by L. L Hunter
“Because I don’t know what I’d do without you.” He kissed her again, and this time her face became transparent.
“What’s happening?” she asked frantically.
“Someone’s interfering with this dream, trying to send you another one.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know, just let them. I’ll talk to you again soon,” he said, blinking in and out of focus like a mirage.
“Dys, don’t go.” She tried desperately to hold onto him, but it was too late, he was gone. And in his place stood Lakyn, but he wasn’t in this room. He was in the factory.
“Are they the tears?” asked his young apprentice, “Wow they sparkle.”
“They do have a shimmery appearance,” said Lakyn, as he inserted the tear vial into a slot in the machine, it was a small clamp above a large vat.
“Are the arrow heads ready Aaron?”
“Yes, all five thousand of them.”
“Excellent, coating starts tomorrow. Now for the blood.”
“What are you going to do with the blood, Sir?” Asked Aaron.
“I’m going to send it away for testing, so we can see exactly what Archangel blood can do,” Lakyn grinned. And then the dream faded, and Scarlett was left lying on the metal slab in the white room again.
The door swooshed open and in walked the woman with the yellow eyes.
“What’s happening now?” Scarlett asked.
“We just need to do a few more tests.”
“I think you’ve done enough tests,” said Scarlett, kicking out when the woman was close enough, her foot connecting with the woman’s nose, causing her to stumble back.
“Stop fighting Scarlett,” said another voice, this time female. She recognised her as Ariel.
“Let me go, I’m not a lab rat.”
“No, you’re a unique specimen, and that’s why we want you to stay here with us.”
That was it. That was the whole purpose of being brought here. She knew Ariel had ulterior motives, but Scarlett refused to become a lab experiment.
“I’d rather die,” said Scarlett, throwing a ball of flame towards Ariel’s face, singeing her. Ariel screamed.
“Then die you will,” growled Ariel. She plunged a syringe full of bright green liquid into Scarlett’s arm, and that was when she stopped fighting.
~
Wack! A snowball hit Dyston square in the face. It caught him off guard and he fell back into the soft snow. Another assaulted him in the chest.
“Hey you shouldn’t kick someone while they’re down,” he chuckled.
“Sorry, do you surrender?” Scarlett asked him, appearing from behind the tree that had acted as her fort.
“Yes, yes I surrender,” he said, putting his arms up.
“Good.” She ran over and flopped down in the snow beside him. “So when did you first know that you had to look after me?” she asked, as she took him in. Dyston looked so deadly, dark and beautiful against the white powder. She reached out and touched her fingertips to his. They were perfect snow angels.
“When I was eighteen, I began having dreams.”
“Who sent them to you?”
“I still don’t know.”
“Were they dreams like mine?”
“Yeah, a flash of colour here, a smell there, and not always at night.”
“That’s more intense than what you sent me.”
“That’s because I’m not a very powerful angel. I think these dreams were sent to me by an angel much higher up.”
“Like an Archangel?” Scarlett asked, getting up on her elbow.
“Yeah, could be. I’ve been beginning to put the pieces together.”
“You mean to say, that more has happened than just the dreams?”
“Yeah. I’ve received numerous mysterious notes and items, and no one has claimed giving them to me. So, who else could they be from?”
“Like my locket. Lakyn said he didn’t give it to me, and you didn’t. So, unless I have a third suitor…”
“I will kick their angelic butts if they even come near you,” he joked, leaning over to kiss her. Scarlett giggled. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back so passionately that she felt they would melt the snow. After a few seconds she released him.
“We better get back,” she said. She got to her feet with Dyston’s help, and together they brushed the snow of their coats.
“Yeah, before those heavenly suitors come looking.”
“Ha ha!” She shoved him playfully and took flight. She felt his wing tips graze hers, so she felt comforted at the fact that he was right beside her. Black and gold; the perfect match.
~
Scarlett blinked. She now felt the weakest she had felt since coming here. Another dream? Were they accidently giving her dream serum instead of a sedative? Her mind fought over the decision to wake up, or to pretend to stay unconscious. If she woke up, they would just put her under again. And if she stayed under she could see Dyston. In the end the former won out and she opened her eyes slowly, at the precise moment Lakyn returned to the room, so she quickly shut them again, playing dead.
“Is she asleep or…”
“Her vitals are too strong, her immune system is fighting off everything we put into her, I don’t think we can kill her,” said yellow eyes.
“But we have to do something. She’s just going to go back and tell him, and they’re going to prepare to fight.”
“Aren’t they going to do that regardless?”
“True, but my brother cannot find out what we’ve been up to.”
“Then how are we going to kill her?”
“I’ve been researching all the ways to kill an Archangel, and trust me, there aren’t many, and all of them are evasive,” said Lakyn, standing over Scarlett’s body.
“But she’s only half an Archangel right?” asked the woman.
“Correct, half Arch-half Nephilim.”
“Then gold will work.”
“I don’t have enough. Besides, doesn’t it have to be blessed, or something?”
“Yes, it has to be from a melted down chalice belonging to The Michaelites.”
“How am I supposed to get that?”
“You will soon find a way,” said the woman. She took off her surgical mask and grinned. And that was the first time Scarlett got a look at her face. It was disfigured, her skin looked reptilian. So the mask wasn’t just for her job, Scarlett thought, she was a demon.
“But right now, we need to drain her again.”
No! She wanted to cry, but she didn’t dare make a sound. The demonic woman stuck another catheter in Scarlett’s arm and drained what was left of her life force.
Chapter Fifteen
Descent
Someone was stroking her hair. Oh, please let it be Dyston, she thought, no one else but Dyston.
“Let her go Lakyn, she’s as good as dead. No angel has survived this,” said a man with a gruff voice, whom Scarlett didn’t recognize. But Lakyn, Lakyn was stroking her hair. Unbeknown to them, Scarlett was listening to every word; her soul was still in tact.
“You don’t know how special she is,” whispered Lakyn.
“You are letting your feelings get in the way of our mission. Let her go, Lakyn. She’s dead.”
Lakyn stared at Scarlett’s lifeless body; she was as pale as if she were a photograph that the entire colour had been saturated out of. He scooped her up and carried her outside in his arms.
Underneath the Bridge of Wings, was an abyss, a black hole that swirled like a soup of distant galaxies. This was where Angels in The Beginning began their fall after receiving judgement. And this was where Lakyn would be sending Scarlett.
“See you back on earth.” He kissed her pale lips and let her slip from his arms into the sea of galaxies. He knew she wasn’t truly dead, he knew he would see her again.
~
When you are about to die, your organs shut down one by one, and then your senses, your hearing being the last to go. That
was why Scarlett had heard everything Lakyn, Abraham and the Realm Technicians had said. She couldn’t feel his kiss, but she knew what he had done before he let her fall. That was why she could remember it vividly His kiss had ignited something inside of her. It started at her heart, and began to spread throughout her entire body.
“No!” She screamed, but the words didn’t escape. She couldn’t love Lakyn. She loved Dyston. She could no longer live in denial, Lakyn had awakened her, and now she was falling back down to Earth.
~
Scarlett didn’t feel like she was falling, there was none of that stomach-in-your-throat kind of feeling. She just felt like she was floating in suspended animation, like she was floating in water, or like a baby in its mother’s womb. But in reality, she was travelling towards Earth in a fireball faster than the speed of light. When she reached the earth’s atmosphere, her essence was entirely made up of fire and ice. She opened her eyes and saw the city of Melbourne below her. How did Lakyn know to send her in the right direction? She noticed Blackbell and realised she was falling way too fast; she was going to hit it. She tried to move and twist her body out of its path, and all those she loved who were inside. But it was no use. She tried one last attempt to reach out to Dyston in prayer.
“Get everyone out. I’m falling. I can’t stop it.” She closed her eyes and hoped. Then all of a sudden she had wings. She looked back to admire them. They were the most amazing shimmering gold she had ever laid her eyes upon, they glittered against the red and orange of the fire, and then she hit the ground.
~
Scarlett was only aware of one thing after she landed; she was cooling down. She opened her eyes and managed to lift her head up. And she was mortified at what she saw before her. There were crumpled buildings all around, and smoke, fire and ash filled the air. It was all she could see, all she could taste, all she could feel. Was she in one of the realms? She pushed her limbs off the ground, they were lying at odd angles, but she easily popped them back into place one by one. First her arms, followed by her legs, until she stood upright. She spread out her wings for balance and began walking down the debris-strewn street, looking for anything she might recognise, but she saw nothing. Everything looked the same in this new post-apocalyptic landscape. That was when she heard the screams. They were all around her. She looked up and saw wings; angels everywhere were fleeing, leaving the destruction, which she had caused. And then Scarlett saw the one thing that stood out amongst the ashen ruins; a lone maple tree. Her heart leaped. Was that all that was left of her home? She heard a sound behind her, the crunch of someone’s boot on the ground. She turned cautiously, and came face to face with the one whom she had been longing for the most.
“Dyston,” she uttered, her voice coming out hoarse. She moved shakily towards him, still getting used to her body. It felt like lead, and it couldn’t hold her, so she fell again. But this time she didn’t hit the ground. This time she was surrounded by softness and the smell of rain. She was finally in his arms.
“Did you do this?” he asked, he didn’t sound angry though.
“I… I don’t know” she stuttered. He then smiled at her.
“What?” she asked in curiosity.
“You’re naked,” he smirked. He stood her up again, and tugged off his white-buttoned shirt, which he slipped over her head. Then he lifted her off the ground. She felt no shame.
“What happened?” she asked, as he carried her above the smoke and embers.
“I’ll tell you soon. And tuck in your wings, they’re beautiful, but no one has ever seen wings like yours before. They’ll stare.” As they flew, the soft flap of his black wings made her eyelids droop.
“Rest, I’ll wake you when we’re there.”
She wanted to ask where, but sleep was already taking her.
~
When Scarlett awoke she no longer felt drowsy, instead she felt brand new. She sat up and expected her head to pound but it didn’t. She was in a soft white bed in a small room, with latte coloured walls that looked like a dormitory. There was another bed in the room, but it looked like it hadn’t held an occupant in quite some time. She swung her legs over the side just as the door opened, it was Dyston, and a man in white and gold robes whom she didn’t know, was following him.
“Scarlett, this is Father Luke, he specialises in angelic healing. He’s here to help you.”
“Where are we?” she asked, her voice still hoarse.
“We’re at The Gabriel Academy in Sydney,” said Father Luke. Scarlett had seen photos of Gabriel—Like Blackbell, it too, was attached to a Cathedral, this one St. Mary’s.
“But why? Why did we leave Melbourne?”
Dyston looked at Father Luke, and then back at Scarlett. He came and sat down beside her on the bed and placed his hand on hers.
“Scar, we left because Melbourne doesn’t exist anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t you remember?”
“Sorry, my memories are a little rusty.”
“Well, it got burnt to the ground.” Then everything came flooding back, the realisation was like a train hitting her at full speed. The smoke, the fire and the ash in the air after she had landed, it could only mean one thing.
“I caused this? I turned the city to ash?” Scarlett asked. She felt nauseous.
“Yes, it was caused by your fall.”
“But Blackbell… everyone…”
“Blackbell Academy is gone. But everyone made it out, they’re okay.”
Scarlett’s heart sank. She wanted to scream and curse and tear something to pieces. Her home was gone because of her. No, not her, Lakyn. If Lakyn hadn’t been so selfish and taken her for his own evil purposes, then she wouldn’t have fallen, and Melbourne and Blackbell would still be standing. The door burst open and Emer and Joshua spilled in.
“Dyston,” gasped Joshua.
“What is it?” asked Dyston, gesturing at Scarlett, hinting that he was busy.
“I didn’t believe it when Dyston said he found you in the ash. I’m glad you’re okay,” Emer told her.
“Was there an urgent problem?” asked Dyston.
“Oh yeah, we just came to tell you that they’re outside.”
“Who’s outside?”
“Lakyn and his army.”
Chapter Sixteen
Battle
Everyone ran to nearest window, but Scarlett couldn’t see anyone behind the laneway of trees in Hyde Park.
“Are you sure they’re outside Emer?” Dyston asked.
“Yeah, Jacob and Kat were going for a romantic fly over the harbour when they saw them.”
“I can’t see anything,” said Scarlett.
“They’re hiding, waiting for the perfect moment to ambush,” said Father Luke.
“Maybe I could go and reason with Lakyn,” Scarlett said suddenly. Everyone turned to look at her like she was crazy.
“No!” cried Emer.
“There is no reasoning with Lakyn, his heart is like ice,” said Dyston, “Plus, you are not going anywhere until you’re healed.”
“I am healed. I’m fine, Dyston,” she told him, “I feel great.”
‘Scar, your limbs were broken. You had your blood drained.”
How did he know that?
“I know, but honestly I feel brand new, and my limbs are fine, see?” She swung her arms and legs out one at a time to demonstrate. Everyone gasped.
“Impossible,” said Father Luke, making the sign of the cross.
“But-” began Emer.
“I don’t understand,” said Dyston. Only Joshua remained silent.
“When I was falling from the Realm of Light, my body began to repair itself. Until I hit the ground, then my limbs broke. But they were already healing.”
“Maybe that’s the blood of the Archangel,” said Joshua, who hadn’t spoken in a while.
“It is known that Archangels are a great deal stronger than Seraphim,” said Father Luke, “but not a lot is known
about what their blood can do. We haven’t come across an Archangel in a while.”
“In a while? You mean one has been here before?” asked Scarlett.
“Yes, it was documented.” Scarlett was intrigued; this could be the first big break in discovering her origins.
“And where are these records?” she asked.
“In The Michaelite Headquarters of course, but they are sacred.”
“Could you take me to them?” Father Luke was about to answer, but Dyston interrupted.
“Not now, we have to keep this Academy protected, we can’t leave.” There came a knock and the door opened, Jacob stood in the doorway.
“Dyston, I need you now.”
“Coming.” Dyston turned to Scarlett, “Stay with Emer, I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Where are you going?”
“Jacob and I have been researching Heavenly weapons. As it turns out, all of the books were written by your ancestors.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, and all of the weapons were designed by mine. Now I know why I seem to have an affinity for Heavenly metals.”
“And that you’re good with your hands,” added Emer, this got a chuckle out of Dyston, but Joshua didn’t seem to approve.
“Sorry,” she told her boyfriend apologetically.
“Anyway I’ll try and return as soon as soon as possible, stay safe.” he took her face in his hands and kissed her. And then he pulled away and headed towards the door.
“Dys?”
“Yeah?” he stopped and turned to look at her.
“I love you.” That was the first time she had said the words awake.
“I love you too,” he told her, holding her gaze one last time before he left. Scarlett turned back towards the window. She realised she was still wearing Dyston’s shirt; she never wanted to take it off. Joshua cleared his throat.
“Well I better go find Thomas. I think he wanted a game of Texas Hold ’em.”
“Okay baby, you know where I’ll be,” said Emer. Joshua kissed her quickly and headed out the door, leaving the two girls alone.
“Now, I think we had better get you changed,” Emer told her, looking Scarlett up and down with her hand on her hip.
