Divided Paths

by Katrina Cope

  “Ava was more than willing to come,” I say with a grunt as I slice my ax across another demon’s chest.

  “Good.” I can hear the approval in Michael's voice. “We need her help. There are too many.”

  “Why is this battle being held on Earth?” I swing my ax at another demon.

  “There are people not far from here. The demons were slowly moving closer to the small town. The town is on the outskirts of Giza.” He battles another demon. “We can't let them get to the small town, let alone Giza.”

  “All of that would explain why we are still on earth.”

  “It's probably a good thing we are,” Michael says. “If we were on a demonic plane, then Ava most likely couldn't help us. After all, she is human. Perhaps she wouldn't be able to fight in another realm.”

  It saddens me that we had to involve Ava, and thinking about her makes me look briefly in her direction. I’m worried for her, but as I see her flying in the sky and torching the demons, the worry disintegrates into a niggling thought. She is more than capable of looking after herself—and probably of looking after us as well in her dragon form. She continues flying around in a circle and torching all the demons on the outskirts of the war zone.

  A cry fills the air, and I look in its direction. About ten feet away, another archangel falls. I can't believe it. They are trained warriors, strong beings who can withstand all sorts of treatment. And yet they fall in high numbers, the greatest I have seen so far. I want to go over and help, but I can't leave Michael's side. With him on our side, we hold firm. He is the greatest warrior of all time, and all archangels follow him into battle, especially against demons. As I study the field, something comes to my attention. Perhaps the demons know this about us, because they narrow in, appearing to head in our direction. It is almost as though they are aiming for Michael.

  I reach out with my mind. Angels. Brothers. Let's form together. We need to migrate around Michael. I’m speaking to all of the archangels in the area. They don't respond in words, but I can hear their thoughts in agreement. Gradually, I notice that they are making their way toward us while battling their own demons—each one edges its way toward Michael, and they slowly form a circle. In the distance, I can see demons flying and heading in our direction.

  “Michael, remain in the middle,” I call to him.

  “No, brother. I will fight amongst my brothers.” Michael remains in formation, and slowly the circle of archangels grows. Still more demons appear from somewhere, flooding the area with their masses. I stand right by Michael even as our small circle grows larger and pushes the demons farther apart, making them more manageable. We slaughter a lot more in our immediate vicinity, and it is nice not to have to defend our backs, as each of the angels behind and around us defend it for us.

  When Ava finishes scorching many of the demons on the outskirts, she then flies above and burns the ones that fly in the air. Demon dust scatters down on top of us, giving me a sickened feeling and making my skin crawl. Even so, I can't let this awful feeling deter me from fighting the demons before me.

  Something causes me to turn and look into the middle of the circle that the archangels have formed. It should be empty, except in the center. But I see something that zaps all feeling from my face. Suddenly, my arms feel weak. Right in the center of our clearing, the gatekeeper has opened a portal, and out of this portal emerges several demons ready to fight. Instantly, the demons send their pulses flying, hitting the archangels from behind.

  I scream, “Nooo!”

  I direct my focus to my inner voice and reach out to the archangels. Archangels, defend your backs. The gatekeeper has opened a portal behind us. We are no longer safe from behind. Within moments, every second archangel flips around to start fighting on the inside of the circle, defending the others from behind. This immediately halves the number of angels fighting from the front and creates more gaps, making it harder to defend the outside circle. The secure ring has been compromised, making it harder to fight the demons efficiently. I face the inner circle as Michael faces the outer loop. After a few moments, I notice a couple of angels falling to the ground.

  “What can we do, Michael?” I call. “They are starting to fall again.”

  The clang of the swords cry out before he answers. “I have an idea.”

  “What is that?”

  He doesn't answer. Then, within moments, his voice enters my head. Archangels prepare yourselves. Arm yourself with a shield, a protective barrier to protect you from the fire. I'm going to call the dragon.

  Not long after, Ava circles around in her dragon form, and intense bursts of flame stream from her mouth in fiery blasts, scorching the demons from overhead. She rings the area then gazes at Michael, her dragon eyes inquisitive. Her head nods briefly, and she circles again, flying up to a far end then turning around and heading straight for the group. She is almost upon us when suddenly inside our heads, Michael's voice sounds. Archangels, protect yourselves! Construct a barrier around yourself against the fire. For those of you who can construct a barrier, make sure you help those that can't. Protect them under your power.

  His voice falls silent, and I watch as barriers and shields go up, covering the archangels and angels within the immediate area a split second before Ava flies over. The thrumming sound fills the air as Ava's majestic wings pump. Her mouth opens, showing off her impressive array of teeth before lava-hot flames spew out of her mouth and down one side of the angels' formation.

  Before my eyes, the demons disintegrate, their dust littering the ground. The flames continue until she has flown completely over the top. At the end, she pauses and looks at the archangels. Their expressions are amazed. Ava does another lap around the group as I continue to fight my demon. She flies to one end, lines herself up for another attack, and approaches.

  Right before she hits, Michael's voice penetrates our minds again. Prepare yourself. Barrier up. This time, Ava does the same on my side of the jumbled circle. All barriers jump into place just before she flies over the top and her fire hits. Through my barrier, I can feel the discomfort of the heat on my skin. It doesn’t sear me, but I can feel beads of sweat rising to the surface. I imagine it is much the same for the other archangels under the blast. I stare at the demon only a couple of feet away and watch as its skin slowly disintegrates before me. The same happens to all demons on the targeted side.

  A considerable applause rattles through the group as they cheer her on. She turns her large form slowly, aiming at the remaining two sides of the circle.

  Movement catches my eye, and I turn to see that the gatekeeper has returned to his last spot and that his portal spews out more demons into our area. I brace myself, ready for another fight, and I'm about to warn the rest of the archangels when loud, flapping wings pass overhead and fire spews out of her mouth. The gatekeeper disappears through his portal again, leaving several demons to be singed by the dragon before they have a chance to fight or even chuck out pulses of black light towards the angels. The last few demons fall, and another cheer erupts from the group. With her dragon eyes beaming, Ava lands in the center of the makeshift circle, right where the gatekeeper disappeared.

  Yet again, the gatekeeper has managed to escape.

  - Chapter Twenty-Seven -

  Mourning the loss of my brothers yet glad that Michael is still safe, I teleport Ava and myself back to our little cottage. “Thank you for your help, Ava. It is very much appreciated.”

  She smiles and places a hand on my shoulder. “I am happy to help any time, Zacharias. You should know that. You're like a father to me, and I think of your brothers as my extended family, even though I haven't met many of them.” She rubs her eyes, and it occurs to me that she looks very weary.

  “Do you need to get some sleep? I realize the dragon takes it out of you, especially conjuring up all that fire. You must need to recoup your energy.”

  She yawns. “You're right. I'm tired. I'm not sleeping now, though. It's early in the day, and I'd like to
make the most of it. I think I'll relax by taking a walk to town.”

  “Are you sure?” I rub my arm. She looks exhausted.

  A weak smile spreads across her face. “Yes. I think a walk, especially in the forest, will do me good.”

  “I will get our things ready.” I turn to grab her bag.

  She grabs hold of my shoulder. “No. I'll do it. Thank you. I think it's time I went alone.”

  With wide eyes, I look at her. “You know I'm happy to come with you.”

  “Yes. I know you would not leave me alone. Except, I think you're right. It's time for me to move on, grow up, and learn to live without you. Your brothers need you more than I do. I am old enough now and do not need a babysitter, so I will practice my independence before you go.”

  In one way, my heart sinks—she is finally beginning her cycle to release me. On the other side, I am also excited that I can go back to my proper duties. I am a warrior through and through. “Okay. Don't forget to touch the necklace if you need me.” I clasp the golden charm, made out of my breastplate, that I gave to her, running my fingers over it before I let it drop. “I'll be there in an instant. Although from what I've observed the few times I've seen you in action, I think you'll be all right, especially if you turn into a dragon.”

  She smiles, and a flash of humor crosses her eyes. “It's still nice to have you around. You're always there when I need you, and I will always be there when you need me.” She grabs a few things then throws her bag over her back.

  I see she has only grabbed the shoulder pack. “Aren't you taking the donkey?”

  “No. I would rather walk. Actually, I would rather fly.” She drops her bag to the ground, changes into an eagle, then takes to the sky. It’s a good thing that she learned how to produce magic threads and spent time making herself enough clothes. That way, when she transforms back into her human form, she won’t be in her underwear. That would've made an interesting walk through town.

  ~~~~~

  THE DAY PASSES slowly without her around. Even though I am free to leave the house, I want to stay close just in case. I don’t know when she will return, and I want to be here when she does. I keep myself busy attending to the animals and farming the land, organizing enough food for her to eat. It always brings a smile to my face to see her satisfied. Now and then, I taste the food, even though my stomach doesn’t need it. It is more for her benefit that we keep this little farm going. She might want to stay here and bring up a family.

  Thinking about Ava and a family makes me wonder if she is visiting Jehan in town. Over our last few visits, she has grown closer to him. Each time, he takes her for walks through town, introducing her to the town folk and having her interact more with people. At times when they stay close to Jehan's little stall while I mind it for him, I listen to some of their conversations. I can tell she is developing, learning how to cope in crowded areas. She is growing up so fast. It won't be long before I'm not needed, and I know that now. At least when I leave, I will still be able to see her because of her involvement in the angelic world, which I hope isn’t always in battle. Her powers and dragon form have certainly come in handy, and she’s worked well to protect my kind.

  Time ticks by, and the sun shows off its final glory before retiring for the night. I'm starting to worry. The temptation to call to her to find out if she is all right is growing. I decide against it. She will think I'm being overprotective, which I am. I can't help it.

  I enter the cabin and gaze at the nightstand next to her bed. Her two spellbooks sit neatly on top. I sit on the edge of her bed and pick up the first, the one I saw in her young hands when she was drawing in it. Gripping the cover with my thumbs, I try to open it. It doesn't budge. I touch it with angelic power. She said only those with a pure heart could open it, and it doesn’t get much purer than an angel. It still won't open. I try several different things. I even prick my finger and let a drop of blood touch the edge of the pages. It remains fastened. It doesn’t even have a lock attaching the covers together. I can't believe it. Here I am, an archangel, and I am still unable to open a witch's book. There is something about the witch's magic that is out of limits to me, sealing the book shut from my touch. Ava did say that only a witch with a pure heart would be able to open it.

  Giving up on the first, I pick up the newest book, stroking my fingers over the emblem of the dragons on the cover. There are many different textures, and I admire the intricate detail that she worked onto the cover. She has crafty hands, and the details on the books are exquisite. It is an asset that will come in useful. A witch needs to be creative to be able to practice witchcraft properly.

  I pull on the book’s straps, but they don't unfasten. Frowning, I pull it closer and have a good look at the fastening. Nothing looks out of the ordinary. I pull again, but they don't budge. I touch them with angelic light, but nothing changes. I can't open it. Tossing the book in my hands, I ponder what I need for this book to open. There must be a spell she has cast over it. I wonder if it's the same as the first—to be of witch blood and pure of heart. There is no way of knowing. Perhaps for this one, dragon blood is one of the requirements, like we discussed earlier. It’s impossible to tell with Ava. If this was what she had decided then it wouldn't make any difference to me. My touch still won’t work.

  I stroke the artwork on the covers a couple more times, place them neatly back on the table, then walk to the window. Sliding the curtains aside, I see the last of the daylight pulling from the sky. Worry twists deeply in my stomach. I pace to the kitchen and fill in my time by stirring the pot of stew I prepared for her earlier. Her meal is waiting for her, yet she is still not home. The urge to call to her rises. I need to know if she is okay.

  After giving the pot one last stir, I place the spoon on the bench. The porch outside creaks, and I freeze on the spot, listening carefully. Then I hear footsteps treading on the wood, and the doorknob squeaks as the handle turns. The door swings open.

  “Ava!” I exhale loudly. A smile spreads across my face. “It's you, finally. I was getting worried.”

  Her teeth shine as a broad smile spreads across her face. “You do worry too much, old man.”

  I place my hands on my hips. “I am not an old man.”

  “Despite your looks, you are.” A thoughtful look momentarily clouds her shine. “Then again, I shouldn't criticize. One day, I could be nearly as old as you and still look this young. Or not look this young. I don't know.” She shrugs. “All I know is I could be as old as you and still living in this world.”

  I push aside my fake hurt. “What do you mean?”

  “Witches, I have learned, tend to live for a very long time, some for over a thousand years. That's what I've heard, anyway, that the oldest witch lived to be a thousand years old.”

  “That is a very long time. But it's not immortal.”

  She looks worried for a moment and then shrugs. “We shall see. There are many things that I want to experience in life. I'm not sure if living forever would be that good, but perhaps it'll be a wonderful life, so I won't want to give it up. It depends if it's a life full of blessings or a life full of curses.”

  “Life is something you should embrace. Take it from an old man.” I smile wryly. “You should embrace life's ups and downs. We enjoy the ups, and we need to learn from the downs. We learn to love with all our hearts, and we should be glad that we did, even when the ones we love are gone. A life as long as this will have moments of grief, but the times of happiness should lift you and carry you through. I know those times make me glad that I've lived this long. You have a chance to meet so many people of such great value, and to live your life to the fullest from knowing them.”

  Pausing, I watch her contemplate my words. Life, especially a long life, should not be something to fear. I continue, “It is good to know that because of your wisdom, you have a chance to guide them in wonderful directions so that they live their short lives to the fullest.”

  I take her in my arms and embrace her
, running my hand through her long hair. She smells like the woods, as though she's been flying through the trees with the leaves brushing against her skin. It’s a delightful smell.

  After a few moments, she looks up. “Thank you, Zacharias. Thank you for those words. I was worried.”

  “About what?” I continue stroking her hair then cup her chin in my hand.

  “About falling in love then regretting that I did because I miss the person so badly. I'm afraid that they will be ripped from my life, and I will be left alone to live my long life in mourning. Age is something that humans cannot fight against.”

  Her pure-green eyes glisten in the candlelight. I can see the wet traces of sadness gathering in their corners.

  “I can help protect you from demons, and I can have you around in the distance. Yet, if I fall in love with a human, they will be gone in a few years, and I will spend my life in grief.” A faint smile forms on her face. “What you have said has given me hope. Yes, I will grieve some, but I can also know that I can help them live a full, rich, and meaningful life.”

  I drop my hand and look into her eyes. “You are speaking as though you are falling in love.” I smirk. “How is Jehan?”

  Her cheeks flush, and she looks down to the ground, briefly appearing almost bashful.

  “What did you do today?” I ask.

  She raises her eyes. “We just sat all day in his stall, and then I helped him pack up and take his things home. I met his parents. They invited me for dinner.” She inhaled deeply, and a look of horror hits her face. She peers over my shoulder. “I'm sorry. You've made dinner for me, and I've already eaten.”

  “Don't worry about that.” I swipe a hand to the side. “It sounds like you had a better deal anyway. I'm glad. Besides, what else was I going to do while waiting for you to come home. How was it?”

  “They were lovely.” She still wears a shy look on her face. “They acted as though they were happy to meet me. They want me to come back sometime.”