by Kim Petersen
‘Hmm … Okay, and Rella, I’m sorry about Logan. We’ll help you figure this out. Drive safe.’ He made a loud kissing sound before the line went dead.
Arella slid on her sunglasses and started the car engine, silently hoping Lenny might have some information about the Serenity Seed by the time she made the drive back to Rockton. Lenny spent his days working for a food and beverage company as a research analyst. He had an uncanny knack for scouring web-based intelligence in a fragment of the time it usually took the average person to discover. In the past he had helped Arella source valuable information regarding her overseas clients and their art-collecting habits, giving her an advantage when they made the trip to the art gallery. On occasion, he had also tracked down and provided the history for some very rare and sought-after pieces for the gallery. That was before he had learned to resent her for dragging Jacques away from him every Friday night to search for Keira. These days, they were seldom in the same room.
Arella turned into the afternoon traffic. She might have an angelic ancestry and anointed virtues, but she couldn’t shake the sassy attitude that permeated around the edges of her personality. Whatever lay ahead of her, she was ready. That’s what she kept telling herself anyway.
Jacques dramatically swung the door open and enveloped her in a bear hug when she knocked at his door some thirty minutes later.
‘Oh, Button!’ he cried, smothering his nose into her hair. He sniffled loudly before holding her at arm’s length and inspecting her face. ‘I was so worried about you. Thank god you’re okay!’
Arella smiled and shrugged. ‘I’m okay, thanks for caring.’
He tittered. ‘What a silly thing to say! Don’t thank me for loving you, Button … Oh!’ he gushed, covering his mouth. ‘I totally forgot, you better call Bella and Craig, they’re worried sick about you.’
‘You called them? Jacques! I have about 20 missed calls on my phone from them, thanks,’ she muttered.
The last thing she wanted was her family getting involved in this mess. Over the years, they’ve had their fair share of dealing with the darker aspects of humanity and the supernatural. She wanted to handle this one herself.
‘What was I supposed to do? You could’ve been lying bleeding, naked and dead in a gutter for all I knew!’
She cupped his face in her hands. ‘But I’m not. I’m here now. I’ll call Bella in a minute. I guess I need to find out if she knows where Ace lives anyway.’
He scowled, and his hands fluttered before his nose. ‘I think you should go shower first. What have you been doing? Your hair smells ghastly and looks a little greasy, and your complexion is rather dull.’
Arella rolled her eyes. ‘I’m sorry. I haven’t found the time to pamper myself today,’ she said, pushing past him.
She walked through the living room and down the short hall until she reached Lenny’s home office. She paused at the threshold to steel herself against the copious amount of tongue-lashings she knew would be coming her way.
Lenny sat quietly behind a vast desk that stood uncluttered under a huge window overlooking a park across the street. The ginger stubbles of his chin leaned into one palm while his thick thatch of amber hair wisped across his cheeks as he concentrated on a computer screen.
Without moving, he said, ‘So, you steal my man until all hours last night and then you expect me to help you out?’
She moved up behind him, lightly touching his shoulders as she leaned to brush her lips against the side of his face. ‘I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?’
He snorted, turning to narrow his hazel eyes on her. ‘Just because you went through hell last night doesn’t give you a free pass in my book. You’ve taken Jacques away every Friday night for months now, and I cannot have it anymore. I’m sorry about Keira, I really am, but Jacques and I get very little time together as it is between the hours we work. These Friday night shenanigans have to stop, Arella.’
‘I know.’
Bushy brows raised, and he cocked his head back to survey her. ‘You know? It’s never that easy with you; what gives?’
She shrugged. ‘A lot gives. Logan was murdered in our home last night.’ She swallowed the emotion bubbling beneath the surface and reminded herself of her dream-walk with Logan. He is safe now.
The chill in Lenny’s eyes thawed. ‘I know. Jacques has been distraught. I’m sorry about Logan, and I’m glad you’re okay.’ He tentatively reached a hand toward her, and gave her arm a stiff, awkward rub. ‘So, what’s this Serenity Seed business? How does it tie in with Logan’s death?’
Arella pulled up a chair beside him and took a deep breath. Here goes.
‘I don’t know what Jacques has told you about me and my family. He doesn’t really know so much, and I know this is going to sound crazy as hell. I am a descendant of the Ascended Angels – a group of beings incarnated to earth to guard humanity against Apepsis, the serpent god, and his will to inhabit the earth.’
Lenny frowned as he scrutinized her. ‘Apepsis? Serpent god? Ascended Angels? Did you bump your head last night, Arella? Like, a very hard-bump?’
‘Yes – I mean, no. I didn’t hit my head. Yes, all of the above. Apepsis has been shunned from all other realms. His thirst to reign over the earth is insatiable. My family and ancestors have been battling him for eons. I tried to forget … tried to be like everyone else and live a normal life.’ Her voice trailed as she gave a rueful laugh. ‘But the truth seeks me regardless.’
‘Whoa!’ Jacques exclaimed.
He was standing in the doorway, his arms piled with fluffy bath towels, scrubs and body wash. He rushed over to her and shoved the items into her lap. ‘This is like the Da Vinci Code. I was right! Is the Serenity Seed some kind of Holy Grail too?’
Arella shrugged. ‘I don’t know much about it, but I know Zane Crais and Regan Knowles want it enough to kill for it – and they think I have it. I have begun the reconnection with my angels, dream-walked in the Golden World, but these sacred alliances with the light take nurturing to completely merge again,’ she said. ‘In time more information will flow to me with clarity. But I don’t have much time. I need to find out about the seed before they come for me again.’
Jacques gulped. ‘Come for you? Arella, Regan Knowles knows I’m your friend. If he found you, he can find me too!’
Arella looked from Jacques to Lenny and back. She bit down on her lip.
‘I know, and I don’t want to put you two in danger for longer than necessary. I’m sorry I came here.’
Lenny grunted. ‘Don’t be sorry, girl. We’re all friends, right?’ He looked up at Jacques and smiled. ‘Any friend of Jacques is a friend of mine. We’ll help you find a way out of this mess, even if it does sound rather like a supernatural Hollywood blockbuster.’
Jacques squealed and fluttered over to Lenny, planting little kisses over his face.
‘I love you so much, Pookie! Thank you!’ He turned to Arella. ‘Now, before anything else, you must shower. There is a new vanilla and sandalwood face wash I brought home from the beauty salon. It’s fabulous and will have your complexion glowing in no time. Please use it, Button.’
Jacques pulled Arella to her feet and began ushering her out of the room.
‘You’ll find coconut butter shampoo and conditioner in the bathroom, melon infused body wash in your hands … oh, and don’t forget to use the mango butter hair serum after you towel-dry your lustrous locks. You’ll feel and smell as good as new in no time.’
Lenny stifled a sigh and rolled his eyes.
‘I’ll keep searching online for the seed. All that’s come up so far is a Serenity Seed cowl-knit stitch, some essential oil store and a shady looking link into some black magic site,’ he said.
Arella halted by the doorway and whirled to look at the computer screen. Jacques smacked his chin against the back of her head and screeched.
‘Wait! Black magic site?’
Lenny hummed a reply, his eyes glued to the monitor.
‘Butto
n! Ouch!’ Jacques groaned, rubbing his chin.
Arella glared at him while kneading her own head.
‘Apepsis has a tribe of followers in the black magic covens. We should check it out.’
Lenny turned and eyed her curiously. ‘How do you know this?’
She grinned. ‘I spent time with them when my uncle kidnapped me as a child. Told you we’ve been involved with this crap for eons.’
‘You were kidnapped by your uncle?’ Jacques’ expression was incredulous.
‘Yep.’
‘No wonder you’re so … fucked up,’ Jacques smirked.
‘Thanks Jacques,’ she scowled, turning abruptly and deliberately flicking her long hair into his face. She grinned to herself as she walked toward the bathroom as she heard him spluttering.
Jacques was right; after a hot shower combined with all that product, Arella was feeling fabulous, even if she did smell like a coconut-mango smoothie. She pulled on a thick cable-knit sweater and her jeans and sat on the bed in the guest room to phone her aunt Bella. After assuring Bella of her well-being, Arella convinced her not to phone her parents and interrupt their overseas art exhibition tour. She didn’t tell Bella the truth, or mention the Serenity Seed, and when her aunt insisted that she come stay with them, she told her of her plans to escape the city for a few days.
‘I just need to get away for a bit. Can you manage the gallery?’
‘Of course, take all the time you need, but I want to know where you’ll be, okay,’ Bella said.
‘Yeah, that’s what I wanted to talk to about. I want to go see Ace.’
Silence.
‘Why honey? I don’t know if that’s a good idea. He’s become very secluded … not even your mother has had much leeway with him since dad passed away; and you know how close your mom and Ace were …’ Her voice trailed.
‘Can I please have his address?’ Arella pressed.
Bella sighed, before relenting.
Arella jotted down her uncle’s address, thanked her aunt and promised to keep in contact with her. She then wandered back to the office to find Jacques and Lenny immersed before the computer monitor.
‘Find anything?’
Jacques looked at her with a cringe. ‘A little. This site is positively horrid. Check this out – A pact with the Devil spell, and Conjuration of Lucifer spells. I mean, why would people be into this stuff?’
Arella sat next to him. ‘Beats me. Anything come up about the seed?’
Lenny scrolled down the screen.
‘Just this.’ He pointed at a small heading and a sequence of text beneath which he read aloud.
‘Through the ages, coven myths and legends foretell a coming of the Serenity Seed, a time of reckoning between the light and darkness. When the seed’s fruition emerges on earth, its possessor shall determine the circumstance of harvest, and with its bloom so the earth will flourish with radiance. Or with its blossom, so the earth will surrender to a time of darkness. The reign of The Serpent god Apepsis rests with the acquisition of the Serenity Seed.’
Lenny paused before continuing. ‘Look there’s a name and email address requesting people to share information on the whereabouts of the Serenity Seed. Is this for real?’ He looked between Arella and Jacques.
‘Selina,’ Arella whispered. Her mind began to the spin as snippets of memories puzzled through her head. Why does that name ring a bell?
‘Should we email?’ Jacques said.
‘No!’ Arella and Lenny said simultaneously.
Jacques threw up his hands.
‘Okay, okay! Geez. So, what next then?’
‘I have to see my uncle. I’m sure he can tell me more,’ Arella said.
Jacques eyes widened.
‘The uncle that kidnapped you? Are you completely mad?’
Lenny nodded. ‘She’s right, if this seed exists and those bad people think Arella has it, we need to find it before them. They killed Logan for this seed. Obviously, they believe in the power of this thing … They can’t get to the seed first. We’re coming with you,’ he said.
Jacques clapped his hands together like a child.
‘Oh! A road trip! I love road trips. What to pack?’ He shook his raven head and rose to his feet. He rushed for the door, pausing at the threshold. ‘Pookie, do you want me to pack your fluffy purple socks and your favorite pink underwear?’
Lenny shot Arella a glance. His face flushed.
‘Whatever you want,’ he said.
Jacques’ brows lifted. He opened his mouth as if to say something then clamped it shut before disappearing into the hall, a light melody drifting behind him as he hummed a tune while closet doors opened and rummaging ensued.
Arella suppressed a smile and allowed her eyes to shift to the computer monitor. Selina. For reasons unknown to her, the name sent a chilling shiver down her spine.
‘So, I hope your uncle is in a kinder mood than when he kidnapped you.’ Lenny stood and walked toward the doorway.
‘Me too.’
He turned and smiled. ‘Well, we can’t leave on an empty stomach. Want some blue cheese and spinach quiche?’
Her empty stomach growled at the mention of food.
‘Sure.’
The sound of the doorbell froze them in their tracks.
‘Expecting anyone?’ Arella whispered.
Lenny shook his head.
Jacques poked his head out into the hall from the bedroom. His gray eyes flooded with terror.
‘Pookie, someone is here!’
Regan stood silently and inclined his head to the side. He closed his eyes and pushed everything from his mind except the slight sounds coming from the other side of the timber door. He took a shallow breath, holding the air in his lungs as he heard their urgent whispers. They were alarmed, but was she here? Light footsteps drew closer and stopped on the other side of the door. He opened his eyes. The corner of his lips curved briefly toward the figure shadowing through the keyhole. The handle turned, and the door swung open a crack.
A man stood in the doorway and peered up at Regan with a suspicious expression on his face. His short frame did little to conceal the space behind him, yet his solid body puffed at the chest with menace.
‘Can I help you?’
Regan gave a tight smile. ‘I do hope so. I’m looking for Jacques. He came by my club last night and I’m afraid he left behind his wallet.’ He pulled a leather wallet from his jacket pocket and held it up for the man to see.
The man barely glanced at the wallet. His eyes tapered to a slit as they bore into Regan.
‘You’ve got the wrong address, mate.’
He withdrew himself from view and the door began to swing shut.
Regan muttered under his breath and blocked the doorway with his boot. He forced the door opened, causing the man to lose balance and topple to the carpet. He stood over him, kicking the door shut behind him with his foot while scanning the room for telltale signs of the others. The entrance opened into a large living area. A cream modular lounge setting sat along one wall, and downy cushions sprawled over plump seating and encircled half of the room. An extravagant over-sized timber coffee table perched on top of a shaggy rug, while a matching timber TV unit dominated the far wall. Above the flat screen hung a painted canvas with delicate strokes of angels and cherubs playing in a cityscape backdrop.
All of Regan’s attention narrowed in on the angelic canvas. All thoughts of the man at his feet faded from his mind as he turned to study the painting. He squinted to discern the artist’s signature in the bottom left corner. He was certain it was the same artist as the canvas he had at home as the fine brushstrokes were familiar. He was about to take another step when a sharp pain rippled up his calf, making him lose his footing and plummet to the floor with a thud.
Didn’t see that coming. He pulled himself to his elbows, feeling a little foolish as he looked up to see the little man sneering down at him.
His fists were balled together tightly and poised in a boxer’s
pose. ‘C’mon then,’ the man growled.
Regan suppressed a grin. What the man lacked in height he made up for with courage.
‘You’re a feisty little man, aren’t you?’
Lenny’s eyes flashed. ‘Haven’t you heard about the size thing? Means nothing. That’s not Jacques’ wallet, so why the fuck are you in my home?’
Regan rose to his feet. He stood at least a foot taller than his opponent, yet he was in no mood to play boxing rings with this guy. The man began to prance in front of him, shifting his weight from foot to foot while stretching his knuckles white before his face.
Regan stepped cautiously as they faced each other, circling one another in a wide berth.
‘I’m here for Arella. Is she here?’
Lenny snapped forward a fist, thrusting it through the air between them like a bolt of lightning.
‘Who’s asking?’
Regan sidestepped the blow. ‘Regan Knowles. Are you sure you want to do this?’
‘Ha! Regan Knowles … I’m not scared of you,’ Lenny spat, stabbing another fist at him and missing.
‘You might want to re-think that.’
Regan’s eyes transformed into a swirling inky night, broken only by the shooting sparks flying across his irises. He captured the little man’s gaze with his own, locking into his eyes and holding them like a vice. The man flinched as his fists fell to his side, the creases around his eyes deepening while his jaw fell open. His body became still, his breath shallow while he struggled to tear his eyes away.
Death leaked from his eyes as Regan stared down his mark. When the man’s expression widened in shock and a slight gasp passed through his lips, Regan knew he had delivered the grim reaper – the moment of his death had been revealed to him.
‘Will you die today?’
Lenny shook his head.
‘N-No.’
Regan stepped closer and lowered his voice.
‘What is your name?’
‘Lenny.’
‘Lenny, what you saw could change in this moment. Did you ever wonder what it would feel like to have your blood boil?’ He ran a finger over Lenny’s temple, and his head fell to the side. ‘I could start with the blood gushing through the vessels in your brain. A slow tortuous simmer. Do you think your skull would explode?’
