I had missed so much. Too much. And I knew that if I made it through this battle, I would make it up to my friends and family.
We collected Steph on our way and found the rest of our team, minus Milo and Taxi, waiting for us in the war room, which turned out to be a large boardroom with the addition of soundproofing.
‘I asked Milo and Taxi to watch over the humans, just in case,’ Carter told Lincoln, who nodded in both agreement and respect for Carter’s judgement.
Lincoln placed a call to the New York Academy and switched to speakerphone as he updated Josephine and Drenson, along with a few other key senior Grigori who were patched in from various locations around the world. A few minutes into the call a new voice came down the phone, and I smiled when I realised it was Griffin, who explained that he had just arrived in New York, and that Nyla was expected to wake up at any moment.
Steph discreetly called Dapper on her mobile phone, and he and Onyx listened in at their end in case they had anything to offer.
The instant Lincoln finished relaying Sammael’s threats, Drenson spoke loudly. ‘So, Violet is the problem.’
‘Who’s this dick?’ Carter bellowed, causing a few smiles around the room, and a chuckle from Gray.
‘I’m the one who controls the resources of the Grigori Assembly and International Academy.’
‘I’d be careful with your choice of words, Drenson,’ Lincoln said. ‘You may be Principal but each Grigori is chosen by something much greater than you and is taught very early on the value of free will.’ As a number of faces watched him intently from around the room I realised I wasn’t the only one struck by how strong and controlled he was.
A leader. A general.
‘What do you suggest our ultimate situation is, Lincoln?’ Josephine asked, in a clear let’s-move-on voice.
Lincoln ran his hand through his hair. ‘Griff, she’s the key,’ he said, addressing Griffin in favour of Josephine. He was making a clear statement to any who could be bothered to read between the lines. His respect rested with Griffin.
Mine too.
‘Somehow he plans to use her to destroy the angels,’ Lincoln explained.
‘But what I don’t understand is: how? Violet, do you?’ Griffin asked.
My pulse raced. This was the moment. I couldn’t hide from what I was any longer. There were too many lives at stake and, besides, I was tired of all the secrets. Tired of hiding from what I am.
‘My blood,’ I said. ‘My blood isn’t just his key, it’s more.’ I looked at Lincoln, seeing nothing but strength and support. Phoenix stood at the back of the room and when my eyes met his he nodded me on softly.
‘Most of you already know or assume this, I suppose, but it’s time to confirm it. My angel maker is of the Sole. My mother, who was also Grigori, sacrificed her life to him so I could be created. Among my abilities are all five senses and a Sight that enables me to move beyond the confines of my body to any place that I will it and view the blueprints and auras of the world.’ I paused, searching out Gray’s eyes as people began to gasp. He simply smirked and gestured for me to continue. I wasn’t surprised that – despite never having verbally confirmed very much – none of this was particularly news to him.
‘In addition to carrying the essence of my maker, who is an angel of light, I also carry the essence of Phoenix, who in giving it to me saved my life and gave me the additional abilities of speed and the capacity to control my emotions, which helped considerably while I endured the past two years with a shattered soul.’ My last words broke and Lincoln took my hand.
‘Recently, my soul was mended and the bond I share with my soulmate, Lincoln, has been eternally tied.’ I felt Lincoln’s warmth beside me, and a pang of sadness.
Phoenix.
‘My markings, as many of you will have noticed, are my version of your wristbands, but they come from within; they flow through my blood and include a part of the angelic realm. It is a poison that helped me kill Lilith when our blades could not. A poison that is lethal not only to exiles,’ I said, taking a shuddering breath, ‘but also to angels in physical form. And finally,’ I rushed on, needing to get it all out there, ‘I can cross the realms and go to a physical space that is created in conjunction with the angels. It looks similar to what any of you would have experienced on your trials when you embraced, but what you saw was illusion – where I go is real.’
‘Sammael wants to use your blood to kill angels?’ Josephine asked, keenly zeroing in on the most relevant point, her tone appalled.
‘Not just any angel,’ Phoenix said. ‘He wants Michael.’
‘And if he can use you to cross the realms …’ Steph said, working it all out and grabbing Salvatore’s hand tightly.
I nodded. ‘He will go to the physical space that will draw the angels to him in a corporeal form. And he will have his fight—’
‘With your blood on his sword,’ Griffin finished, a heavy silence following his words. Because it was true.
And I don’t know how to stop him. And everyone in this room knows it.
‘I don’t see why we are even entertaining this idea,’ Drenson snapped. ‘It seems simple enough that Violet is the cause of this mess. If we remove her from the problem, Sammael won’t be able to do any of it.’ I heard a few murmurs of agreement from the senior Grigori listening in.
‘If I thought that was an option, I’d gladly agree,’ I responded. ‘But Sammael has control over Spence’s mind and he won’t relinquish it if I don’t turn up.’
‘So what!’ Drenson retorted. ‘You expect us to risk the world for your friend? He is Grigori. It’s his job to make this sacrifice.’
Carter snorted. ‘Right tosser, he is,’ he mumbled.
‘I’ve never liked him,’ Gray threw in.
My hands fisted. ‘Josephine was right when she evaluated me at my testing, Drenson. I will put my friends and family above all else. I will fight with my last breath for what is right, but I will not ever leave one of them behind if it is in my power to help them.’
‘There is something else you need to consider,’ Phoenix said, his words spoken with a force that, when combined with the menacing look in his darkened eyes, served to remind the entire room that he was an extremely powerful exile in his own right. ‘Sammael already has some of Violet’s blood. With his magic it is possible he can create his own gateway, and as Violet is the only other person who can cross over …’
Griffin’s voice came through over the loudspeaker: ‘While she could be the world’s downfall, she is also our most likely saviour.’ I could almost hear Griffin’s small smile. ‘And if I had to guess, I would venture that, like you, Drenson, Sammael has greatly underestimated the power of Violet’s will.’
I looked down, embarrassed by the praise. But when I looked back up I saw a room of warriors watching me with something new in their eyes. The combination of fear and curiosity was still present, but now there was also hope.
In me.
Then, of course, Josephine spoke. ‘Violet, I hate to sound unsupportive at this stage. We’ve had our differences in the past and despite your feelings towards me … It would be remiss of me to not ask whether you have considered that it might be better if you left others to deal with this? That your presence causes more complication than aid?’
I took my time. A couple of years ago I would have been hurt by what she’d just said. But I’d grown up.
‘Josephine, your question is fair. I’ve faced death and loss, and since becoming Grigori I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that I don’t seem to be quite like anyone else. More than once I’ve considered the danger that my existence puts those around me in, and those I love the most have paid greatly for those fears. But finally, I am beginning to understand that while I don’t have the answers you may need, I do have the only one that matters. I was made for this. Yes, there is danger and chaos. But also reason and design. I was created by one who has the most unwavering sense of faith in the goodness of this world.
He trusts in me to protect that at all costs. And that is exactly what I will do. Can you understand that, Josephine?’
There was silence at the other end, and our room was deathly silent. ‘Yes, Violet. I believe you’ve explained it perfectly.’
I waited for Drenson to argue but he was surprisingly mute.
Looking up at Lincoln, I knew he saw the resolve in my eyes as I became more and more sure of my role in all of this. ‘I have to go with Sammael.’
He was silent for a moment, watching me, then said, ‘You took Rainer with you to find Nyla.’
I nodded.
‘So, you could take me, too.’
I winced. ‘Hypothetically, yes, but I kept physical contact with Rainer the whole time. I don’t know what would have happened if I’d let go of her. I could have lost her forever.’ My voice caught. I’d only just got him back.
I knew what I was looking down the barrel of. This was like history repeating itself. I stood firm. ‘I should go alone.’
Phoenix cleared his throat. ‘Before you make any final decisions, you might want to take a good look outside and consider the other problem you will almost certainly face.’
Instantly everyone moved towards the windows.
‘It’s started to rain,’ Salvatore said.
‘It’s not the rain,’ Phoenix said gravely.
‘The wind,’ Gray said, with a faraway, haunted look. ‘There was no wind earlier.’
Phoenix had not moved to the window. He knew exactly what the wind was doing. It was a part of him.
‘If Sammael believes he will defeat Michael tomorrow night, he will unleash his magic and bring destruction to this city. Even if you manage to stop him …’ Phoenix looked down and when his eyes came back to the room they settled sadly on mine. ‘He has an army of exiles of light already here, and thanks to the tournaments he has been controlling he has an opposing army of dark exiles closing in. And it is not just a battleground he has created.’
‘Spell it out for those of us who need the kiddie’s version,’ Carter said, causing Gray to flash him a smile.
Phoenix tilted his head and spoke to Carter. ‘He has brought too many exiles to the one place; a place that was never intended to exist. The temptation will be too much for the angels. Regardless of the outcome, of any battle, when it all comes to a head this land will be returned to the ocean.’ He took a shuddering breath. ‘Even if Sammael doesn’t succeed, the angels will destroy New Orleans.’
‘Would Sammael know that, too?’ I asked.
Phoenix smirked, but not in a kind way. It was his darkness pushing through. ‘Absolutely.’
Steph had her phone to her ear, listening to Dapper and Onyx. ‘Hurricane,’ she said.
‘A hurricane might destroy the city but it won’t kill the exiles,’ Gray said.
‘It won’t matter,’ Phoenix replied. ‘Once the city is taken by the water, the angels will open a pit and send them all to Hell.’
This was New Orleans.
It had to be a hurricane.
CHaPteR tHIRty-ONe
‘Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide in times of trouble?’
Psalm 10:1
‘No,’ I said. ‘That is not going to happen. I’ve only been here a couple of days but I’ve seen this city. These people have been through enough. They didn’t raise this land from the sea. They didn’t ask to be punished by tragedy after tragedy. But they have stayed and their homes are here. New Orleans might have started from something sinister but that isn’t all it is any more.’
‘I agree,’ Steph said. ‘Exiles might be in abundance but so is human life. They deserve a chance.’
Phoenix shook his head. ‘It is a price the angels are willing to pay.’
‘Because they’re not the ones paying it!’ Steph yelled, her hands shaking.
Phoenix closed his eyes briefly and when he opened them they were on me. ‘It’s the way of the universe. I cannot tell you what to do, Violet. I’m not even sure where precisely to start – but I do know that this is your Gordian Knot.’ His eyes flicked around the room before returning to me. ‘It can only be untied by you.’
Nothing like a dash of pressure.
I turned my attention to the small window of the battleship looking towards the city. The wind was causing a carpet of spray across the muggy Mississippi and on the walkways I could just make out people pulling their coats tight and holding onto umbrellas threatening to fly away. Lincoln joined me, seeing what I was, his hand resting on my lower back soothingly.
How exactly does one stop a hurricane?
‘We need help,’ I mumbled.
‘Tell us what you need, Violet,’ Griffin said through the speaker, reminding me everyone was still listening in.
Nervously, I began to pace, knowing the fate to which I was possibly condemning the entire Grigori population. ‘We need everyone.’ I turned to Gray. ‘Even the Rogues.’
Gray nodded. ‘They’re already starting to arrive.’
‘Tell them the truth, Gray. Tell them what might happen if they come here and fight with us and we don’t win. The choice must be theirs.’
‘They’re Rogues, Violet,’ Gray said, his pride for his fellow Grigori clear in his tone and expression. ‘One thing you can always trust is that the choice is absolutely theirs.’
‘The resources of the Assembly and Academy will be at your disposal,’ Josephine offered. ‘We will arrive by morning.’
Again, I waited for Drenson to bellow through the speakerphone, but nothing.
‘I’ll focus on stopping Sammael,’ I said, taking a deep breath and glancing at Lincoln briefly, who stood close beside me, emphasising to the room that we were united. ‘Everyone else needs to be ready to fight the city’s exiles and, somehow … the hurricane,’ I said.
As I looked to Phoenix, something passed between us. Understanding and an acceptance to face this burden together. At that moment I realised that it hadn’t been for me that he had returned. Not really. He simply hadn’t been able to stand aside and let this happen. Aware of it or not, Phoenix was more human than angel.
He nodded once to me and then turned to Zoe. ‘Can you gather all your nature wielders? We’ll need every single one with any ability to control weather, wind, cloud, water, currents … all of it. And your telekinetic users.’
Zoe glanced towards me, then Lincoln.
Lincoln nodded. ‘Phoenix is one of us,’ he said, simply, and through our souls I could feel that he meant it. They would never like one another for any of the reasons that made sense, but Lincoln understood Phoenix. And, oddly, he was grateful to him for loving me. Because, although it almost ended the world as we knew it, and he did kill me once, his love had also saved my life. Twice.
Zoe paused for a beat, before straightening and turning her gaze back to Phoenix. ‘Consider it done.’
Gray cleared his throat. ‘Listen, I know what we did in Santorini, holding back that tsunami, but I was in Miami in 1926 when a category-four hurricane hit and believe me when I tell you – a full-force hurricane isn’t like anything you’ve seen. Even with all of our forces combined …’ He shook his head.
‘You’re right,’ Phoenix answered. ‘But with your nature users and telekinetics at my back, you might be surprised what I can do.’
‘This is crazy!’ Steph yelled against the force of the weather as we stood up on the deck. In the past few hours the wind had continued to fluctuate unpredictably.
‘I have to speak with my angel maker!’ I yelled back.
‘What can you say? He might not be able to help you, Vi!’
‘Then maybe Nox and Uri can do something. They can’t just let this happen!’
Lincoln suddenly appeared behind us, grabbing us and dragging us back inside.
‘What were you two doing out there?’ he asked, closing the door behind him.
‘I’m going to see the angels,’ I explained.
He nodded as if he’d been expecting me to say exactly
that.
‘And I need to do this one on my own,’ I added.
Lincoln’s eyes flashed up. ‘Does that mean you’re going to take me with you tomorrow?’
I nodded, resigned to the fact that for better or worse, we were a team and I wasn’t going to try to fight that any more. ‘We’ll talk about it, but yes. If I cross tomorrow night then we cross together.’
‘Thank you,’ he whispered, pulling me briefly to his chest. And I knew that it was about more than being in the fight. In many ways, it was our last hurdle of trust.
‘Would you give me a minute?’ I asked them both, stepping back. ‘I need to do this on my own.’
Steph hesitated, but Lincoln gently took her arm and steered her down the hall. ‘She knows what she’s doing, Steph.’
I heard Steph laugh as they turned the corner and say, ‘A little nooky and suddenly you’re the voice of reason?’
I didn’t hear the response, but I felt it, through what could only be described as a cheeky kiss through our soul bond.
I walked to my cabin and wasted no time, using my abilities to cross the realms.
But when I arrived in the blank expanse of space that I created with the angels, I found myself eerily alone.
I searched with both my Sight and my senses. ‘I won’t leave that city to die! This is not why I fight!’ I yelled into the nothingness. ‘They have families and people who love them. The world is a much bigger place than it was when you took down Sodom and Gomorrah. If you destroy New Orleans you will destroy much more than the land and the people on it!’
But there was no answer, and I knew that no matter how long I remained, no angels would talk to me today.
Lincoln sat me down and insisted we eat dinner. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d eaten, nor could I stomach the idea of food, but as soon as he put a plate of pasta in front of me, I found myself grinning like a fool.
‘You cooked?’ I asked, looking down at my favourite pasta dish.
He chuckled. ‘No, not exactly. But I did have a long chat with the chef and may have given him an extra incentive to make something special.’
Empower: Violet Eden Chapters: Book Five Page 27
