Winter's Fall

by Alessandra Jay

  “He’s out with your coven trying to find Lenora. Charlie is with Sage and Finn up in Paradise asking for more help. And your family has been going back and forth from here to your mother’s room, waiting for one of you two to wake up.

  Except right now they're in Eden checking up on the Elder that received a similar fate.” Checking everyone off on his fingers, he looks at me expectantly, knowing I have more questions.

  “How long have I, we, been asleep?”

  “Eight days.”

  “What happened after I…checked out?” My stomach rumbles and I begin to feel more in control of my equilibrium. I spread my legs out in front of me and stretch forward, touching my toes.

  “What didn't happen? Lenora placed a curse on you before she got away. I left right after she did to try and find her, but I had no luck.” I can see Theo's jaw tense up and his hands tighten to fists.

  “Sage called to tell me they were bringing you and the intruder they're calling your mother here to the Village, where the caster medics can work on you two. We rotate who gets to stay here with you. I find it funny that you wake up when it’s me on duty.”

  Theo connects his eyes with me and I look away rapidly. Clearing my throat, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed again.

  Theo stands and holds his hands out, ready to catch me if I fall again. I don't. I keep my balance and slowly make my way to the kitchen, with Theo trailing behind me the entire way. When we finally make it there, I stuff my arms with ingredients from the refrigerator.

  “Why can’t I cast?” Spreading the food on the counter, I continue with my questioning. Only Theo looks like he doesn't know the answer to that one.

  “I'm guessing that’s one of the effects from the Lenora curse. That’s what they're officially calling it now. We’ll know more as you try other things and we can understand what she has blocked with her curse.

  Since it seems to be her signature move, we think she also placed a curse on the Fallen intruder, as well, because she hasn't woken yet either.” Theo stands beside me, falling into perfect rhythm with me as he helps open the ingredients.

  Starving is an understatement and all I want to do is eat. If I could cast, I would already be eating. But since I can’t, the mortal way is the way to go. Something easy that can be done fast, but that is also filling is what I need, being that I haven't eaten in eight days.

  Fluffy buttery pancakes is what Theo and I prepare. He hands me the ingredients before I even ask for them, as if he knows what I'm going to do next. When he hands me a teaspoon of vanilla, the smell immediately merges itself with Theo.

  My stomach sinks as I pour the yummy liquid into the flour mixture. My breathing becomes unsteady again and I have to turn away to get my bearings. Placing the pan on the lit stove, I slap butter onto it and wait for it to melt while Theo mixes the pancake batter.

  “So there are no more questions then?” Handing me the bowl, he leans against the counter.

  “I have a million, but right now all I want to do is eat.”

  The butter begins to melt, then sizzle as I pour the mixture into the hot pan. Theo stands to get berries out of the fridge, chops them up, and places them into a bowl as I flip the pancakes beside him. Feeling oddly comfortable, I temporarily forget everything else that floods my mind and get lost in the moment now…even if it’s not with my husband.

  ***

  “Now that you've eaten enough pancakes to fill you for a year, would you like to go see Willow?”

  Theo places the dirty dishes in the sink and turns to lend me his hand, helping me out of my seat. With a single nod, I take his hand and follow him to the door as he leads me to the room where my mother sleeps. As we ride the elevator down a few floors, Theo takes a phone out of his pocket.

  “Guess I should let everyone know that sleeping beauty finally woke up. Although I'm still trying to understand these mobile contraptions that the mortals are so obsessed with. I’ll just ask Charlie to spread the word when she’s done with her current task. Evan will finally shut up about completing your ‘bond’.”

  Theo says the last word in air quotes, causing my cheeks to instantly redden. I had forgotten that even though we had our ceremony, we haven’t had the chance to seal it completely. Hiding my face in my hands, he makes his call. My heart begins to race, knowing that at any moment I will be meeting the woman who gave birth to me.

  I hear Charlie scream through the speaker of Theo's phone and it’s the only thing that snaps me out of my anxiety attack. The elevator doors open, Theo takes my hand into his and brings us to the room. He hangs up the phone and opens the door.

  “Why don't I wait out here so you can be alone with her.”

  Theo posts himself outside of the door after he closes it shut. Walking into the hotel-like room, I enter a narrow hallway that opens up to a single bed with a TV and one chair. The bathroom is located beside the closet and there is one window with a view of the building next door, reminding me more of a motel.

  My heart breaks just a little knowing this is where they threw the person that’s supposed to be my mother. I'm honestly surprised dad let them stick her here. Technically, I guess she doesn't even know where she is, since she’s been asleep for as long as I have.

  Moving closer to the bed where she lay completely still, I get the most bizarre sense of familiarity. I’ve only seen her when I was a baby, so I shouldn't have any recollection of her. Her bright red hair falls in chaotic but beautiful curls around her head.

  The paleness of her skin and the way her nose points up reminds me of my own features. My hands get clammy as my eyes roam her body from head to toe. I know I don't know her. But yet I feel like I do.

  I feel sad she’s going through this and I begin to feel compassion for the woman I thought I would never meet. I always thought that if this day ever came, that I would be angry with her and not let her off the hook so easily.

  But I don't feel that anger anymore. Now that she has shown herself, I don't want to lose her. Especially after she saved my life. I take a seat next to her on the small full-sized bed and I lift my feet so that we’re side by side.

  Moving my hand ever so slightly, I wrap my pinky around hers. Immediately everything around me begins to fade away and my body gets cold. My hand is glued to hers and I can’t remove it. My heart skips a beat and I know the darkness is coming.

  I know we’re still in New York because I can see the skyline in the distance. I'm standing on a roof in the middle of a snowstorm and the sky is as dark as ink. I can barely see a thing. I'm beginning to feel the coldness from the storm. Looking around at the other buildings, I don't notice anything peculiar and wonder if I'm back in Lenora's curse, or if I even ever came out of it.

  “Scarlet?” A voice frightens me, causing me to jump.

  I spin around to see Willow standing there with her arms wrapped around her. I suddenly don't have a single word to say, and we stand there in silence. Willow moves closer to me, causing a crunching sound beneath her feet every time she moves. I take another look around because something just doesn’t feel right.

  Willow makes it to my side and reaches to grab my hands, but for some reason I take another step back, just out of her reach. She looks down at her feet with sorrow clear on her face and my heart begins to break into pieces. Just when I’m going to step back towards her, a loud and piercing scream echoes through the streets. Both of our heads snap towards the sound and we immediately find where it came from.

  Lenora stands in the middle of the street, where there is a fork in the road. There are no mortals around, so the thought of casualties leaves my mind. I grip the railing as I try to get a better view of where she is so I can see what she’s doing. But I'm just too far up on the roof. I could use my wings, but I don't want her to know that we’re here.

  Willow nudges me gently, so I look at her and she raises her finger to signal that we don't speak. I watch her close her eyes and steady her breathing. She’s trying to tell me to tune int
o my angel hearing and use that to listen. Understanding, I turn to take one more look at Lenora before I center myself.

  Two other casters have appeared by her side and she turns to speak to them. I quickly shut my eyes and focus on the rhythm of my breathing. When it feels centered enough, I zone in on my sense of hearing. I listen for the sounds that I want to hear and I stay with it until the words come through clearly. When I have it, I open my eyes to watch, as well.

  “They will pay. Especially Scarlet. I don't want her dead anymore. I want her to suffer the way I did when I lost my brother. I'm going to take someone she holds very dear to her heart and I'm going to crush them right in front of her.” Lenora grunts, as she finishes her vow to herself.

  “What about the war Vincent planned to conquer Eden? Will we continue to follow through with it?” A man with an uncomfortably deep voice asks the question I hope he would.

  “No, Alec, we are not going to. I have something way better planned than taking over Eden. Vincent shot too high by going against Ava, especially after that disgraceful caster Scarlet got her power. No. We’re going to shoot for something that I am positive we can have.” Lenora snickers in a menacing way as she spins back around to face the street.

  A car zooms down the road at a speed that is too fast and, just as it reaches Lenora, she raises her hand to stop the car. She walks to the side of the car to pull out a mortal girl that is clearly sobbing.

  “Well, well, were you just about to ram yourself into this here pole? On purpose?”Lenora questions the poor girl, who sobs even louder.

  “I don't want to live anymore.” Are the only coherent words I can make out.

  Lenora turns her head to the other two members of her Dark Coven and she snaps her fingers. The mortal girl falls to the ground in a deep and forced sleep…the Lenora curse. Lenora turns around and points to the body on the ground.

  “This is how we’re going to take over New York. Remember that night Vincent killed that girl, Charlie? Well, Mackenzie actually ended up gaining power from the torture that we were instilling into her.

  If we collect enough mortals, this city could be ours. We can start with this one and see how it works, then perfect it and collect more mortals, turning them into our own army. Think of how many mortals will voluntarily join us to gain our abilities and immortality.

  Then, when we’re ready, we can begin with the Villages in the mortal realm and infiltrate them and avenge my brother’s death. But first we need someone else.” Lenora nods to the body and Alec lifts her up like she’s a piece of paper, throwing her into the girl’s car, and sliding into the back seat next to her.

  Lenora starts the car and, before she peels off, looks at the other woman caster and reveals the person that is the missing piece of her diabolical plan.

  “The first thing we need to do is get that girl…Mackenzie. She’s the key. We will get her to fight on our side.” She skids the tires and leaves a cloud of smoke where the car just was.

  Shaking my head, I return my hearing to normal and begin to lose control of my breathing. My heart begins to race and I feel myself beginning to get dizzy. Willow takes my elbow and leads me to the ground to sit. Just when I get on the floor, my spine tingles with a million zaps.

  The feeling brings me comfort as I close my eyes to welcome the sensation. But just before I wake up, I hear Willow leave me with one message,

  “I'm sorry, Scarlet. I never wanted to leave you. I love you, my snowdrop.”

  The small motel-like room comes back in a rush. I fall off the bed as footsteps rush towards me. The scent of apples fills my nose and warm hands come around my back. My eyes find his and they're filled with worry.

  “Scarlet.” Is all he says before Charlie rushes into the room.

  “Guys, we can’t find Mack.” And just like that, my world crashes and burns all over again.

  Demonology

  The Inferno

  Those in level nine, living in treachery, are the Argali demons. It takes three hunters to take one down. Those are very rare to encounter. And can only escape their personal hell if they're summoned by a caster using black magic or someone with immense power.

  In the all-darkness of level eight, the Takin demons torture the souls sentenced there that have committed murder. Those are tough to hunt because they're tricky beasts. They can climb buildings, trees, come out of deep caverns and go into sewers. If they can get a foothold on something, they can ascend or descend rapidly.

  In level seven, the Kudu demons torment the souls filled with violence. These are demons that take pleasure in killing. They are like serial killers, stalking victim after victim. Killing those are easier. But they can camouflage themselves, so you really have to use your sense of smell when hunting them.

  Demons in level six are the Anea demons. They entrap the blasphemous souls in nothing but fire. They smell like burning tires. We try to kill those the fastest because the stink is so severely.

  Level five, the Gaur demons, scourge souls of anger in an endless battle. These demons strike at anything. They don't care if it’s a child or an elderly. These demons even attack animals that get in their way. Those are the largest demons in the underworld. But they're fairly easy to kill. Their horns make it hard for them to see straight, so we decided that head shots are the favored method to annihilate them.

  Demons in level four are the Elands. They punish souls who are sentenced there for their greed. With the addition of deadly horns, they also have greenish skin, like the color of money. Killing them from afar is best. This is where the sharpshooting training becomes useful. One puncture from one of their horns is enough to kill you on the spot.

  Level three, the Bison demons, reside in freezing temperatures, guarding the souls who have violated all immorality. They are the hardest to smell, but they are rather slow in their attack. Rather large beasts but not very intelligent.

  In level two you can really smell the putrid, decaying skin of the Tahr demons. They escape the most. Ironically, they hate the dark, so they're rarely seen at night. We always have to cast our invisibility spell when killing them because they like crowded places in the daylight. And a dagger does the job discreetly, to keep the mortals safe and oblivious to our world.

  The first level of hell is the limbo tier. The Chamois demons lurk in the shadows, victimizing the trapped souls. They really enjoy brash mortal women. They're my least favorite type of demon. Even though they are easy to kill, they're smart enough to distance themselves from casters. They succeed most in torturing living mortals. Getting to them first is most crucial, or the mortals will suffer by going mad and committing suicide.

  And last, in the very center, condemned for committing the ultimate sin, is the worst demon of them all, the Devil. No one knows how to get to the center. And if they’ve tried, they never come back. Only the demons who guard the levels of his inferno go there and back.

  Scarlet’s Playlist

  Louis Armstrong- La Vie En Rose (Chapter 1)

  Annette Bryn Parri- Romance de Amor (Chapter 6)

  Bach- Bourree (Chapter 7)

  Michael Buble- Be my Baby (Chapter 8)

  Icona Pop- Emergency (Chapter 9)

  Skindred- Ratrace (Chapter 15)

  The Penguins- Earth Angel (Chapter 19)

  Amy Winehouse- Love is a Losing Game (Chapter 20)

  Dion- Runaround Sue (Chapter 21)

  Andy Mineo & Lecrae- Coming in Hot (Chapter 22)

  Etta James- My Dearest Darling (Chapter 28)

  Dion- Love Came to Me (Chapter 31)

  Maroon 5- The Sun (Chapter 34)

  Earl- In Love and War (Chapter 38)

  Amy Turk- Winter, 2nd Movement (Chapter 41)

  Caro Emerald- A Night Like This (Chapter 41)

 

 

 
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