Hero of the InBetween

by Erin Snihur

  Lucifer scoffs, “Maybe her mortal parents are, but I’m talking about the one who actually created her. The one who isn’t mortal.”

  We all stare at him in shock and I turn back to stare down at Elara. She is mortal, I am sure of it. Pascal even appears shocked with the news as he keeps his hand on her forehead. I tighten my hands into fists and spin around, stomping a few feet closer to Lucifer.

  “How do you know this?” I ask, not truly ready for the answer.

  “I recognized her essence the moment she stepped into my throne room,” Lucifer muttered, “Even though I haven’t been an Archangel in many centuries, I would recognize the child of an Archangel if I saw one.”

  Dina gasps and stands from her spot on the couch that she had collapsed into only moments before, “An Archangel’s offspring? Whose?”

  Lucifer shoots Dina a scathing look as he speaks, “I can’t be sure. There are many Archangels. She could be the product of any of them.”

  Ezekiel grunts at Lucifer’s words, “How can you be sure then that she is an Archangel’s child?”

  Lucifer ignores Ezekiel and turns to me, “She saw through your illusion when you first met her? I’ll bet her powers were tampered down on purpose; but as she aged, her powers grew restless. After being cursed to the InBetween for so long your abilities were weaker and she was able to see through your illusion when you whisked her off to the InBetween.”

  “She can’t be the offspring of an Archangel. She is mortal. She bleeds, she gets injured and heals slowly as mortals do. I have seen it and she nearly died in my arms,” I protest. My mind is racing as I begin to pace the room, my eyes never leaving Elara’s still form.

  “With her powers tampered, her healing would make her appear mortal. Finding herself in the InBetween must have awoken her powers. Accompanied with her use of the Flaming Sword, it would have caused a gate to be opened and her abilities to burst forth into an untrained mortal body,” Lucifer's voice echoes his worry as he continues, “She opened the gates into the Afterlife and Earth. She cut her hand to do so. The sword’s power would have seeped into her blood and remained there. She is the swords host.”

  Dina begins to pace as well, “She has the sword’s power within her, right now?”

  Lucifer nods, but it is Pascal that speaks up then from the bed, “She could lead us to the sword.”

  Ezekiel stands and strides forward, his eyes boring into mine, “We must contact the Archangels. They will wish to know the status of our mission.”

  “They will kill her,” Lucifer growls and stands, towering over us as he glares at Ezekiel, “It is forbidden for Archangels to create life.”

  Dina turns to Pascal, “Who are her parents, Pascal? Can you see it?”

  Pascal shakes his head and looks down in the direction of Elara’s sleeping face, “It is what I find most intriguing about her. I should have been able to guess it. Her mind is strong and hazy. Completely unreadable. Like an Archangel’s mind. So is her future. I have been quieting her mind since she passed out in the hopes that she would awaken on her own.”

  Lucifer saunters over to the bed, “It is too much power too soon. She will need to be trained to control it and withstand it. That kind of training could take months, maybe years.”

  I feel my anger bubbling over at his words, “She is not learning to do anything that will put her in harm's way. We must find the sword and remove the power from her so that she can be safe.”

  Turning to Ezekiel, I level him with a hard look, “We cannot go to the Archangels with this.”

  Ezekiel’s eyes widen at my words, “We must. It is the law. They will know what must be done.”

  Lucifer snarls and takes a step toward my friend. In the corner of my eye, I see Dina flinch ever so slightly at Lucifer’s protective stance as he growls, “They will kill her.”

  I push myself into Lucifer’s path and glare up at him, “How can we save her?”

  Lucifer sends one last glare to Ezekiel before gazing down at me, “Perhaps once she awakens, we can train her to channel the sword’s power and locate it that way. Pascal should help her and I will search my library for information that can help with her training.”

  “Dina. Escort me, would you?” Lucifer asks and with a nod from Dina, they both leave. The room’s temperature lowers as they leave. Gideon, who has remained silent during this explosive discovery, finally stands from his seat to scan our faces in disbelief.

  “Does anybody believe that guy?” Gideons asks, clearly impatient and ready for a fight. He had always been the brawny type, itching to settle things with his fists rather than his words.

  Inwardly, a little voice murmurs softly to me, you were once like that too. When my gaze finds Elara’s still form, I realized quickly that I do not wish to be that man any longer. I have to be patient and strong. For her.

  “Dina does and right now he’s the only one who knows how to help Elara,” I exclaim, shooting Gideon a warning look.

  “The Archangels are going to flay us alive when they find out we are consorting with him. Plus, the fact that we are aiding one of their unlawful creations,” Gideon shakes his head and grabs the bottle of dark liquid that sits on the coffee table. Taking a deep swig, he grunts, “Who do you think did the deed?”

  I shrug and kneel by the bed, “It doesn’t matter. All that matters is making sure she’s safe.”

  Ezekiel scoffs from his place in the room, “Sounds like you love her, Darius.”

  I don’t answer him and take Elara’s hand in my own. With my other hand I brush back a lock of hair from her pale face. Not turning to face the others, I simply answer, “I do.”

  Silence ensues in the room and even Pascal’s low chanting, that I had been tuning out, halts for a moment before picking up again. Turning away from him and Elara so Pascal can work his healing abilities over her, I stand tall in front of my other brothers. Ezekiel has been like a father figure to me and Gideon. By keeping us on the straight and narrow. He used to get us out of trouble in our youngling years. Now as I stare into his eyes, I know then that I have truly shocked him.

  Gideon whistles low and takes another swig from his bottle before answering, “Michael’s not going to like that.”

  “He has no say in it.” I grit out and clench my fists to keep my anger tampered down.

  Ezekiel releases a sound of surprise, “No say in it? Are you crazy? He and the others have every say in it. They are our ruling body, Darius. They can ensure your relationship with Elara is terminated. Especially when they find out what she is!”

  Gideon shakes his head and snorts in disbelief, “I still can’t believe it…A child of a freaking Archangel! Damn, Darius, you chose well.”

  Growling, I level Gideon with a harsh look, “It doesn’t matter to me what she is, all I care about is that she is safe and doesn’t have to experience anymore pain. She deserves a normal, happy life, after what she’s been through.” What I truly mean to say is, what I’ve put her through.

  Gideon sends Elara’s quiet form a strange look. My brawny friend is nervous as he speaks, “Do you think Tarnin was right? Should we be worried about her turning on us?”

  I shake my head, “He’s full of shit and just trying to rile us up. He wants us to turn on each other. That’s what he does. He did the same thing to Ambriel and look where that got her.”

  Gideon continues and holds his hands up in a peaceful gesture, “You have to admit it is a little unnerving to have so much untapped power at the hands of a girl who clearly displays uncontrollable rage. I mean you saw what she did to Tarnin and his cell. Those bars are blessed by the Almighty himself and the Archangels. No one should be able to simply cut through them like they are nothing but air.”

  “I know, Gideon,” I answer through clenched teeth, my anger rising further. I thought Gideon would take the hint that I was frustrated by this conversation, but instead he continues.

  “Then we should go to the…”

  “SILENCE!” I shout, s
tartling everyone in the room, except for Elara who remains motionless and still in her deep sleep.

  Ezekiel steps forward then, standing between me and Gideon, who also stares at me in shock. The hurt is evident on both their faces.

  “We need to talk. Gideon, watch the girl,” Ezekiel orders and strides out of the room, not waiting for me to follow. He knew I would and I did, not meeting Gideon’s eyes as the door slams shut behind me.

  Fuck.

  12

  Dina

  I’m fuming on the inside. At him. How dare he treat me like I am nothing to him but a piece of whore flesh. It is hard to keep my face and expression calm, when all I want to do is throttle him silly.

  The moldy smell of the library sends me on edge too. I don’t want to be in a musty, old library that hasn’t been touched since the dark ages. I want to be anywhere else. I sneakily peek up from the large tome I am combing through to stare at him. Satan to some, Lucifer to most. The man who holds my heart. Or at least I thought he did.

  “I can practically feel the daggers your eyes are throwing in my direction, Dina.” Lucifer croons as he flips through his own large, dusty tome. Glancing up at me, his eyes seem to flash with something tantalizing, “We don’t have time to deal with your attitude and insecurities.”

  Growling, I slam the dusty tome I have been combing through closed, “My attitude? Well then, let’s talk about your attitude, shall we?”

  I don’t give him a minute to respond and walk around the table I have been reading at and begin counting on my fingers, “Firstly, you act as though I don’t even exist. Secondly, you demand a private audience with that…girl! How am I supposed to act when the man I lo…”

  I stop myself and cast my eyes downward. I have never told him that and he has never given any indication that he wants more out of our relationship. If you can call what we have a relationship. My superiors find it easier for me to be their messenger to Hell as Lucifer hasn’t killed me yet like the others. I don’t want the visits to stop. I had hoped he felt the same way.

  Lucifer huffs and I can hear the sound of him pushing away from his position at his desk to walk toward me. His leathery wings, that always remain extended, brush against everything in their path.

  Lucifer doesn’t seem to care when old books and other artifacts fall to the floor in his quake. While, thankfully, this room in his palace is comfortably warm, my body temperature increases even higher when I feel him come to stand beside me.

  His hands come to rest on my shoulders and I feel his warmth slowly sliding through my skin. Melting over me like hot oil, “You dressed yourself up for me, little angel?”

  The heat that pools beneath my clothes starts an inferno racing through my body. I let out a harsh breath as Lucifer’s hands drift slowly down my bare arms. Calmly, one of his palms graces my small stomach and spans the clothed flesh there.

  “Lucifer…,” I moan breathlessly as his other hand slowly moves up my stomach to caress the sensitive flesh of my chest.

  Swiftly, like a snake, Lucifer's hands disappear and I only feel the flash of warmth delving beneath my dress. His fingers are quick as he brushes against the sides of my breasts and quickly pulls his hand out. Opening my eyes in alarm, I swing about and gasp in shock at the sight of Lucifer holding my phone that I’d carefully hidden between my cleavage.

  Lucifer’s grin intensifies as he casually sets my cellphone on the table, “That has been driving me mad the second you revealed your hiding place.”

  “Strip for me, amica mea,” he simply orders. His voice is husky and strained.

  Yes, sir, my mind purrs in excitement.

  13

  Darius

  Ezekiel is leaning against a window sill overlooking Lucifer’s palace courtyard as I exit my chambers. I cross my arms and glare at him, waiting for him to talk. With Ezekiel you have to wait and let him work through things in his head, before he will speak his mind.

  “This is bigger than us, Darius. People’s lives are at stake here. Earth is at stake.” Ezekiel mutters and clenches his fists over and over again as he hisses, “Our family is at stake.”

  “Elara is my family, Ezekiel. I love her. You have to accept that,” I growl back, my fists itching to punch a wall.

  “This is going to tear us all apart. I know you have been without us for a long time, Darius, but you aren’t alone anymore. You must think about your family. Elara is an illegal in our world. Even if we find the sword and return it to the Archangels, someone, somewhere will tell them. Tarnin already knows something is different about her. And who knows what his followers know!” Ezekiel exclaims as he pushes away from the wall and paces in frustration.

  “I love her, Ezekiel. She is a part of my family as much as you and the others are. If you will have me, you will have her. We are a package deal. If you do not wish to be a part of my family any longer then you can leave. I will fight both you and the Archangels to the death if I have to in order to protect Elara,” I growl, my glare practically ablaze as I grasp my swords hilt at my waist belt, “She is the woman who saved me, Ezekiel. She saved the InBetween. Broke the curse. She had no idea if she would make it out of there alive and yet she still stood up against Tarnin and his followers. She is the bravest woman I know. She deserves to have a family who will stand by her side as well.”

  Ezekiel stares at me, completely stunned by my words. A few moments pass before his face breaks out into an easy-going smile, though his eyes remain sad.

  “I have missed you, brother. These past years…well, they haven’t been easy. I hope you know that we all care for you and wish to see you well. If Elara makes you happy, then I suppose we have no right to keep you from your happiness. I searched for an answer to break the curse Ambriel created. Nothing I could find worked. It was infuriating. We didn’t even know if you were alive, Darius. I don’t ever want to feel that way again,” Ezekiel grunts and moves to stand in front of me.

  His hands come to rest on my shoulders and he smiles, this time his smile makes his eyes appear happy, “We will figure out how we can help your girl, but first, I believe we must test something.”

  I barely miss his swinging punch.

  Shifty, brother.

  14

  Elara

  Darkness surrounds me. Everywhere I look the darkness is all around. I gasp, out a breath and watch as I can literally see my own breath as it floats away into nothing. Hugging myself, I shiver at the cold temperature.

  “Hello?” I call into the darkness and hear my voice echoed back. Spinning, my gaze travels all around the darkness. Nothing. No one.

  Suddenly, a bright light shines to my left. I reach a hand up and block the light, wincing at the pounding forming in my head.

  “Elara!” A deep, familiar voice calls out to me from the white light. The voice calls me again and I ignore the warning bells going off in my head and rush toward the light. As I get closer, the light blinds me further and I cover my face as I feel myself stepping through warmth.

  “Elara? Are you alright?” The deep voice asks and when I flutter my eyes open, I am staring into the dark ones of the man I love.

  Darius!

  Crying in delight, I jump into his arms and wrap my own around his neck, not wanting to let go for anything. Darius merely chuckles at my enthusiasm and pulls me back slightly, looking at me in confusion.

  “If I had known how much you would miss me, I would have gone to patrol the wall earlier,” Darius’s words have me freezing in place as I finally gather my bearings and look around the warm room, we are in.

  I gasp in shock and pull away as I spin around to stare at everything. It is all as I dreamed it would be. The same throne still sits lonely on the dais. Ambriel’s wings still hang in their display and the burnt symbol marking where the Flaming Sword remains hidden, a vivid reminder.

  Spinning back to Darius, I shoot him a confused and uncertain look, “Where are we?”

  Darius chuckles, “The InBetween, silly. How long we
re you using the orb to watch movies?”

  I clasp a hand to my head and squeeze my eyes shut, trying to digest everything. Suddenly, I hear a rooster crowing and a cow mooing in the distance. After almost an entire month of hearing those familiar sounds, it made my skin crawl and my senses heighten. Rushing to the large window, I gasp in shock. All I see is the InBetween and the wall.

  My heart sinks at the sight of the wall and the village down below. Faintly, I can make out the tiny dots of villagers as they go to and from their chores or activities. My eyes keep going back to the wall. The wall I thought had been destroyed by Tarnin and his goons.

  Spinning to face a confused Darius, I ask, “Where is Tarnin?”

  Darius’ face morphs into one of further confusion and disbelief, “Who?”

  “Tarnin, the soul-eater! He tried to kill you! I rescued you with the…” My eyes fly to the burnt symbol in the floor and without thinking, I drop to my knees before it and press my fingers into the delicate marking, faintly hearing the click of the hidden door opening.

  I hear myself cry in frustration and pain as the sword rises from the stone, gleaming beautifully like it used to.

  “No! I used the sword to rescue you! We were safe! We were…on Earth,” I begin to cry in pain as I hug myself. Kneeling on the floor beside me, Darius takes me into his arms and soothes me as I cry.

  “Elara, be calm. No one can use that sword, trust me. I don’t know who this Tarnin is. I’m sure it was all a dream. You’re safe. With me,” Darius murmurs and I feel his warmth flow all around me.

  A wiggling thought breaks through my clouded judgement and I try to pull away, but Darius’ hold remains tight. Something’s wrong.