Embers

by Daniela Elana

  “In your dreams.”

  “You once told me you’d fight alongside me for the love we had.”

  “That was before I knew the truth,” I said, looking away, he placed his hand on my chin angling my head toward him.

  “You can pretend to be a stranger. The way you breathe when I’m around and the spark in your eyes tell the story.”

  “Delusion is a strong drug.”

  “It’s a shame, after all, I’ve done for you. Belial gave you the seal of Solomon, didn’t he?”

  “Yes, why?”

  “You’re going to need it, be thankful you’ve got friends in high places.” His voice faded.

  * * *

  When I turned, I stood back in the dining room, where everyone was arguing. The room grew silent at the sight of me. Their eyes following me like I was a phantom.

  “I told you she was a witch!” Cicely shouted.

  “I’m no witch, I was warned.”

  “Warned by a fallen angel?”

  “Even Jesus was tempted by Satan and many time prophets are some of the first to be informed of the enemy’s plans,” I said, walking back to my seat.

  “Another excuse, why don’t you do us all a favor and knock off the act,” Baran said with a smirk.

  Leo fidgeted with his fork as I took a seat, he got up from the table, leaving for a walk, and Rain followed him.

  * * *

  An hour later, I pushed aside my quilted comforter to climb in bed when a light knock interrupted my routine. I walked over, cracking the door open. Cicely stood there with her large mahogany waves in a high ponytail except for her bang that swept across her narrow face. The coffee-colored robe she wore matched her brown cat-shaped eyes.

  “We need to talk,” she said, walking further down the hall. I slipped on a pair of slippers, following her upstairs to the bar and out the backdoor. Outside was a balcony over the courtyard. For as long as I’d been there, I hadn’t been up to that spot. She took a seat in a plastic chair crossing her long, shapely legs beneath her brown silk robe and pointed her bare feet at the concrete floor.

  “I’m all ears,” I said, sitting in the straw chair beside her.

  “This is where Leo and I used to stargaze, he proposed to me here ten years ago.”

  “Wow, being here must be nostalgic for you both.”

  “You’re right. He is wrapped around your little witchy finger. After all, you’re younger and pretty enough. His eyes have always had a tendency to wander.” Her words left me speechless as to how to reply. “I want you to remember something, little girl.”

  “Little girl?” I shook my head at her.

  “People always remember their first, so every time he touches you, he thinks of me. No matter how many flings he’s had with other women, I’m always the one he returns to,” she said. I frowned. “If it wouldn’t have been for Baran, he would’ve been married to me for years now.”

  “What happened?”

  “When he started going on those assignments while we were dating, Leo came around less. I got lonely, so I started seeing his brother.”

  “What does any of this have to do with me?” I said.

  “Even if Leo wants to waste his time with you, I’m not going to let you hurt him.”

  “Hurt him?”

  “I know what you did in Lemuria a couple years ago,” she said. By the flare of her nostrils, it was clear she knew something.

  “What about Mu?”

  “All those innocent people you killed. Yet you pretend you care about humanity.”

  “You can’t hold me to that forever,” I said. Cicely leaned in closer.

  “My sister warned me about you.”

  “Sister?” She shook her head.

  “You do remember her?”

  “I’m sorry, I don’t recall.”

  “You had no mercy on her when you skinned her alive and left her in the desert of New Mexico to rot.”

  A dull pain took over the front of my head with my recall of being under the influence of the crystal skull. Logan’s flushed face with her hands raised in surrender, backing away as I raised my knife to lacerate her after accusing her betrayal flashed before my eyes.

  “I wasn’t myself, and she betrayed me!”

  “Excuses!”

  “Some would blame it on drugs, others on anger, or a rough upbringing, even insanity, but you of all people blame it on a relic, how pathetic.”

  “It sounds crazy, but the crystal skull altered me.”

  “You thought she was just a Jane Doe no one would ever find.”

  “It’s horrible what I did. If I could go back to that moment I would’ve prevented it, I’m sorry.”

  “Shut up!” You’re not sorry, you deserve to burn in hell right beside your demon lover Azazel!”

  “It’s not like Leo, is any more innocent, he was a murder for a living.”

  “At least he takes out the lofty. You kill the innocent.”

  “What I did was wrong, but Logan nor anyone else I slew in Mu was innocent.”

  “Leo’s not a gruesome serial killer, with him it’s just a quick death. Whereas you torture people for hours before granting them the option of death. You sadist”

  “I’m a sadist? I killed for self-defense and survival. Leo aided in the abduction of women and children…!” I shouted, stopping midsentence as his shadow came into view with him stepping outside. His eyes were huge, and he gritted his teeth. Cicely stared at him, gaping and I hopped up and sprinted past him. He grabbed my shoulder before I could make it out the door.

  “What gave you the right to say anything, I trusted you!”

  “I’m really sorry …”

  “You threw me under the bus to save your own skin?” He ran his fingers through his hair.

  “Leo—”

  He released my shoulder and marched back inside before I did. I waited several seconds for him to disappear and noted Cicely sat glaring at me. A minute later, I walked back inside, downstairs into my room.

  My face landed on the cotton pillow, soaking it wet with tears. Each teardrop burned my eyes. Everything I had done to Logan sharpened the pain in my chest along with the realization I was willing to magnify Leo’s flaws to minimize my own. Some friend I was.

  “Don’t be too hard on yourself,” a voice said. I lifted my gaze to behold Belial standing at my bedside.

  “What brings you here?”

  “Once everyone else here finds out what you did to Logan they’ll never look at you the same again either,” he said.

  “You can’t say that for sure.”

  “Remember how shocked your friends and family were to see you slaughter that man for me?”

  “How could I forget? But you acted the same...”

  “I only acted that way to keep my identity a secret. Remember when I said I didn’t bleed?” he asked. I nodded. “That was a hint of my true identity.”

  “How could I have overlooked that?”

  “No one here trusts you because of your history with Azazel. You should’ve heard what they said about you at the table,” he said. I frowned casting my eyes to the ground. Mason took my chin. “You’re better off leaving with me.”

  “I can’t,” I muttered. Why was I even entertaining his company? Had I sunken this low?

  “Think about it,” he said, vanishing into the darkness of the room.

  * * *

  The next evening, the stray hair escaping my bun blew against the breeze, obscuring my view of the marshlands ahead. My arms ached from the repetitive motion of rowing a boat through the swamp. Getting fresh air was a nice change of pace. Swimming at a distance was an alligator.

  I ducked from low hanging trees. Birds flew past me. Sharp tings of mosquito bites filled my arms despite my long sleeves and bug repellant I wore.

  Last night’s argument replayed. It was clear why Cicely hated me. It went far beyond Leo. Arriving at the shore, I wa
lked along a path, beside the water, watching my step. Rustling from among forest brushes took me surprise. Before I could turn, the pound of footsteps from someone running up behind me filled my ears. Large hands gripped me by the hair, yanking me backward, I squirmed against their grasp, failing to find freedom and balance before losing control of my feet and I collapsed face forward deep into the swampy water, sinking below. I splashed around, blowing bubbles upward to determine the direction of which I should swim up, and I paddled my way to the top, gasping for air.

  When I reached the surface, no one was there. I surveyed my surroundings, noticing my boat was nowhere in sight. Further up the bank, the melody of women gathered together singing carried with the wind.

  I climbed onto land, walking upstream. Another surge of pain overtook my chest. I froze as a group of women in long dark dresses and bonnets gathered for a ceremony. They stood by the lake as if waiting for someone.

  Moments later, a young nude girl, with skin that resembled red clay arose from the river. Her long curly hair covered her bare breast.

  “Queen Naamah we bring you offerings,” a young woman greeted her, stepping forward with an amethyst stone and setting it down before Naamah and bowing. Naamah grinned and scooped up the stone.

  “Very, good my daughter Naira, I’ve come to bring you great news.”

  Naira’s large round dark eyes were full of hope.

  “In the last decade of this century, you will have a great, great-granddaughter, and she will be my vessel when we enter the Age of Aquarius after her 18th birthday.”

  “This is great news!” Naira said, hugging another girl with her, the two of them leaping with joy.

  “She will restore the religion of your ancestor Semiramis, she will bring order to this chaotic world, and all peace will come. In between this time, you will see massive changes throughout the century take place from equality for women of all colors, an end of Jim Crow segregation, world wars and the assassination of a president, mankind will claim to visit the heavens.”

  “Queen, it is hard to believe!” Naira clasped her mouth.

  “And what will the name of the girl be.” Naamah circled her, smiling.

  “Therasia,” she said.

  Chills traveled down my spine at the mention of Tess. Naamah too had taken drastic measures to ensure herself a seat in the apocalypse going behind Azazel’s back.

  “Will I have a daughter or son before her?”

  “You will have a son who will marry a woman named Sonia. Together Therasia will have the perfect lineage,” she said. Hearing her speak of Tess’s mother who would break up my family and I couldn’t stay as I ran out from amongst the trees, and everyone turned.

  “Don’t listen to her Naira, she’s lying!” I yelled. “I am…..” I flew backward hitting a rock on the shore, my back ached, and my boat was in sight again. I passed out.

  * * *

  I awoke in a bed. Blinking a few times, the posters of vintage cars, and a pinup girl poster along the navy wall alerted me I was in Leo’s room. He stood over me sighing in relief.

  “What happened back there?” I asked.

  “I found you lying on the rocks.”

  I sat up in bed. My back still hurt, and I hugged him as he held me, I tried my best to make sense of what had just happened. I then thought about who could’ve pushed me, wondering if it were Cicely.

  “You know the strangest thing about everything,” Leo said, staring at me.

  “What?”

  “I experienced this awful sense of déjà vu, a few seconds before I found you lying there.”

  “I know this is going to sound crazy, but I think I traveled back in time.”

  “What?”

  “When whoever pushed me, I drowned, then it was as if I were watching my great grandmother interact with Naamah. I tried to stop her from listening to Naamah and my father and Tess’s mom getting together.”

  “Wow, that’s pretty deep. Are you alright?”

  “Yes and....I’m sorry about last night.”

  “Save the apology, I forgive you.” He smiled at me. “Say who pushed you into the water?”

  “I really don’t know.”

  “I’m going to find out,” he said, standing up clenching his fist, but I grabbed him by the arm pulling him back.

  “Leo, it’s all right, I’m fine, and I really don’t want any more drama. Things are bad enough as they are. Maybe you could take some of that anger you have stored up to teach me some moves like you said earlier. I’m sure they’ll come in handy later.”

  “Are you sure? You’re still healing,” he said.

  “No, I’ll be all right as long as you’re easy on my back. For the most part, I’m a tough cookie,” I said.

  “Okay, I’ll go easy,” he said. I stood. Leo walked around behind me. He curled his arm around the curve of my waist, steadying me. With his other arm, he helped me position both arms so that one was in front of the other while I balled my fist.

  He let go of me, demonstrating various movements and stances of fighting. I mirrored him, remembering what Logan had taught. He lifted me suddenly as if we were dancing and swung me over his shoulder. When I landed, I got into a fighting stance.

  “This is our move. If we are surrounded. I will lift you.”

  “It reminds me of dancing.”

  “There’s not much of a difference,” he said.

  * * *

  We practiced for hours until we fell over in bed.

  “I give up,” I said as I lay beside him gazing at the vaulted ceiling. Butterflies formed in my stomach. He took my hand, pulling me on top of him so that my legs wrapped around him and he clasped my hands again.

  “Put me in a hold,” he said.

  “I don’t have any energy left.”

  “Someday you will, I’ll help you build stamina,” he said with a smile. Peering down at his angular face, I caressed his thick hair as he stared up at me. The door swung open, startling us both. I sprung off Leo onto the floor. He stood to get out of the bed. In the doorway stood, Baran leaned against the wall, glaring.

  “Some God-given mission, sleeping with the enemy,” Baran said with the shake of his head.

  “Stay out of this!” Leo said.

  “Leo, you’ve been thinking with the wrong head ever since she wrapped her legs around you.” Baran smirked. Leo stepped forward with a glare. “I was hoping the witch would drown when I pushed her. But she didn’t, so it proves she really is a sorceress,” he said. Leo shoved his brother against the wall, gripping him by the collar of his shirt.

  “You’re a sap Leo, the first pretty girl who pretends to love you and you’re willing to turn your back on Flo!” He struck Leo in the face. Leo wiped the bead of blood from the newly formed cut above his brow.

  “Stay away from her,” Leo shouted, picking his brother up and throwing him across the room. Baran collided with the floor and sat up, scowling at him.

  “Get a grip, Leo!” He frowned.

  “Apologize for trying to kill her!” Leo shouted. Baran rolled his eyes.

  “You think you’re in love, huh?” he said. Leo turned away from his brother. Baran cursed. “You know you’re settling for Azazel’s seconds.” He laughed. Something in Leo’s eyes flickered. He swiveled around, racing for him. By the gestures, Leo displayed, it was evident he was planning on seriously injuring his brother.

  “Leo, stop!” I cried. He turned to me and froze. I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. Leo gripped my face. “It’s okay, it’s not worth harming him.”

  His brother watched us as he stood, brushing the dust off his jeans. The door opened again, and Cicely stood there.

  “What’s going on?” she said.

  “Leo’s too far gone,” Baran said, knitting his brows together, walking over to her and placing his hand on her back. They left, shutting the door behind them.

  “I can’t believe my brother tried
to kill you.”

  “He’s probably just trying to avenge Cicely. I had no idea Logan was her sister. Now, I understand why she hates me so much.”

  “What’s done is done. Sometimes all you can do is forgive yourself and believe God has forgiven your sins. It gives Baran no right to lay a hand on you.” he said.

  “I’m just afraid if anyone else here finds out, they’ll hate me too.”

  “Even if they turn against you, I’m still here, and you’re forgiven by God. That’s all that matters,” he said. I embraced him.

  * * *

  Two hours later, I sat on the couch, watching Ross Day. He showed news footage from earlier in the day of a parade honoring Azazel, Lovell, and Tess. Crowds gathered in the street. Women hollered, chasing after the Watchers as they walked the streets in a procession with their wives.

  On the last float were Azazel, Lovell, and Tess. They stopped by a crowd to sign autographs. A reporter stopped by the float.

  “Azazel, it’s inappropriate to ask as you’re a very strong spiritual leader, but I’m going to ask for all the women out there....” She giggled.

  “Please do ask!”

  I planted my face in my palm then looked up at the screen as a broad grin was etched on his face.

  “Are you single?”

  “Yes but I’m heartbroken because there was a special woman—”

  “What happened to her?”

  “She...” He held his tongue. “Died.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” The reporter patted his shoulder, I rolled my eyes at the screen. “I don’t mean to keep prying, but what about you and that nuisance Maricel? There are rumors after the kiss.”

  “Was that her name? I feel sorry for the poor girl, I saw her drowning when I rescued her she thanked me with a kiss.”

  “Is she your type?” The woman narrowed her light eyes. Seeing this woman’s desperation combined with her vitriol toward me was its own sickening sight.

  “It was flattering, but she has a few too many screws loose in the head. She’s cute for an earthling, but not my type.”

  The reporter chuckled at his snide remark. My eyes narrowed. I raise my middle finger to the television, acting as if he could see it.