Aura

by Rebecca Lynn Talley

  "I suppose you're here for the same reason?" Vincent said, nodding toward Luke. "To kill me?"

  "No. I'm here to save Crystal. And you."

  Vincent laughed. "Me? I don't need saving. And unless you brought some army—"

  "I have one. Outside."

  Vincent's voice was laced with sarcasm as he said, "Let me guess. The Covenant."

  "That's right. We've disabled all of your forces. The building is surrounded. There's no escape for you."

  "You have no idea who you are dealing with."

  "But I do." Alec's jaw worked back and forth. "Let Crystal go."

  "Why would I do that? She's agreed to come with me. Of her own free will. Soon her power will be mine." His grip tightened around my arm.

  "I said, let her go." Alec took a step toward Vincent.

  "Such bravado. In any other situation I'd find it entertaining, but I'm a bit pressed for time." He started toward the door.

  Alec rushed over and blocked it. He stared at Vincent, unflinching. Even in the dim light, I could see the intensity in his face.

  "I'm Joshua."

  Vincent took a few steps back, pulling me with him. "Joshua?" His voice sounded weak.

  Alec kept his stance firm.

  "My son?"

  Son? My mind exploded as I gaped between the two of them. Vincent is Alec's father? The one that had left him when he was a baby? Suddenly, so many things became clear. Alec had known all along that we were searching for his father. He wanted me to free his father from the demon.

  That's why he was so interested in me.

  Alec said nothing.

  "Son, I've been searching for you. I want you by my side. We can rule together."

  Alec kept his gaze on Vincent. I kept mine on Alec. No wonder he hadn't told me everything. Or anything.

  Vincent regained his composure. "I know your mother filled your head with stories about me, but—"

  "Let her go." Alec tilted his head toward me.

  Vincent released his grip. I shrank away from him and tried to evaluate the situation. I rubbed my forehead, trying to figure out what to do. Alec was the perfect diversion. Of course, I expected the diversion to be different, but I had to use the situation the best I could. I wanted to run to my parents, but we'd never be safe unless I did something with Vincent. I began to focus on the Light deep inside of me, recalling what Melinda had taught me.

  "Join me," Vincent said to Alec.

  Alec shook his head. "I want to save you. I want us to be a family."

  Vincent studied Alec. "A family? Your mother destroyed that dream long ago when she ran off with you in the middle of the night. Forget about that illusion. I can offer you—"

  "I don't want what you can offer me. I want my father."

  "I am your father. Only better."

  "No. You are a demon holding my father captive. I want him back."

  "He isn't captive at all. We are one now, and I can give you the world. Power, money, women. Whatever you desire. Join me, and together we can—"

  "No." He pointed at Vincent. "You aren't listening. I want my real father back."

  Vincent stepped closer to Alec. "Joshua, you are my son. I've been searching for you ever since your mother took you from me. I want you by my side."

  "I want you to release my father. I know he's in there somewhere. I want—"

  "Enough!" Vincent cleared his throat. "I am your father, and I'm offering you the opportunity of a lifetime. Join me." He reached a hand out for Alec.

  But Alec shook his head. "Not with that demon inside you."

  Their arguing voices floated away while the Light filled my mind, pushing everything else out. My body tingled as I focused on the Light, recalling all the times I had chosen Light over Dark. The Light swelled inside me. I turned to Vincent and held my hand out, palm facing him.

  "You will stop." I expected to freeze him, but my words seemed to have no effect at all.

  "Do you know who I am?" He extended his hand toward Alec. A shot of blackness pinned him to the wall. "I will kill him."

  "Your own son?"

  "If I must."

  "Let him go."

  Vincent relaxed his arm and Alec fell to the ground in a heap. "I am far more powerful than you. Despite what you may have been told, Darkness is much greater than Light." He extended his hand. A black wall of steaming, swirling mist surrounded me, so thick I couldn't move.

  With his other hand he sent a jagged bolt of blackness at Alec, who clutched his chest.

  "You have no idea what I'm capable of." Vincent moved his hand around collecting more swirling blackness into a ball. He was going to kill Alec. I knew it. I couldn't let that happen.

  Forcing down my fear, I summoned all my courage and strength. I called on all the strong emotions that churned inside me. I focused all of my will on grasping the Light within me. A flicker of electricity began growing inside. Bit by bit, it increased, spreading through my arms and legs, strengthening them until I broke the hold of the black wall Vincent had created around me.

  "You will not have my power!" I shouted.

  "Then I will destroy you." Vincent hurled the ball of blackness at me, but I ducked out of the way and rolled along the floor behind some seats.

  He threw a spear of black mist at me. It exploded several rows in front of me, sounding like a clap of thunder as it hit the theater seats, and spewing pieces of metal and fabric in every direction.

  I jumped up to run for cover across the aisle, Vincent hurling more blackness after me. I raised my hands to protect myself from a spear. When the spear made contact with my hands, it splintered and then dissolved

  Vincent's face contorted in fury.

  I gazed at my glowing hands. Ribbons of Light extended out from my fingers. I pointed my hands toward Vincent just as he extended streams of Darkness from his. I could feel the cold Darkness push against me. Fear filtered into my mind and weakened my Light but I pushed it away, intensifying my Light. I used all of my strength to focus on growing my Light into a raging fire, the intense heat filling me up. My feet left the floor, and I began to float as my arms and legs glowed and I became Light. It emanated from my eyes. As soon as the rays hit Vincent, he froze.

  His eyes blazed and turned red. "You will not stop me. I will rip you to shreds."

  Ignoring his words, I continued to focus on my Light. "Release the host."

  "No," he said in a deep, throaty, inhuman voice—the demon's voice.

  With a shrill sound that didn't resemble my own voice, words I'd never uttered came out of my mouth. "Demon, I command you, with the power of the Light, to release the host."

  Vincent's head shook, his eyes rolled back, and his body went rigid. He convulsed and screamed as a sinister shadow separated itself from his body. A black, ragged-edged silhouette with red, gleaming eyes stared at me. In its hands, it held what looked like a withered, shrunken, greenish silhouette of Vincent with a sad expression. With all my energy, I shot a javelin of Light at the shadow, but it disappeared.

  I collapsed to the ground, no longer glowing. The heat and energy surge left me so weak I couldn't move. Using all of my effort, I lifted my head enough to watch Alec rush over to Vincent's body.

  Alec cradled Vincent's head in his hands. "Father? I'm here. Talk to me."

  In a raspy, barely audible voice, Vincent said, "I'm sorry."

  "Stay with me. We can save you. Don't—"

  "Please . . . forgive me . . ."

  "Don't die. I found her so she could cast out the demon and save you. Please, don't die."

  "It's too late. The demon has my soul. You . . . must . . . let me go, Joshua."

  "I can—"

  "No, you can't." Vincent laid his hand on Alec's. "Let me go."

  Alec bowed his head. Vincent gurgled one last breath then went limp.

  Drained and weak, I crawled over to Alec. Vincent's lifeless body lay on the ground, his eyes fixed. "He's gone, Alec," I said. "I saw the demon take his soul."
r />   Alec gazed at me, a tear rolling down his face. "I wanted to save him. I wanted you to cast the demon out and . . ."

  "I'm sorry." I wanted to be mad at him for using me, but watching him try to save his dad had melted my anger, and all I felt was sympathy. He'd wanted the same thing I did—to save his father.

  "I wanted us to be a family." He stroked his dad's hair. "That's all I've ever wanted."

  His words triggered a thought. Melinda. How was I going to tell him she was dead? That Vincent had killed her?

  "My mom didn't think he'd ever willingly give up the demon, but I figured that if I found someone who could cast it out, I'd finally have my father back. Maybe a chance at a normal, regular family." He shook his head.

  Several people came running into the theater. Sam was with them, so I assumed they were part of The Covenant.

  "We think we've neutralized all of the demons that didn't run off," Sam said.

  "Good." Alec stood. "We need to find my mom. I'm sure he was holding her here somewhere."

  Not wanting to tell him, but knowing someone had to, I whispered, "I know what happened to her."

  Alec leaned over and helped me stand. My wobbly legs didn't like the idea. "Where is she?"

  I swallowed hard. "She's . . ."

  "What?"

  I kept my gaze on the floor.

  "Crystal?"

  I closed my eyes and summoned more courage than it had taken to face Vincent. Then I looked directly at Alec. "She's . . . dead."

  "What?"

  "Vincent. He said something to her and then snapped her neck." My lips trembled.

  "He killed her? He killed my mother?"

  I nodded.

  "Where is she?"

  "Some guy came and dragged her off the stage. I don't know where she is. I'm so sorry." I reached my hand out to him, but he stepped away and faced the members of the Covenant.

  "Spread out and find my mother. Now."

  The group dispersed quickly, including Alec. I limped back to the stage to find my parents, grateful they were both alive, but with a heavy weight settling in my stomach because of Melinda.

  "Dad, Mom, are you okay?" I reached down to untie my dad from the chair. My fingers barely worked.

  I looked over at my mom.

  "Yeah," she said, a bewildered expression on her face.

  My dad shrugged to loosen the ropes from his hands and stood, staring at me as if seeing me for the first time.

  "Light came from your fingers and your eyes," Mom said. "You . . . Vincent."

  My dad grabbed me into a solid bear hug. "I was so worried."

  I melted into his arms, relieved that the whole thing was over.

  He pulled back and said, "I'll untie your mom. You sit down for a minute."

  I wanted to argue, but I was too exhausted.

  Once Mom was free, I found enough energy to stand. Muffled voices sounded behind the stage, so we followed them to the backstage area. Melinda's body lay on the floor with Alec leaning over it.

  "Poor Sarah," Mom said, shaking her head.

  Dad looked at me and squeezed my hand.

  Alec put his hands on her chest and bent his head low. I couldn't hear what he said. After several minutes, he removed his hands and sat back on his feet, now holding his head in his hands.

  Maybe he can bring her back to life like he did that chipmunk.

  I walked over and knelt beside him, still feeling weak. He glanced at me then placed his hands on her chest again. He closed his eyes and drew his eyebrows together as if concentrating.

  I realized he was trying to revive her, so I placed my hands over his for emotional support.

  Nothing happened.

  He glanced at me again, his eyes filled with tears.

  Maybe I can use my Light to help.

  I inhaled so deeply it made me a little dizzy. I concentrated on my Light, on sending it to my hands. A flicker of Light ignited in my mind, but then dissolved. Disappointed, I removed my hands and stared at Melinda's pale, still face. She didn't deserve to die—not at the hands of Vincent. I'd hoped my Light would help her, but it didn't. And Alec's power to heal wasn't working.

  It must not work on humans.

  Alec caressed her face. "Mom, I'm so sorry." He bent his head down and a tear fell from his eyes and landed on her cheek. He then placed his hands on her chest again.

  Emotions churned inside me—building and growing with the force of a hurricane. Melinda didn't deserve to die. She was a good person, who fought evil every day to make the world a better, safer place for the rest of us. She'd sacrificed so much. She didn't deserve this. I closed my eyes and concentrated on those raw emotions, feeling the anger, resentment, sorrow, anguish. With everything that I had, I searched for my Light then focused on it. My body began to fill with peaceful, serene warmth. I placed my hands over Alec's once again

  and the same warmth traveled from my center out through my arms and into my fingers. A glowing light left my fingers and disappeared into her chest. I held my breath.

  Watching.

  Hoping.

  Believing.

  Melinda's eyelids fluttered.

  "Mom, come back to us," Alec said.

  We both kept our hands on her. Alec's hands glowed while Light traveled from me into Melinda, like a blood transfusion.

  Slowly, Melinda opened her eyes. In a quiet voice she said, "Joshua?"

  "I'm here."

  I removed my hands as happy tears spilled down my cheeks.

  Alec straightened up and gazed at me. "Thank you."

  I smiled with my quivering lips, gratitude for Melinda's life enveloping me.

  A few men helped Melinda to her feet. She looked at me with a question in her eyes.

  I nodded. "I cast the demon out."

  "Out of Vincent?"

  "Yes, but he didn't make it. I'm sorry," I said.

  "He made his choice long ago," she said. She reached for Alec. "I'm sorry, Joshua. I know you wanted it to be different."

  Alec took her hand but didn't say anything.

  My mom hugged me to her, and my dad wrapped his arms around both of us. We stood there for several minutes, locked in the most glorious bear hug.

  Dad pulled back and said, "Please, forgive us for not telling you about all of this." His eyes clouded with emotion.

  "I wouldn't have believed you."

  Mom stroked my head, her eyes puffy. "We wanted to protect you, but instead we put you right in the middle of everything we were so desperate to avoid."

  "You did protect me." I placed my hand on hers. "You taught me to embrace the Light."

  We exited the school building as the early morning sun peeked over the horizon. Though I was still weak, I managed to help my mom to one of the cars outside. She got in and so did my dad.

  Alec walked over to me. "Everything okay?" he said, his eyes clear but sad.

  I nodded. "What about all of these bodies? Who takes care of them?"

  "Not something you need to worry about."

  I let the worry go. I'd dealt with enough for now. "How's your mom?"

  "Pretty fragile, but I think she'll be okay." He placed his hand on my arm and peered at me, making my stomach do the familiar flip-flops. "Thank you."

  I caught a glimpse of Luke as he approached us, rubbing the back of his head. "Who knocked me out?"

  "I did." Alec met Luke's hard gaze.

  "I wanted to kill that—"

  "I know, but I wanted to try to save him."

  "I've been waiting for years to face him and watch him die." He stepped close to Alec. "You denied me that chance."

  "You could've only killed the host. It's the demon—"

  "Vincent went along with the demon. Killing him would've given me the satisfaction of knowing that a miserable human died."

  "He's dead now." Alec's voice cracked, and it tugged at my heart. Vincent may have given himself over to the demon, and he may have done a lot of terrible things, but he was still Alec's dad. I w
ished I'd been able to give him the happy ending he'd wanted.

  "And?" Luke stared at Alec.

  "You were right. He was beyond saving. The demon owned his soul." Alec kicked at the ground, and a puff of dust rose.

  "What happened?" Luke looked at me.

  "I cast the demon out." The image of the black mist with red eyes flashed through my mind, making me shudder.

  "Did you kill it?" Luke narrowed his eyes.

  I cleared my throat. "No."

  "So it'll be back. With a vengeance," Luke said.

  I turned to Alec. "What does that mean?"

  Before Alec could answer, Luke did. "It will come looking for you."

  "I thought the demons only had the host's memories. Do they have their own?" A sudden shot of fear ran up my back. If that demon pursued me, I'd never be free until I either died or learned how to kill demons.

  Alec looked at me. "We don't know."

  That didn't make me feel any better.

  Luke shook his head. "So Melinda was wrong about you after all. You can't destroy demons."

  "Luke, stop it."

  "What good is she to us? So she can cast out demons—how is that any better than killing the hosts and forcing the demons to leave? The demons are still out there, waiting for new hosts."

  "Because she can save the hosts."

  "Apparently not." He shot Alec a look.

  "My father was inhabited for years. He must've given his whole soul to the demon a long time ago, and that's why we couldn't save him. But we might be able to save others."

  "I wanted to kill Vincent, and now he's dead. My work is done."

  "But the demons are still out there—"

  "I don't care. I'm finished—with all of this." Luke turned and walked away.

  Alec looked at me. "He'll be back. He's just mad."

  I didn't blame Luke for how he felt, but I also doubted he'd be able to walk away forever.

  "Let's get out of here and go to your house," Alec said.

  My parents and I drove in silence with Alec and Melinda to our house. We parked the car and went inside, collapsing on the couches in the living room. Within a few minutes, others arrived, including Sam.

  I got up and walked over to him. "Sorry I didn't listen."

  "I'm glad you're safe. That's what matters." He smiled, and I realized he meant it. He was in this fight to keep others safe. I returned to the couch.