is the last thing you remember?” Charlie asks, with reluctance in her voice.

  “Why are you are all acting so weird? What are we doing at my sister’s house? The last thing I remember is opening the book. Did you find anything in it?” Scar is all eager to jump back into the mission. But I can't let that happen.

  “You tried to return Lizzie's energy back into the forest and then you collapsed.” I say lightly, as I walk slowly to take the seat next to her.

  “Weird. I feel fine now.” She shrugs her shoulders like it is something we can all move on from now.

  “Do you still feel her power inside of you, Scar?”

  Hunter kneels down in front of Scarlet and looks at her with a serious stare. Scar crosses her arms in front of her and looks away for a second. Then grunts and closes her eyes.

  “Yes, I still feel her.” She shivers and growls her frustration. “I feel contaminated.”

  “I had to get a blood transfusion once, so I think I know how you feel.” Charlie tries to empathize with Scar, but it only makes her roll her eyes.

  “My theory is that Lizzie’s power couldn't find its host and has found a new home in you.” Hunter says this as she grimaces, afraid of how Scarlet might react.

  “What?” She says, calm and collected, which is not what I’m expecting.

  “Well, there’s only one way to find out. Lizzie's gift was healing, right? Who’s gonna be the one to volunteer to hurt themselves?” Demi throws herself on the other side of Scarlet and asks the dreaded question too nonchalantly.

  Scarlet buries her face in her hands and I think of the only way to make her feel even slightly better. I summon my dagger and make a clean cut across my palm. Healing an uncomplicated injury with a simple cast is something we are taught young. But if Hunter is right, Scarlet will be able to heal me with just one touch.

  As she realizes what I’ve done, she sucks in a breath and gives me a scary and angry look. Immediately my hand is in hers and she simply closes her eyes as she cups where the incision is. Right before our eyes, my cut seals closed without a trace of it left behind. Even the blood seeps back into the pores of my skin where it belongs.

  “Damn, that’s nuts.” Owen blurts out.

  “Great. Another thing to add to my growing list of powers.” Scarlet’s head falls back on the cushion behind her.

  We let her sit in silence for a moment because none of us can relate to what she’s going through. We know she felt pressure before, but as things keep piling up, there are fewer and fewer words I can say to make her feel better.

  “At least tell me you found something in the book.” Scar looks around the room with hope in her eyes. The disappointment is clear when again none of us speak up.

  “Chloe? Nothing?”

  Chloe ties her hair into a messy bun and props herself by Scarlet’s legs.

  “Well, we did find out a few things, but nothing that can really help us. First, this is definitely Lizzie’s personal dairy. There are notes and casts written in her handwriting all throughout the book.

  Second, half of these pages are filled with Julian's name. So my guess is that she betrayed us for love. Although, towards the end of the book, her feelings towards him are more filled with rage and jealousy over…you.” Chloe tries to squeeze that last part in without making a big deal about it and, thankfully, Scarlet moves on.

  “That’s it?” She doesn't seem as let down as she did before, but she isn't entirely satisfied.

  “Um, before you woke up, Hunter and I found something peculiar in the way she numbered her pages. It isn't the typical numeric order. The numbers are random and listed at the top corner of each page. Even the ones she didn't write anything on.”

  Chloe taps her pen to her mouth as she f
lips through the pages of the book.

  “That is odd. Let me see.” Scarlet runs her fingers down the pages as she turns each of them.

  “Chloe, write these down. Maybe there is a pattern.” As Scar reads off the numbers one by one, Chloe rapidly jots them down. When they finish, we all stare down at what looks to be a clue.

  “That’s a lot of numbers. What could they mean?” Charlie’s eyebrows scrunch together as she thinks deeply.

  “Could they possibly be coordinates?” Oliver takes out his enchanted tablet from his satchel and searches the numbers in his map application.

  “Got it.” He pinches his fingers away from each other as he zooms into the three dimensional globe.

  “There. The numbers point to Milan.” Chloe jumps to her feet and lets her hair down.

  “Clearly, Italy is their safe zone.” Hunter gets to her feet and pulls out her phone. As she dials Ava's number, she walks away for a quiet place to keep our head Elder up to date.

  “Okay, so what’s the plan now? We have a location. Are we just going to show up? Raid the place?” Oliver jogs in place, as if he is ready to leave right now. With the darkened sky, I find it dangerous for any of us to do any type of ambush.

  Hunter walks back in at the perfect time.

  “Ava says it’s late and we don't have enough information to begin any sort of mission. Yes, we have an address, but we know nothing else, like whose address it is or why it was in Lizzie's book. If we wait until morning we can start fresh and do more research.” Now, this is the smart thing to do.

  “Unless…” Scarlet seems to have a plan B, and it looks like Charlie is the only one on the same page as her.

  “Good thinking. I’ll go. I can be back by morning.” Of course, with her angel abilities, she can be in and out with as much information as she can get. It is a good idea. But by the look on Luke's face, he doesn't agree.

  “No way are you going alone into a possible ambush. I'm coming with you.” He crosses his arms like an angry toddler. Charlie pulls him close to her body as she smiles up at his concerned face.

  “No, you're not. It’s much safer if I go alone. Trust me, there’s nothing to worry about. I’ll be in and out, I promise. I'm only going there for recon, that’s it. I’m not going to engage the enemy.” As she tries to reassure my cousin, Demi pops up and claps her hands.

  “This sounds like a slumber party to me! Scar, get your butt in that kitchen and make us some goodies.”

  Demi pulls Scarlet off of the couch, then turns to get her ‘slumber party essentials.’ Scarlet runs over to Charlie and hugs her tight. As Luke walks her to the door, I follow Scarlet into the kitchen.

  “Are you sure that you're feeling okay?” I don't want to sound like I'm nagging her, but I can’t help but worry. Scarlet gives me a small smile and leans over to kiss me on my cheek.

  “I'm okay as long as she just does some surveillance. I don’t want to worry ‘cause I know she’s an angel now. Maybe Demi is right, baking will keep my mind off of it.”

  She shrugs her shoulders and turns to the pantry, where endless possibilities await. Selfishly, I can’t wait to see what she bakes up. But even more, I can’t wait to hear what Charlie has to report in the morning. Now we just need more incense.

  Chapter 29

  Eden Duties

  Charlie has been gone all night and we haven't heard a single word from her. I'm anxious for her return. Which means Luke is really on edge. Before we went to bed last night, Scarlet filled our stomachs with the most delicious beignets I’ve ever tasted - and I grew up in New Orleans.

  Lucas ate an entire batch just by himself, so Scarlet promised that she’d make more for breakfast. Now, as we all eagerly sit at the kitchen table, we listen to Hunter’s conversation with Ava. She refuses to put it on speaker, so we only hear the one-sided conversation from Hunter.

  “So I figured if I add bacon bits to the batter, it would be considered more of a breakfast delicacy.” Scarlet walks over with a filled-to-the-top cauldron-like bowl.

  It’s large and I’m surprised with how many beignets she fit inside. But the minute she sets it down, half are already gone. Scarlet giggles and stuffs one in her mouth as she walks back over to the stove. Demi slides two plates full of the powdery delicacies towards Lucas and I. Neither of us will let them go to waste. We immediately devour what is on our plates.

  I thought last night’s tasted like perfection, but I was wrong. Adding the juicy pieces of bacon brings another dimension of flavor to the puffy pastry. Luke stands and takes my plate with him to the cauldron at the front of the table.

  In complete silence, he refills our plates and walks back. Handing me my plate, he still doesn't say a word. And I don't push him. I know all too well what he is feeling, and it isn't something I would wish on anyone.

  “My goodness, Scar, these are just addictin’ and I never wanna stop eatin’ them.” Mack takes a large bite from a beignet the size of her entire hand. Her moans are contagious and, before I know it, it sounds like a symphony of satisfaction echoing through Demi’s kitchen.

  Hunter hangs up the phone and rushes over to the almost empty cauldron. Her face practically turns red with anger.

  “That is not cool!” She huffs and puffs back to her seat with broken morsels of beignets and crumbs filling her plate.

  “Whatever. I’ll enjoy them like this, then.” She forcibly grabs her spoon and fills it with the crumbs.

  As she shoves it in her mouth, I can tell even that is a delicious bite by the look of satisfaction on her face. Scarlet walks over to Hunter’s chair and places a fresh and overflowing plate of the beignets in front of her. Hunter greedily begins eating through the plate and it makes the rest of us want more.

  Scarlet drags the empty cauldron over to the stove and refills it. This time, she serves herself and takes the seat next to Demi. We all sit quietly as we savor this batch. As we push around the last few pieces on our plates, the back door swings open.

  Charlie flies through and lands in a crouch. She immediately puts her wings away and runs over to the table. Luke stands abruptly and ushers her to sit in his chair.

  He runs to the cauldron and fills a plate for her. He rushes to get a glass of orange juice and makes it back in record time. But, like a lady, Charlie eats at a slow and steady pace. After only two, she pushes the plate away.

  “That was so good, Scar. You should seriously change your casting focus towards the kitchen. I can only imagine what you could do if you add the perks of being a caster.”

  Scarlet and the rest of us look at her with confusion. We know she has a lot to say, but she hasn’t given us one bit of information. Lucas kneels in front of her and looks up into her eyes.

  “Babe, what happened? You’ve been gone for a long time.” I am glad he asked, because none of us seem to be brave enough to.

  “Oh, right. So, there’s only bad news to tell. And before I begin, let me just say, I am so glad I went alone. Lizzie led us to their little hive. It’s in the basement of a rundown library. I had to completely disguise myself to get in. And I got in alright. It’s the real deal, guys.”

  Again, no details. Why she is skirting around the truth, I don't know. If it’s rattled her this much, then it’s not something I look forward to hearing.

  “Charlie, can you tell us what you saw?” Demi steps in with her calming maternal voice. She is the perfect person to get through to her.

  “Lots and lots of Fallen angels. Ava and you Elders must be doing something right, because there were no other casters in the place. Only the vile members of the Dark Coven.

  Fallen angels fill their army, but they’re not alone. Demons will be fighting alongside them, as well. That is the worst news of all. I tried to stay as long as I could, but I almost got caught by some woman who was patrolling the library.

  She hid under a cloak the entire time and I swear it seemed like she was sneaking around, just as I was. But I couldn't afford to wait and see. She saw me and I
got out of there.” Charlie pulls the plate back and eats another beignet.

  “I'm calling Ava.” Hunter runs out of the room with the phone, already dialing. Luke rubs Charlie's back and, almost instantly, Hunter returns.

  “Okay. So she wants us all back in Eden. Derek, she said you and Luke should stay at Evan’s place with Charlie and Mack. She’s sending extra protection, so don't be alarmed when you get there.

  We have to come up with a plan before the Dark Coven attacks. We have to prepare.” Hunter snaps her fingers and casts a stack of to-go boxes.

  “What? You know the Sisters will be mad at me if I don't bring them back one of Scarlet’s masterpieces.” She shrugs her shoulders and fills the boxes in a rapid pace.

  “I'm going to ask if we can get some additional help, too. When I fill them in about the Fallen angels teaming up with demons the plans will be reconfigured and I’ll be back with our completed team. I’ll meet you guys at Evan’s with an answer and we’ll make our plans from there.” Charlie stands and takes Luke's hand in hers as she leads them to the backyard.

  “Demi, give the girls a hug for me. I’ll call as soon as I can. Thanks for hosting such a fun sleepover.”

  Scarlet stands and the rest of the group follows. As we say our goodbyes, I feel a wave of paranoia hit me and I want nothing more than to get back to Eden, where our numbers and powers are much more intensified.

  “Let’s go.” Scarlet says with an epic look of valiance as she opens the front door. Pride fills me and I know that no matter what, together, we can do this.

  Scarlet

  Even after all the time that has passed, walking into my very own wing at the Elders’ estate still takes my breath away. With everything I have been through, it should feel like this is me, like I belong here. But with everything that is to come, I'm not sure how I should feel.

  We’ve only just arrived and I already feel safer here than I did anywhere in New York. That realization breaks my heart because New York has always been my world. I love everything about it.