by Tamsin Baker
If she was a witch, where was she from? Was she like Simone? Was she important or just an innocent person in all of this? Did she have powers that threatened Demons, or were they making their own assumptions about her?
I wondered if Simone and Margaret knew her. If this was one of the missing Witches, where were the others? Would the Demons be coming back to clean up their mess or was this body left behind on purpose? Kadie had been here almost two weeks ago and this girl had not been present. When was she taken? And why hadn’t Tabitha known about all these disappearances?
Then it hit me, like an ice shovel in the face. The Law of Targets. As Guardians, we are only assigned to those who will make a huge difference in the world. Pure souls of great importance and intelligence. The Demons had used our own rules to get under our guard. It had to be. It was so clear now that I recognized it.
These Witches were so young, barely old enough to appear on the elders’ radar. And even if they were old enough, they obviously weren’t going to change the future of the planet. Not enough to warrant being on The List that us Fallen Angels were destined to protect. Which meant they escaped our notice. These disappearances didn’t register with us because why would they? We weren’t watching them. We didn’t even know about them in the first place.
Until Kadie.
I thought back to my first observations of her. That she was ordinary. Un-remarkable in the huge scheme of things. I’d questioned why I’d been sent to protect one like her in the first place. At the time, I thought it was some kind of mistake. I didn’t understand how someone who appeared so ordinary could make a difference in the grand scheme of things. It just showed how little I knew about the grand scheme of things.
I didn’t realize why she was important until after it had happened;.she had been destined to birth my son - a man it was prophesized could rid the Earth of the Demons seeking to destroy it. The very threat to their existence.
I looked at the girl lying on the table and regret pulled through my heart. I hated leaving her here. Once we knew more, and I knew this place was safe, I would bring Margaret and the others here to bury the Witches they knew that had gone missing. Assuming there were more than just this one on the grounds and we found the bodies. Assuming they still had bodies to bury.
I’m so sorry. I promise, with every fiber of my being, to make this right. Your death will not be in vain.
I stepped into the hallway once more and took a deep breath of clean air. I couldn’t breathe properly in a room with the dead. Death always made the air cloying and heavy, especially when that death was terribly brutal.
I continued to walk through the castle to see if there was something I could work with. I did not want to leave empty-handed.
The next room was empty, save for tubs of grease and lard. I assumed they were left over from a time when this castle was a functional home. It was difficult to picture since it reeked of nothing more than death currently. I clenched my jaw and continued onward.
The third room held only pools of dried blood and nothing more. No body, no skin, no innards. Nothing. Perhaps that was a good thing. I did not react well to the body from before. I was not sure how I would react if I saw another one.
How many women had they brought here? And had any except Kadie survived?
I clenched my free hand into a tight fist, my nails digging into my palm. I would not allow any more to suffer at the hands of Demons. If I had known, if I had been more aware of what was going on, perhaps this tragedy would not have happened. Perhaps the number of missing Witches would have decreased. Perhaps –
“Stop it.” I said aloud to myself.
I could not continue to head down a path of hopelessness. It would not do me any good.
I released my fists and my skin tingled with a hot anger I could barely control. I clenched my teeth, holding back a snarl. I’d seen a lot of death in my time. Senseless war and suffering. But I’d always been distanced from it. Never taking personally the ridiculousness of man.
But this was personal. And I knew it was going to get a hell of a lot more personal before this was over.
The final room at the end of the hall was the one Kadie had been held in. I hesitated. I did not want to go in here. I did not want to relive the moment when I saw Kadie, when I saw how much pain she was in, when I thought I might lose her completely. But I knew I had to. I had to press on or else there was no point to this. I could not let my fears from the past take over my present. I took a deep breath and released it before I put my fingers on the door handle. Heat seared up my spine in a warning.
Demons.
I froze. They were here. In this room before me, when they weren’t in the rest of the house. More than that, they did not seem to sense my presence. Unless this was some sort of elaborate trap and I was in the process of falling into it. Perhaps the other torture rooms were run by humans.
What a sickening thought.
There was something uniquely terrible about this end room that I remembered from last time. There had been the presence of Hell itself. A feeling of magic and evil, darkness and power and hopelessness.
This was where I would find the answers to my questions. This was also where I might end. If I faltered, if I made one misstep, I could die. And if I died...
I refused to entertain that thought.
I pushed open the door and held my sword in front of me as I stepped inside. There was no sound. There was no movement. Nothing.
Was I mistaken? Were the Demons gone? Was this room truly empty?
The blackness was unnatural, and as I looked around for even a glimmer of light, I found none.
I flung the door open wider and pushed it against the wall, using what little light the open door afforded to cast my eyes around the room.
I needed fire, and a torch. There had to be something in this castle I could work with.
When I turned to leave, the eerie blackness of the evil room, a flicker of light caught my eye. It glowed from inside the room and I grinned.
Good. They’re back.
They must be returning from wherever they had been now. It was the only explanation as to why I was able to feel them and why they had not attacked me when I stepped into the room.
A single Demon grew right in front of me from the tiniest flicker of flame, to a huge, glowing beast that lit up the room. My lips started to quirk up in anticipation. My grip on my sword tightened. Adrenaline shot through my body like a bullet. This was what I had been waiting for.
Once the Demon was as big as a full-grown man, I addressed it.
“I have a few questions for you,” I shouted at the monster, who seemed surprised to see me. I tilted my head to the side as I took in the quizzical brow. I did not think it was possible for a Demon to be surprised about anything.
He didn’t move, didn’t speak. Instead, he just stood still, glowing in the darkened room. Giving me the much needed light that I required. This was strange. I did not understand me. I felt unnerved, uncertain. He was not attacking me. Everything inside of me screamed to end him, and yet, I did not move. I waited.
My gaze skittered around the space, looking for clues or information I could take home with me. Looking for a reason why this Demon was doing nothing but lighting my way.
The room seemed to be in the same state as it had been when I’d taken Kadie, which was good news. Hopefully they hadn’t taken any more girls hostage.
I continued to keep my sword pointed at the Demon all the while trying to take advantage of its light. From where I stood, I saw a black bag opened up with needles and clear, plastic bags of fluid pouring out of it. I moved my head and saw tools and other instruments inside, caked with rusted blood.
The bags themselves were dark. I stilled. Was that blood? Was it Kadie’s blood? Blood they’d taken out of her? Poison they’d put into her? I didn’t know.
I tilted my sword so it pointed at the Demon’s chest and surged forward, the heaviness of the air making me want to choke on my own tong
ue.
The Demon began to glow a fiery red, and as I lifted my blade higher to slice at his head, he disappeared into thin air.
Like he’d never been here in the first place.
The room went pitch-black once more, enveloping me in heavy darkness. I stopped in mid-thrust, my inertia nearly causing me to topple forward.
I spun around, sweat coating my skin as I waited for the attack.
Nothing came and I was left waiting, my arms aching with readiness and my heart thundering in my chest.
What was going on here? It didn’t make any sense.
I turned again, lunging in the darkness, hoping to catch some part of its flesh.
Nothing.
I let out a breath and tried to calm myself down. I let my eyes look over the room, even in the darkness.
This was where I’d almost died.
I stalked back towards the door, then thought better of leaving with nothing. I grabbed one of the dark bags of fluid from the medical table and a used syringe. I did not know if this would tell me anything. I did not know if these were just leftovers from another Witch or if this was used on Kadie specifically.
But it was something.
Better for Margaret or Tabitha to look at these and tell me what was going on here if they were able to.
I scanned the room with eyes that struggled to see anything in the gloominess one last time, then marched back to the open door. Disappointed I hadn’t found more, nor the fight I’d been craving, I stalked outside.
Walking back through the empty, eerily quiet castle reminded me of a battlefield the day after the soldiers had left. When the dead lay quiet and the living had taken themselves home. It caused a shiver to creep down my spine, like a leaky faucet that dripped out water slowly yet deliberately. I felt like I was missing something. I felt like I was leaving something behind but I could not put a finger on what that was. It irked my very core but there was nothing I could do about it.
I moved along the terrace where I’d taken Kadie when we’d been running away from the Demons. It seemed so long ago, and yet it was only two days day since I’d picked her up in my arms, my wings barely able to carry us home.
I glanced down at my wings, battered and burned, but healed thanks to Tabitha’s ministrations. They’d still carry me, but they’d never look the same. Not that I particularly cared. If anything, it reminded me not to take things for granted. That even angels had the capacity to fall.
With the blood bag and the syringe in my hand I took flight, flying higher while the sun danced on my skin.
I had to return to Tabitha’s and hopefully when I got there, Kadie would be awake, and able to tell us what happened to her.
Chapter 8.
When I walked into Tabitha’s place, it was too quiet for a house with four women. I started running until I found one of them. Margaret. In the kitchen, sitting by herself. She looked dazed. I did not think it was a happy look. However, it was not one of defeat, either.
“What’s happening around here?” I asked, worry squeezing at my chest like a vise. I glanced around, hoping for any clue as to where the others were. I found nothing.
“Nice to see you too, Angel,” she replied dryly, sitting up straighter, but otherwise not changing her tone or facial expression.
She was exhausted, that was obvious by her slouching shoulders, her limp legs. I could not remember if the bags around her eyes were new or not.
“Where is everyone?” I asked.
“Simone’s with Kadie, and Tabitha had to go off to some meeting, or something,” she said, waving her hand dismissively before using it to cover her mouth while she yawned.
Well that didn’t seem too alarming, and at least she wasn’t reporting something drastically bad had happened since I’d left. I tried to relax but couldn’t. Not completely.
“Thank you, Margaret.” I nodded my head once at her.
I strode into the room where Kadie was, and was confronted by the sight of her still-unconscious form. My sleeping beauty. I nearly dropped the bag and syringe where I stood. I had been hoping... But alas, that was not the case. She was not better. Then again, she did not appear worse.
Simone stood over Kadie’s still form, wash cloth in hand. It almost appeared as though she was wiping something off Kadie, perhaps a cool compress against hot skin.
“Is she doing any better?” I asked into the quiet room.
Simone jumped up from her position over Kadie, nearly dropping the wash cloth, and placed her hand over her heart. “You scared me.”
“I’m sorry.” I stepped further into the room. Unlike the castle, it was easier to see through this darkness. Shadows criss-crossed against the natural light that was seeping in through cracks against the window. Instead of the room being pitch-black and feeling like all hope was lost, this room was grey. That didn’t necessarily mean survival, but there was hope here. Love. Warmth.
I took in Simone, the bags under her eyes, the pale color of her skin. She was exhausted, but there was a determined glint in her eye that spoke about resilience, about never giving up. I knew she wanted to end the threat of Demons, not just for herself but for all Witches. I was glad she was here. I was glad I trusted her enough to take care of Kadie. I didn’t think anyone else could do a good job the way Simone was already doing.
My eyes dropped to the cloth in her hand. I frowned when I saw it was muddied with green and black smudges.
“I’ve just been cleaning her,” Simone explained through a yawn. “Her body is doing so much better since the cleansing.”
“Good,” I said, and meant it.
Simone went back to rubbing the poultice grime off Kadie’s skin and I walked around to her other side, trying not to get in the way. For a moment, I watched Simone. The young Witch was gentle as she rubbed the cloth on Kadie’s skin. Kadie’s face seemed much more relaxed now, even in her unconscious state. It was not as pinched as it had been before. I wondered if Kadie somehow knew what was going on. I was sure she would be glad to get rid of the grime occupying her body.
Gratitude for Simone caused my heart to swell in that moment, but I pressed my lips together. I didn’t like feeling beholden to someone, even if they deserved it. Simone would have my undying thanks for the rest of my long life. I would never be able to repay her, but I made a silent vow to myself to do everything I could to at least try.
I turned back to Kadie and pushed stray strands of errant red hair from her skin and curled them behind her ears. I took a breath and bent down, pressing a kiss to her forehead. The scent of her wasn’t right yet. It definitely wasn’t Kadie’s.
I snapped up and turned to Simone, suddenly on my guard.
“Why does she smell so different?” I asked the young Witch who seemed to have vastly stronger powers than her much older aunt.
Simone sighed heavily and shifted. My heart dropped. Something had happened. That was why Simone was hesitating to respond. It was why she could not even look at me.
“Simone,” I pushed.
“Her soul is not as it was,” she finally said.
I narrowed my eyes at the young girl. What a thing to say!
“Did you know her before?” I asked through gritted teeth. How could a soul change? It was the essence of a person. Unless that person changed, how could a soul?
Simone shook her head. “No. I’ve never met another Witch before, other than my aunt, Margaret. She’s kept me pretty much in the dark and away from her coven. I hadn’t realized why until recently.”
“So how do you know?” I asked again. I gripped the sheets by Kadie, trying not to let my frustration show. I didn’t want to hear that Kadie’s soul was different now. I couldn’t stand that. Our son needed to know the true beauty of his mother.
Simone didn’t answer, she simply pulled the blanket down and continued to wash Kadie’s body, which was looking so much healthier and stronger now. I thought that was a good thing, a sign of her waking up soon. And yet, Simone seemed to hint that even if
she did wake up, she might not be the same woman I fell in love with.
The sores were healed, her skin was a normal color. She even had a soft glow in her cheeks. And yet, she was different. She smelled different.
“Then how do you know something is wrong with her soul?” I repeated.
Pain was burning in my gut from my attempt to stay calm. I didn’t want to know that Kadie had changed. That she may wake up different. That her soul had been changed in some way. Or worse, that she had become soul-less.
Had the Demons really changed her that much? And was it all my fault?
Simone shrugged. There was regret in her eyes. I could tell she didn’t like being the one to tell me this news. I did appreciate her candor even though it hurt me, even though I didn’t want to hear it. “I shouldn’t have said anything,” she muttered more to herself than to me.
“No, you shouldn’t have,” came the admonishment from the door.
I ignored Margaret, my eyes burning into Simone’s profile.
“Yes, Simone, you should say something if you two know anything that I don’t,” I insisted. I released the sheets and stood up. I longed to hit my full height, to intimidate both of them into revealing any more secrets they might be purposefully keeping from me, but I reigned that instinct in. Intimidation would not help things here. “And speaking of which, these are for you to analyze.”
I pulled the dark fluid bag and the syringe from my shirt and placed them on the empty table next to Kadie. I had nearly forgotten about them after seeing Kadie, smelling her. After Simone revealed yet another secret I was not aware of.
“What do you have there?” Margaret asked, walking forward to examine them.
“I took them from the room inside the castle where they held Kadie,” I explained. I shifted my weight, crossing my arms over my chest.
Margaret picked up the bag of blood from the foot of the bed and weighed it in her hands. Simone paused what she was doing to look it over as well.
