by Cameo Renae
Dom and Kade fell through the dilapidated roof with a crash. The Fallen above and the Darkling below knew we were here and were already charging toward us.
My wings spread wide and flapped, breaking my fall.
“Emma, go get them,” Kade yelled.
Still invisible, I flew around, looking for an open window on the first floor. As I came around the back side, I saw an extra-large PVC pipe coming from the ground, into the wall of one of the rooms. It had to be the room, but the windows had been barred.
I had to find another way in.
On one of the sides was a cracked window. It had a few boards nailed to it, but I could easily get through. Time was of the essence, especially now. I was going in.
Using my wings to turn me around, I crashed through the broken window and wooden slats, feet first. The far wall broke my tumbling fall. Darkling flooded the room, but they couldn’t see me. I crawled to the center of the room and stood directly in the middle of them. I was bumped, but because of their overwhelming stench, my scent was masked.
Growls and screams were deafening as they frantically searched for whatever had entered the room. Their dark eyes and sharp, rotted teeth were inches from my face.
I closed my eyes and folded my arms over my chest, then took in a deep breath before I let my wings take control.
My wings alternated, twisting me in a wild whirlwind of fury. I kept my eyes clenched tight as piercing shrieks of pain reverberated off the walls. I could feel warm body fluid splash against my skin as my wings slashed and shredded Darkling bodies. In less than a minute, it was all over, and my wings slowed me to a stop.
If I had turned that fast before I transformed, my head would be spinning for days, and I’d be puking everywhere.
When I opened my eyes, I witnessed mass destruction, and couldn’t believe it was all done by my hands…or wings.
The room was splatter-painted with black blood and guts. Arms, torsos, legs, and heads were strewn everywhere. It was one of the most gruesome sites I’d ever witnessed, and the evil, foul-smelling stench made bile rise in my chest. Overwhelmed, I swallowed it down, held my breath, and ran out of the room.
Breaching the next doorway, a Darkling grabbed me, lifted me off the ground and threw me backward. I crashed into the wall, dazed. As I looked at my legs sticking out of the wall, I realized I was no longer invisible.
Before I could get to my feet, the Darkling charged toward me and grabbed my leg. He yanked me out and threw me against the next wall. Wood splintered as I crashed against it. I reached for my dagger and was surrounded by four more of them.
“Bring her here,” Lilith’s voice snapped.
They grabbed hold of my arms and yanked me forward, attaching something that wrapped around my chest and locked at my back. It was a wide metal strap, which kept me from calling my wings. Bastards!
Taking one limb each, they carried me down the hall to Lilith. As we stepped inside the room, my heart almost stopped. There were Jeremy and Lia, trapped in the same glass enclosure I witnessed in my dream. The water was continuously streaming from a large pipe at the top, much too high for them to reach. It was already up to their waists.
They were screaming. Their faces terrified.
I fought with all my might and broke free of their hold on me. I grabbed my dagger and took a fighting stance.
Three Darkling were standing behind Lilith, armed with their swords.
“Emma. How nice of you to drop by and watch the show.” Lilith sneered, her wicked eyes glowering, trying to mask how equally shocked she was to see me.
“How the hell did you find us?” Her voice lowered to a rumble.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I spit the words out with a grin of my own. “Let my friends go, now.”
Her eyes went onyx, but not fully like the Fallen. I could still see the whites of her eyes.
“This glass is extremely thick and completely shatterproof. There is no way for them to escape.” She knocked on the glass and waved to Jeremy and Lia. I wanted to kill her, but knew my odds against three Fallen were slim at best.
“You evil bitch,” I said under my breath.
“You’ve made it incredibly easy for me,” she threatened. “And now you get to watch your friends die.”
I could feel my wings trying to set themselves free. The shooting pain echoed down my back and legs, nearly making me collapse.
“Looks like the device works,” Lilith said with a laugh.
The water had risen to their chests, and they began to panic, thrashing and pounding on the glass, looking to me for help, but my hands were tied. Their desperate pleas were tearing my heart into pieces. But I had to be patient and wait for the right time. If I tried to rescue them myself, I would die, and so would they. That wasn’t acceptable.
“Drop your dagger, Emma,” Lilith commanded.
I slowly shook my head and she motioned for the Darkling surrounding me to grab me. My body reacted and dropped to the ground, kicking their legs out from under them. I took my dagger and thrust it into the heart of the nearest Darkling, and just as I was about to stick the second one, I was grabbed from behind and thrown across the room. My head slammed into the glass box, making me black out for a second. I came to as I was grabbed by my arms and roughly lifted. Two of the massive Fallen were at my sides, towering feet over me. Muscles bulged from their chests and arms.
Lilith walked over to me and stood a foot away, her eyes were like daggers.
“You don’t know how much I hate you.” Her words bled from her lips.
“I didn’t kill your father,” I said.
She reeled back and punched me on the left side of my face. Her power knocked me out again. I awoke with a shooting pain in my head and tingling on my face. To add insult to injury, she slapped my face, again and again, to make sure I would stay coherent.
Jeremy and Lia were thrashing behind me. The water was up to their necks.
I had to do something. Where were the others?
“You don’t even know what you did.”
“Obviously,” I said. “Why don’t you enlighten me?”
“You took Ethon from me!”
“I didn’t know he was yours,” I remarked.
“He was my best friend, and one of the few who knew me. He helped me understand what I was. Then, one day he disappeared and never came back. I followed him and saw him take you to his secret place. You whore!” she screamed into my face. “You already had everything, and then you had to go and take him too.”
She lifted her fist, but just as she was about to hit me again, the Fallen to the right of me was impaled with a flying sword. His grip on my arm dropped, and I caught her fist mid-air.
“Secret handshake,” Dom yelled.
My arm lifted Lilith over my head and slammed her to the ground. She moaned and grabbed her chest.
“Dom, kick out the plumbing!” I screamed before the Fallen, on my other side, yanked me away from Lilith.
In a fraction of a second, his head was bouncing on the ground and rolling across the room. Then, a voice sounded behind me. “Nobody touches my wife.”
His voice sent a thunderbolt through my veins.
When I turned, Kade’s hazel eyes locked onto mine, and I felt hopeful we’d make it through. He looked strong, but I knew he’d been battling. The veins across the defined muscles in his arms were pumped. His hair was damp and disheveled, and his blade and clothes were covered in blood.
“You good?” he asked, his eyes scanning me.
“I am now,” I breathed.
Dom flew toward the large PVC pipe on the ceiling and kicked it at the joint with both legs. The pipe burst and water poured out over the room, soaking all of us. I looked up into the tank and watched the flow stop.
“Hold on!” I yelled to Jeremy and Lia. Running over to them, I placed my hands on the large glass box.
Jeremy nodded, his eyes were filled with relief. Both of them were treading water, with only enough room
for their heads at the top.
I glanced down at Lilith, who was trying to get up, and noticed a chain around her neck. I bent down and ripped it off. My heart skipped as I saw a golden key dangling at the end.
Loud rumbles and screams echoed as another wave of Darkling charged into the room, and I struggled, not able to pry the damn metal contraption off my chest. My wings wanted to engage and be set free, but they were being held back. I didn’t have time to struggle with it. I’d have to fight without them.
Grabbing my dagger, I side stepped a sword and missed it by centimeters. The Darkling blade hit the glass case and bounced off. I thrust my blade through the back of his head, pushing it into the glass box. The Darkling screeched, blood and matter splattered against the glass.
Lia screamed, her eyes widened with terror. Jeremy instructed her to look away, as I disengaged my dagger.
Kade had engaged with the third Fallen while Dom picked off the Darkling. I dodged a few more Darkling, and as I looked down, Lilith was gone.
No!
I slashed my way through the Darkling, searching for her, but she’d managed to slip out.
I’d had her and I allowed her to escape once again. Dammit.
We continued, fighting the never-ending wave of Darkling. This was the most I’d seen in one place so far, and could only imagine how many more there were. I killed at least a dozen, and as the numbers dwindled, I quickly made my way back to Jeremy and Lia. I pulled the key from my pocket and prayed it would work. I searched everywhere for a lock, when Jeremy knocked on the glass. He pointed toward the back of the case, to the far corner. There, was a large metal padlock.
I tripped over a blanket, and as I lifted it, underneath were some wooden crates. It was what I needed, since my wings were bound.
I quickly stacked a few crates, and climbed up. Taking hold of the padlock, I slid the key in. As I turned, the shackle snapped, unlocking from the mechanism. I twisted it and pulled it from the metal clasp. Lifting the heavy, three-inch thick glass. I shifted it to the side, to create a big enough hole for them to fit through.
“Emma!” Lia bawled.
“I’ve got you,” I said, holding out my hand. I carefully pulled each of them out. The water was frigid, and their lips were blue. We had to get them back into the barrier and warmed up.
Kade and Dom finished off the rest of the Darkling in the room. The third Fallen was dead.
“What is this?” Kade asked, looking at the metal constraint.
“The Darkling put it on me. My wings can’t release with it on.”
“Turn around,” he said.
I turned my back to him, and with a flick of his sword the contraption released and fell to the ground. I took in a deep breath and called my wings. With great relief, they spread out to my sides, finally free.
I scanned the gruesome carnage across the floor, but there was still no sign of Lilith. I was relieved we’d saved Jeremy and Lia, but we weren’t out of the woods yet. Not with Lilith still out there.
This had to end. There had to be a way, and I was fearful I knew what it was.
It was inevitable.
Another war was coming.
We gathered every Darkling and Fallen body from outside and threw them in the house before we set it on fire. As we flew home, I smiled inside.
We’d saved Jeremy and Lia, and survived to see another day.
WHEN WE RETURNED, ALAINE EXITED the hallway. Stray hairs fell from her neat bun, and hung across her pale face. Her eyes were bloodshot and dark bags underlined them. Her apron was bloodstained, and in her hands was a bag of bloodied towels.
As soon as she saw us, her face lit up. “Oh my God. You got them.”
“Yes,” I said.
“Just in time, too,” Jeremy added. Lia was shivering, so he placed his hand behind her back. “Let’s get you upstairs so you can jump into a hot shower.”
She followed, not saying a word. I didn’t blame her.
“Let us know if you need anything, alright?” Alaine said.
“We will. Thank you,” Jeremy replied.
They didn’t belong in my world, and tonight proved it. Being my friend came with a deadly risk. Even if they hated me and left, they would still be in danger. We were all in this until it ended. I just prayed they’d last until then.
“I’m glad everyone made it out okay,” Alaine said. “I’m going to take a shower and get some rest as well. We can exchange updates tomorrow.”
“Alaine, would you like me to take those towels to Miss Lily?” Alex asked, stepping toward her.
“No,” she said, her voice weak. “I was just going to throw them away.”
“I’ll do it for you,” he said.
“Thank you.” She handed him the bag.
“How is Samuel?” I asked.
“He’s sleeping. He’ll be all right,” she exhaled as if all her pent up stress was finally released. “It will take some time for his wounds to heal, but he’s alive.” Her eyes teared. “He’ll need to be kept in the sleeper for a few days, but he’ll survive.”
“That’s good,” I said.
“And Mark?” Dom asked.
“He’s sleeping and should be completely healed by tomorrow.” She offered him a tired half smile.
“You’re a miracle worker, Alaine,” he replied, then bounded up the stairs. “I’m gonna hit the showers. This Darkling blood is making me nauseated.”
“Yeah,” Alaine crumpled up her nose. “It’s not a smell I’d like lingering.”
“Thomas and I will take the tower tonight,” Alex said.
“Thank you,” Alaine said. “Stay safe, and I’ll see you all in the morning.”
We all wished her goodnight as she disappeared back down the hallway.
“Just come and get me when my shift is ready,” Kade told Alex and Thomas.
“Dude, you need to take care of Emma. It looks like she needs some TLC, and after all, she’s been through, she’ll need you. I’ll cover your shift,” Alex said.
His words filled me with warmth and brought tears to my eyes.
“Wow. Thanks, man. I owe you one,” Kade said, patting him on the back.
“We both owe you one,” I added. “Thanks, Alex. I do need him right now.”
In one swift movement, Kade lifted me into his arms and bounded up the stairs. “I’ll catch you guys in the morning,” he called over his shoulder.
Shutting the bedroom door and locking it behind us, he carefully set me down and leaned into me. His hands pressed up against the door, capturing me on both sides, his lips gently brushed against mine.
“You first,” he said, stepping back and stripping his blood-splattered shirt off. He then grinned and threw it in the hamper.
“You are such a tease.” I breathed.
He twisted his head to me and winked.
He was a hot and perfect mess, even with Darkling blood splattered all over him. I couldn’t help but get weak in the knees every single time his hazel eyes connected to mine. They captivated me, piercing my soul, seeking out and targeting my deepest fears, offering me compassion and hope in return.
That was who he was. He was everything good in my life. He was the loom from which the complicated, yet delicate threads of my life were woven. The bond had offered me everything I could have ever wanted, and immeasurably more.
I walked past him, stripped off my clothes, and threw them into the hamper as I continued to the bathroom.
He chuckled. “Tease.”
I turned and winked.
In the shower, I let the hot water run over me, scrubbing the Darkling blood until every last molecule washed down the drain. I closed my eyes and let the water cascade down my head and shoulders, relaxing me.
I gasped, as a familiar rush of tingles surged through me, then strong arms wrapped around me.
“You shower hog.”
Kade was standing in front of me; his unclothed body making me weak.
“You smell,” I giggled.
/> “I thought you could help me out,” he said, raising his brow.
I took the soap and washcloth and lathered it up. “It would be my pleasure.”
I gently scrubbed his chest, arms, and torso. As I moved down, he grabbed my arms and pulled me up. Without saying a word, he pressed his lips to mine.
At that moment, I was under his spell, taken to a place only we existed through the bond.
My heart thundered in my chest as his hard, lathered body held me against the tiled wall and slipped against mine. Our lovemaking was profound, yet fierce and all-consuming, connecting not only our physical bodies but also our hearts and souls.
That night, we slept peacefully in each other’s arms, and when I woke, I felt stronger than ever.
I OPENED MY EYES AND smiled at the beam of sunlight streaming in from a crack in the curtain. We’d survived another day.
“Hey, beautiful.”
I turned over and found Kade lying on the bed next to me with his bare upper torso showing. One hand was tucked behind his head and the other resting on his chest. His smile was even brighter than the sun.
I snuggled up to him and rested my head against his chest.
His fingers gently feathered up and down my arm, sending a wave of tingles through me.
“What are we doing today?” he asked.
“Surviving,” I replied.
“How about we get some breakfast,” he said, stretching.
“That sounds good,” I said. “I hope Jeremy and Lia are okay. I’m afraid to talk to them, especially Lia. I could tell she was terrified. I don’t know if she’ll ever be able to forgive me.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” Kade tried to console me.
“If they weren’t connected to me, they’d be safe.”
“I’m connected to you, and I feel safe,” he said.
“That’s because you were born a warrior,” I replied, then sighed as I was taken back to the look on Lia’s face while she was stuck in the glass tank. “I’m pretty sure my friends will need some extensive therapy after this is all over.
“It’ll be okay. They’re your friends, so they have to have some strength inside of them. I believe people are put into your life for a reason. Maybe they’ll surprise you.”
