by K.N. Lee
You can’t stake an angel.
The girl paused. Her eyes rose to Raven’s. She stared at her through chunks of pink hair. Raven stepped back, her heart thumping with horror.
Who is this girl, she wondered with panic.
The girl smiled. Raven couldn’t help her curiosity. She leaned in for a closer look, prepared to take off running if necessary. She noticed for the first time that the girl had gray eyes. She finally released her grip on the stake and wiped Al’s dust from her palms.
“What are you looking at kitty?” Her voice was low, yet it felt as if it was tapping on Raven’s mind like a fork tapping on glass. It was unsettling. It was unnatural.
She came to her feet.
Raven began to run away and felt herself held frozen. Raven yelped. She couldn’t move. Something held her paralyzed. The girl laughed and Raven felt the fear wash over her like a cold bucket of water. She felt foolish, thinking she could be of help to Halston and his crew. She wasn’t a Netherworld agent. How could she forget that she was only a cat now?
She had failed, again.
The girl leapt off Al’s back and landed before Raven with such agility and speed that Raven flinched.
She stooped down and picked Raven off the ground. Raven began to raise a clawed paw when the girl gently smoothed her fur.
“Hey now kitty, that’s no way to greet a friend. Now is it?”
Raven perked up. She wasn’t sure if she should reveal that she could speak to this anomaly of a girl. She had after all, just killed Al, once commander of the Warrior class of angels. Al wasn’t a fallen angel, like Halston, but one sent to set things right. And this girl…had killed him.
The girl’s smile widened. “Ah, don’t be shy. I won’t reveal your secret. I know who you are, and I’ve been expecting you. Eunju right? What took you so long?”
Raven tensed at the sound of her real name. She hadn’t been called Eunju, since before the transformation. She looked into the girls eyes. Raven was perplexed.
Then it hit her. She tilted her head. “Al? You’re Al?” she asked in disbelief.
The girl nodded with a grin. “Sure. Al works.” She took her paw and gave it a shake. She laughed at how silly such an action looked. “I prefer friends to call me Alice.”
Raven gasped. “You? You’re a warrior?”
Alice nodded. “Why so surprised?” She carried Raven as she walked deeper into the darkness of the alley.
“You’re so…so young!”
Alice giggled. “Oh, we both know that looks can be deceiving.”
Raven was astounded. “How…how did you know I was looking for you? Halston didn’t tell me much about you. He just said that I’d be led to you…when the time came. But, how?”
Alice peered into Raven’s eyes. “What a good boy he is. I like it that no one really knows about me. I don’t usually leave witnesses, but you can be an exception.” She looked over her shoulder and paused. She listened and sighed, speeding up. “I’ll tell you, since we’re friends. We are…friends, right?”
“I am friends with anyone that can protect my daughter.”
“Splendid. Telekinesis is my secret weapon. Telekinesis sets me apart from the other warriors. This is why I was once commander. They used to call me Metal-Mind.” Alice grinned at the memory. “I do miss those days. There was never a dull moment. I’d scoop up two, three, vamps at a time.” She gave Raven a look. “I sure set fear into those pesky vamps didn’t I?”
Raven swallowed. She felt cold. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.
Alice glanced down at her. “I know when someone is looking for me. I didn’t become commander because of my looks.” She gave a smug grin. “Although, I’m sure my looks did help.”
Raven nodded. That explained how Alice made her freeze when she tried to run. Alice smiled. “Don’t overthink it. I haven’t been tampering with your thoughts or anything. It’s just that in times like these, a girl has to be on her guard. Recruiting can be dangerous business. Especially with creeps like that guy I just killed lingering on these streets.”
Raven looked up quickly. “He was a vampire, wasn’t he?”
Alice nodded. She didn’t speak. She looked around, scanning their narrow surroundings. She tilted her head, listening. Raven’s ears perked up. There was a faint rustling sound at the back of the alley. Raven felt her heart pound at the sound of a low, growl. It wasn’t a dog.
Raven knew every predator now. Whatever waited in those shadows, was no animal.
Before Raven could speak a word of warning, Alice bounded up the side of a stone wall, clutching Raven to her chest. Her feet seemed light and she ran along the wall of an office building like a spider, in and out of the darkness of the alley.
Raven was speechless. She tried to look back, to see if whatever had growled followed them. She coiled back, seeing eyes in the distance.
They were being chased. It was big, like a wolf, but Raven narrowed her eyes, it wasn’t a wolf. The creature had no fur, just muscles wrapped tightly around bone. Claws scratched the wall as it ran behind, barely keeping up.
Alice moved quickly, like lightning. The swoosh of wind made Raven squeeze her eyes shut. She forced them open. She wanted to see where they were going. She wanted to make sure it didn’t catch up with them. She could feel Alice breathing, it wasn’t labored. Alice wasn’t afraid.
“Hey, listen. I’m going to do something a little… crazy. You’re used to crazy right, with that daughter of yours. You game?”
Raven swallowed. “S-sure.” She craned her neck around. She saw the beast running through the fog, gaining on them. She remembered the night Halston had killed twelve creatures just like the one that chased them. She wished Halston was there.
Alice sucked her teeth. She frowned. “A damned reanimated man. I should have known that guy wasn’t a normal vampire. Those Netherworld vamps are tricky. I don’t think that big guy appreciates that stake I put in his heart.” She reached a hand out and grabbed a pole above her head and catapulted them high into the air. She yelled. “Hold on!”
Raven shrieked as Alice tilted her head up to the heavens and outstretched her arms. Raven clutched to her with all of her strength, her claws firmly embedded into Alice’s shirt. The beast lunged after them, and with a swirl of her arms, Alice turned herself in mid-air to face it.
Raven looked into Alice’s eyes and shuddered. They had turned completely white, as if clouds moved within them. Alice turned out her hands, palms facing the beast and a sudden pop of air exploded from the small girl’s body. It was like thunder, without sound, but Raven could feel her bones tremble and her teeth chatter.
There was a loud howl as the beast was torn limb from limb. Arms disconnected from shoulders, the fibers trailing along like streamers. Legs broke away from knees with a cringe worthy popping sound. He split into a million pieces that flew out in all directions. Blood sprayed into the air and Alice’s eyes returned to normal. Gray eyes glared at the carnage as she landed on her feet. Her boots made a splash in a puddle as they hit the ground.
Alice didn’t stop. She wrapped her arms around Raven again and ran into the shadows. She breathed heavily then, glancing down at Raven.
“You alright, kitty?”
Raven nodded, staring at Alice’s blood stained face. Pieces of bone and broken teeth were in her pink hair. Raven shivered…not from the cold but from excitement. She was exhilarated. She looked at Alice in wonder. This was the one, who could help them stop Greggan.
Chapter 25
Koa woke to find Evina staring down at her. She sat up in a panic. Her eyes darted around the room as she tried to catch her breath. The room was small, bare, and cold. A strange collection of candles hung from the ceiling. It was like a chandelier, but the candles were floating and encircling the apparatus that supported them.
“Where am I?” Koa’s throat was dry. She swallowed. She felt hot. Her body was covered in sweat. “What did you do to me?”
Evina sat back in the only chair in the room, rested her elbow on the desk, and put her feet up on the bed, beside Koa. “You’re at the docks. Why…don’t you remember?”
Koa glanced at Evina’s boots and back up to her face. The vampire’s secret smile convinced her that something had indeed happened. Still, Koa could only remember being ushered away from the citadel. Now, she felt oddly at ease around the vampire princess, and she knew that she shouldn’t.
Koa frowned. “What did you do to me?” Her body felt…strange. Her skin was cool and her blood seemed to rush. Her mind was a torrent of questions and memories that she couldn’t make any sense of.
Evina shrugged, feigning ignorance. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”
Wrong answer. Koa checked her sword and leapt off the bed. Evina was before her in a blink.
Koa glared at her. Her cheeks were hot with rage. “Move out of my way,” she said through clenched teeth.
Evina held her arms out. The black tattoo’s seemed to move along her skin, like snakes.
Koa stepped away from her. “What are you doing?”
Evina wrapped her arms around Koa. Before Koa could react, she was asleep once more.
Koa was in a black room. The floor was red and Evina was standing in the far corner. Evina’s eyes were closed. The air seemed to move around the vampire princess as she swirled her arms and sent waves of faint light towards Koa.
Koa ran at her and punched her in the face. Evina’s eyes opened in shock. “What are you doing?” She was frantic. She hadn’t expected that. “You’re not supposed to see me in here! You’re supposed to be asleep!”
Koa punched her again. She grabbed her by the hair and flung her across the room. Evina slammed into the black wall and vanished. Koa unclenched her fists. She was stunned. She was alone in the black room.
Her heart started to race.
What is going on! Koa was afraid. She had no idea where she was. She panicked. Her sword was gone.
This isn’t real, Koa assured herself as she started to shake. She looked for an exit. Her hands beat the black walls and they pushed her back into the center each time. This is not real!
Evina reappeared and covered Koa’s face with her hands. She tried to overpower her and push her to the ground, but Koa bit the flesh between her thumb and index finger and Evina pulled her hand back. Koa kicked her in the gut and Evina doubled over.
Evina flashed and appeared behind Koa. She gritted her teeth, pulled Koa’s hair, and forced her to the ground.
“Stop fighting me! I’m trying to help you!”
Koa reached up and grabbed Evina by the throat. She swung a foot above her and kicked Evina in the chin. Evina bled from the lip but held her grip. Her eyes were wild with panic.
“Koa, please, stop fighting me!” Evina smothered Koa’s face with her hands. “I’m trying to wake you up! You’re not supposed to be lucid in this dream!”
Koa continued to fight and gasped. Something jolted into her. Evina’s eyes were closed. Evina was screaming, but Koa could hear nothing but the sound of her own blood rushing to her ears.
Koa woke. She immediately drew her sword and placed the tip at Evina’s throat. Evina was in tears. The vampire princess was breathless as she stared down at Koa’s sword.
Koa was beyond enraged. She was past angry. Not because of what Evina had done to her, but because the Lyrinian sword refused to impale her.
Koa tried. She put force and strength behind it. The sword remained frozen. Koa growled and swirled away, sheathing the sword.
Evina was not evil. The sword would not kill an innocent being. Koa cursed under her breath. Her face was still hot from rage. She could still feel Evina’s blows to her.
Evina rubbed her face of blood. Koa frowned. She hadn’t noticed that before.
Evina pulled her hand back and looked at the blood. Her jaw dropped. There was a look of fear in her eyes when she gazed at Koa.
“I’m sorry, Koa,” Evina said, confusing Koa. “We all have our orders. Mine was to keep you safe, to keep you here, until Halston returns.” Evina put her arms behind her.
Koa was silent, yet her glare was unwavering. It spoke multitudes. She was confused by Evina’s sudden change in attitude. It was as if she dropped the whole, seductive, tough girl act. Maybe Koa was seeing her true self. Maybe this was the act.
Evina continued. “It just happens that I am a tempest. I cannot help what I was born to be.”
Koa narrowed her eyes. “Tempest?”
Evina nodded and her blue eyes met Koa’s. “I can get people to do what I want. I can make them dream what I want. Some call it persuasion down here in the Netherworld.” She shrugged. “It’s what I know. Never in a hundred years has anyone ever been lucid in one of my dreams. Never.”
Koa thought to herself. That dream had felt pretty real.
“Koa, listen,” Evina urged. “I never meant to hurt you. I swear it, on my brother’s life.”
Koa frowned. She didn’t give a damn about her brother’s life. She let out a long, slow, breath. She tried to force all of her rage out with it. It was difficult, but Koa managed to calm herself.
“When will Halston be back?” She couldn’t shake the bitterness she felt. She hated being manipulated.
Evina turned the chair around and sat in it backwards, straddling it. “In an hour or so. We have to get you inside the prison before the third click of the Disc Moon.” She wiped her face with a towel.
Koa cracked her knuckles and started pacing.
“Why don’t you have a seat, Koa?”
Koa continued pacing. “You, don’t speak to me unless you have something valuable or important to say.” She paused and gave Evina a look. “My Lyrinian sword may not work on you, but you better believe that my hands will go smoothly around your throat and squeeze the life out of you.”
Evina frowned.
Koa had no regrets from her words.
Evina pursed her lips. She shook her head and murmured. “You always were a little hothead.”
Koa spun around. Her eyes widened. “What did you say?
Evina played with her wavy, red, hair.
Koa stepped closer. “Tell me!” Koa felt her frustration start to overflow. She was tired of the secrets and lies.
Evina rolled her eyes. “I said that you were a hothead. What’s the big deal?”
“You said that I was always a hothead!” Koa felt like she’d just discovered gold. She almost grinned, but her face remained serious. She had to know. “Have we met?”
There was a long stretch of silence, but Koa would not back down.
Evina nodded.
Koa clapped her hands together. “I knew it!” She laughed. She wiped her face with her hands. She knew she had seen Evina before. There was a history between them. She couldn’t remember it, but she knew that something was there.
Evina shot to her feet. “Please, Koa. I cannot say more than that. Don’t ask me. Halston would be furious.”
Koa’s smile faded. She looked at the floor. Her boots were stacked against the wall. “Halston.” She nodded. “Yes, I bet there’s all kinds of things he’s been keeping from me.” She chewed her lip. She didn’t know how to feel. She wished that Raven was there.
Evina put a hand on Koa’s shoulder. Koa shrugged it off.
“Don’t touch me.”
Evina nodded. “All right. But trust me. He kept the worse from you. To protect you. Please tell me you can understand that.”
Koa made a face. “No. I don’t understand that.” She looked away and pictured his face. “We were best friends. We don’t keep secrets.” Koa swallowed. She felt ashamed. She’d kept secrets from him before. Somehow she felt that this was different.
Evina gave Koa a look of disappointment. “You have no idea what he’s done for you. What he’s sacrificed, for you! You ungrateful little girl!”
Koa leaned her back against the door. She felt deflated. Her mind was torn. “I’ll decide for mysel
f. Once I learn the truth.”
Evina gave her a bitter smile. “You’ll regret those words when you get your wish.”
Chapter 26
Halston followed Tristan to the Alchemist. He lived in a hole in the west borough. They walked straight down into a dark pit where tendrils of vines with minds of their own reached down to them. For somewhere so dark, it was quite green. Vines and flowers grew here, when they grew nowhere else in the entire kingdom.
Discs lit the way but just barely. These discs were the size of quarters and were spaced apart along the steep stairwell. They were all filled with oil and fire.
