by Mary Ting
Feeling utterly dizzy from his words and his closeness, and knowing he was right, I said, “I think you should walk away then. Why toy with our feelings?” I thought that was what I said. I wasn’t sure. His chestnut-brown eyes darkened even more as he gravitated to me. Obviously, he hadn’t listened.
“Let me do one last thing before we head back to reality. This might be the last one, but I can’t promise it will be. And you were right. Don’t trust me.”
“What are you talking about? What do you need to—?”
When his lips met mine, my whole body erupted with tiny fireworks, expanding through every part of me the longer and deeper he kissed me. Then light emerged around us, which was in all likelihood my doing, as we ascended to our destination.
Chapter 26
Home. We were finally home—except we were met by demons. Although it seemed as though Eli and I had been gone for a while, the rest of our team had only recently made it home. I pressed my back against the sofa while Zach stood over me. Brody stood over Eli, protecting his body from the Possessor demons.
Jack was holding a pan and swatting at the demons to my left. I had to give him credit for being brave. Countless black mists floated around us. The clanking of swords echoed in the family room. Fortunately, since we owned nothing of value, we didn’t need to worry about things being broken except our poor walls. The plaster was punctured through in several spots and wood and debris were scattered on the floor. On my right, the staircase banister had been broken where the swords must have hit. By the time I got up to help, most of the black mists had been eliminated and the rest had escaped.
“Well, well. The lovebirds have finally returned,” Brody snarled. “What took you so long? I watched your butt while you were doing who knows what.”
Eli stood up, stretching his arms and legs. “It’s not what you think. Cyrus prevented me from coming back.”
The embarrassed look on my face from Brody’s comment disappeared when Zach rubbed my back to let me know he was glad I had returned.
“Are you okay?” Uncle Davin embraced me. “We were so worried about you. I was going to ask Milani to take us back as soon as we got rid of the demons. We arrived just in time.”
“One of the demons was about to rip my heart out,” Abel stated. “What happened?” He seemed genuinely concerned, but Eli turned away.
Eli was still upset from whatever he thought his friend had done. Either that, or he felt guilty for kissing me, knowing Abel liked me. He might have even kissed me to get back at Abel. My heart stung. It didn’t matter anyway. Nothing could happen. As Eli said, we both knew we couldn’t have a relationship and that was that.
“Cyrus?” Milani shivered. “What did he want? He found you?” She was full of questions. “You used the light from the necklace, didn’t you?”
“I had no choice,” Eli said.
“I see.” Milani’s eyes reflected her fear. Knowing her mother had died at Cyrus’s hands too, I understood her bitterness and hostility at times.
It suddenly occurred to me that I didn’t have the page. Frantically, I searched. “The page. It’s gone.” I locked eyes with Eli who gave me a sly smirk. He was too sexy for his own good.
“I have it.” He gave me a wink.
I scowled. That thief. He must have taken it when he kissed me or during our trip back. I rubbed the back of my head in embarrassment. “I knew that.” I tried to play it off like I had known, but my red face said otherwise.
“What do you have?” Jack asked excitedly. “You found the first page?”
“Yes,” I confirmed. Then they settled on the sofa to listen.
Eli started to explain what had happened, describing our arrival back at the same forest, the massive black ball and our escape, following Jacques, retrieving the missing page, Eli’s necklace, and Cyrus’s quest for the page. His account of the story skipped some private moments we’d shared, seeing his mother’s death and his giving me the necklace.
“That’s crazy.” Jack ran his hand down his face. “I’m glad both of you came back.”
“Are you sure you’ve got the right page?” Uncle Davin narrowed his eyes at it. “It’s kind of dirty and there are no words or even a picture on it. What are we supposed to do with it?”
“Oh.” Jack lightly smacked his head. “Don’t you remember? We need a drop of the descendant’s blood and a weapon of Jacques’s choice. It must be some kind of sacred dagger. I don’t know where we could find it—or even what we do with it once we have it.”
“Cyrus wants this page,” Eli reminded us. “He doesn’t know we have it yet, but he knows we are looking for it. He wants it by Friday the thirteenth, and for us to meet him with it—at the high school football field.”
“Sounds like a plan, after we make one.” Uncle Davin was straight-faced. “But we have a bigger problem. We need to find this sacred weapon. I’ll check through the book. Maybe there’s a clue I’ve overlooked.”
“Cyrus might already have the dagger. If he does, then we’ve lost that leverage.” Zach gazed at the big hole in our wall.
“He would also have to find Jacques’s descendant to release it,” Brody added, picking up a broken piece of the mahogany banister.
“Maybe he doesn’t know,” I said. “Think about it. He’s been killing on every Friday the thirteenth for who knows how long.”
“But he didn’t have the missing paper,” Eli commented.
“So why kill them?” I asked, moving the plaster that had fallen to the side with my foot.
Eli leaned back into the sofa, looking tired. He closed his eyes and then opened them to answer, “To make a statement. Because that’s how cruel Cyrus is. However, Vince was the one doing his dirty work.”
“He must not know the blood has to be from Jacques de Molay’s descendant,” Jack concurred, “or he would have already taken my brother or me.”
Uncle Davin rubbed his jaw. “Then we need to keep Jack’s family safe. I’m sure he’ll figure it out sooner or later. Abel, make sure to double—no—triple your guards and watch Jack’s house at all times.”
Abel gave a thumbs up. “Will do.”
Brody seemed worried. “Should we meet somewhere else? I mean, that’s our school. Many of our friends will be there.”
Eli walked to the window and shifted the shutters to get a better view. He released a long sigh. “If you think about it, it’s the best place. We’ll be away from streets and homes.”
Milani crossed her arms. “But that’s our school. It’s during the homecoming dance.”
Eli raised a brow and my heart raced a little faster. He could make even this simple act sexy. “Precisely,” he said. “Half the student population is supernatural. They’ll already be there and ready if we need them.”
“True,” Zach threw in. “We’re all going, right?” He glanced at everyone.
Brody hesitantly raised his hand, giving us a half grin. “Uhhhh, well, Eli, Milani and I didn’t plan on it, but I guess we should go?”
Uncle Davin lightly smacked his back. “Not guess, Brody. You, Eli, and Milani better be there.”
Jack slowly raised his hand and looked at Brody. “Umm, I could maybe join you guys, if that’s okay?” he asked timidly.
“Why is everyone raising their hands? This isn’t school. Speak up.” Uncle Davin focused his eyes on the group. “And sorry, but you’re not going, Jack. We can’t keep an eye on you. We’ll make sure to send plenty of Lamias, and”—he turned to Milani—“got any Elementum friends who can help?”
Milani’s eyes glistened. “Yes, I do. Some of them go to our school. I’ll contact them right away.”
“Good. We’ll have plenty watching over Jack and his family.”
Jack’s lips became a thin line and a frown creased his forehead. “I can help. I might be human, but I’m not that weak.”
Uncle Davin stood up. Hovering over Jack with his hands curled into fists, he was larger than life. “I’m not going to tell you again. It’
s too dangerous. You’ve seen what the demons can do. I admire your courage, but you are no match for supernatural beings.”
Uncle Davin sat back down when Jack nodded. Knowing Jack, it was debatable whether he would follow the plan; he was all about being a man and exemplifying the qualities of the Knights Templar. Later, I would talk to him one on one. Maybe he would listen to me.
“What do we do in the meantime?” I admired Milani’s long purple-streaked hair that cascaded down her face. The last time I had seen her they were pink, and before that they’d been blue. I wondered if she could control the color with her powers or if she had to dye it herself.
Uncle Davin cleared his throat and crossed his legs. “Meanwhile, everything goes back to normal. We have a week and a half before the homecoming dance. Lucia, I need to take you dress shopping and Zach needs a suit, so we’ll go this weekend. Eli, I need you to astral travel here and there to throw Vince off so he doesn’t suspect we have the missing page. Everyone act normal at school. And I need everyone doing research on this dagger. We’ll meet the night before to go over our plans. If you have any questions or concerns, you know where to find me. Got it?”
“Yes,” we all agreed in accord.
“Good.” Uncle Davin clapped his hands, startling us, and then stood up. “Okay, everyone go home. I’ve got some cleaning up to do. This place is a mess.” He glanced at the wall and then at the floor covered with dust from the plaster and black ashes of the demons.
Everyone stood up and my eyes flashed to Eli. He was the last one out the door, allowing the others to exit before him. Just before he stepped out, he looked over his shoulder and gave me the most delicious smirk, one I could dream about all day. It was a secretive kind of grin, one telling me he’d enjoyed the time we spent alone together. The smile said “I know you, I’ve kissed you, I’ve told you secrets.” I repaid him with a shy smile and flushed cheeks.
The sound of footsteps broke us out of our stare. Uncle Davin had gone to the kitchen and come back out. I didn’t want him to see the goofy grin spread across my face. Nor did I want him to think there was anything going on between Eli and me because there wasn’t. But secretly, I kind of wished there was something between us. Wished it didn’t matter if angel warriors like me had a relationship, or that it was with a demon. The more I spent time with Eli, the more I wanted to know him better.
Just as Eli walked out of my sight, my fingers went to my lips as I recalled the way he’d kissed me. I’d never known passion, but I had sensed it in his kiss. I’d never known pain like he had, but I’d seen it in his eyes and felt his pain in my heart. I’d never known so much devotion to friends, but I’d witnessed it through his actions.
Eli was a fascinating being, even more so than I had expected him to be. And for some reason, his mix of bloodlines made him stand out from everyone else. He knew that. And maybe Cyrus did too, and that was the reason why he searched for him.
Chapter 27
I gazed up at the night sky as I walked to Jack’s place. I didn’t have that peaceful feeling, compared to the first week I’d arrived. So much had changed, or maybe it was just me. There were so many more supernatural beings than I had expected. But actually, I’d had no idea what to expect. Though I was physically ready to handle what was to come, I didn’t know if I was mentally prepared.
When I approached Jack’s house, strong energy surged around me. Staring up at the trees, I knew Lamias were hidden deep within them. Their countless eyes illuminated in an amber hue, hiding against the backdrop of the leaves, peering down on me.
I knocked on Jack’s door for two reasons: Firstly, I wanted to make sure he was all right, and secondly, I wanted to examine the swords I’d seen displayed in a glass case in his living room. I wanted to compare them to Eli’s sword. My gut instinct told me they were similar.
Lana opened the door. “Good evening, Lucia.” She smiled. “Is everything okay?”
Beside her, Lucky wagged her tail and panted, obviously excited to see me. As always, the sweet scent of edelweiss filtered out of the house to my nose, along with sweet tea and the smell of something cooking on the stove.
“Good evening, Lana. Yes, everything is fine. I just need to talk to Jack. Is he sleeping?”
“Come in.” As soon as Lana opened the door, Lucky jumped on me and I caught her paws in my hands. When she stretched her body while standing on her hind legs, she was almost as tall as me.
“Hi, Lucia,” Goose greeted in his normal tone. I was taken aback to see another T-shirt he’d scripted. It read “Elementum beings are wickedly good.” “Jack’s taking a dump.” He snickered and then headed to the kitchen. Lucky followed after him.
“Boys.” Lana shook her head. “Have a seat. Would you like some mango tea? I just heated up some.”
“Sure. I would love some.”
I bent down to pet Lucky when she dashed over from the kitchen. Goose came after her, holding a rainbow-colored Popsicle in his hand. When my necklace slipped free, I quickly shoved it back in before anyone could see it, but it was too late. Lana’s eyes widened in shock. I expected her to ask questions. Instead, she went to the kitchen and came back with a mug for me. After she set it on the table, she sat down beside me.
“Want one?” Goose asked, enjoying his Popsicle.
“No, thanks.” I settled comfortably on the sofa. After I took a sip, I placed the mug down.
“Okay.” He sat on the opposite side of me. Lucky got flat down on her belly. “Jack must be taking a large dump.” He chuckled.
I couldn’t help myself and let out a loud snort.
“Gustavo,” Lana scolded. “Stop embarrassing your brother. It’s not polite to say those words in front of a guest.”
Goose frowned and went back to licking his Popsicle.
“So,” Lana began. “Where did you get the necklace?” She sounded nonchalant, but I knew she was eager to know. Her eyes were riveted to the spot my crystal dangled under my shirt.
“It was a gift from a friend.” I tried not to make it a big deal.
“A friend,” she repeated. “Do you remember the legend I told you about the edelweiss flower and the Snow Queen?”
“Yes.”
Lana pushed back the strand of her hair covering her eye and shifted slightly toward me. “May I?” She pointed to the necklace hidden under my shirt. When I pulled it out, she gingerly examined it. “It’s beautiful.” She dropped her arm to her lap, and spoke again, “The legend continues. After the Snow Queen’s curse was broken, she sought revenge. The Snow Queen plucked eight edelweiss flowers for eight of the original Elementa.
“One by one she hunted them down, except for three she was unable to find. Upon receiving such beautiful flowers, they couldn’t resist the sweet fragrance. When the flower brushed up against their faces, it sucked up their entire essences, till their very last breath. The flower turned into the edelweiss crystal, or the shape of a sunburst, and their power remained buried within the necklace. These very necklaces were given as gifts from the Snow Queen to the four Elementa with true hearts who were trusted by her to use their powers for good.”
I brushed the necklace with my fingertip, contemplating the history behind it—if the legend was indeed true. “Did she ever find the other three?”
“One is Lilith. She is very difficult to find. The second one, they call him Vince. And the third remains unknown.”
“Vince is an Elementum?” My pitch rose. He couldn’t have been. But it all made sense. When I recalled Eli taking me to the past, Ikelia had said she was glad they weren’t on the same team anymore. Then Ikelia and Milani’s mother must have been two of the Snow Queen’s trusted ones. “When I saw Vince, he floated like a Possessor demon. How could he be one of the originals?” I pulled back into my seat, realizing I’d told her too much. I wondered what she would think of me. “I mean, I didn’t mean—”
“It’s okay, my child. I know everything. I’ve spoken to your uncle.” She patted my hand to calm my n
erves and handed me my mug, urging me to drink some more. “Vince is working with Cyrus, is he not?”
I took a sip, letting the warmth of the tea sooth me. “Yes.”
“There’s your answer. Cyrus is the lord of Possessor demons. With his magic, I’m sure he made Vince stronger, perhaps even changed him. Besides, not all Elementa are created the same way. Some are stronger and more powerful than the others, and some have unique gifts.”
“How do you know so much about these legends?” I asked.
Lana casually stood up. “I need to turn off the oven. I’m baking mango pie. Your uncle loved it so I promised to bake him one. I’ll be right back.”
I had no idea if Lana truly had a pie in the oven, though I had smelled something delicious when I entered, but it was a convenient way to change the topic. Goose just sat there quietly, staring and smiling.
“Do you want to add to our conversation, Goose?”
He sat taller, surprised by my question. “Yup.” He pointed to his T-shirt, showing all of his teeth. He resembled a younger version of Jack, down to his goofy adorable grin.
Lucky peered up when I snorted, and just when I thought I should come back another day, Jack lazily strutted down the stairs, until he got to the last step and froze.
“Lucia?” He squinted and looked at what he wore after he put on the glasses he had in his hand. When he seemed satisfied he said, “I’m sorry. I was taking a shower. I didn’t know you were here.”
“It’s okay. I visited with your grandmother.”
Jack came closer, running his fingers through his wet hair. “Did you need something? Is everything all right?” He glanced at the clock on the wall.
“Actually, I do.” I headed for the glass case. Jack followed and so did Goose and Lucky. “Where did you get these two swords?” Like Eli’s sword, in the middle of each gold handle was a cross. Both handles had an intricate design of intertwining black lines.
