Taking Angels (The Angel Crusades)

by CS Yelle

  Pleased to see he seemed just as affected as I, I made my way to the dresser where I pulled out fleece pants and a sweatshirt to wear over my pajamas. “I’ll come with you.”

  “Hurry, I don’t know what he might try next, but we shouldn’t leave her alone.”

  “When can I learn to shimmer so you don’t have to be with me all the time?” I asked, taking his hand.

  “Later. It takes years to learn the discipline needed to shimmer without putting yourself inside a wall or a something.”

  He grinned and I tingled. We instantly stood in his sister’s room, the darkness felt oppressive with not a glimmer of light anywhere. I felt Allister stiffen as he wrapped a protective arm around my waist.

  “She always keeps a light on,” he whispered.

  We eased to one side and he clicked on the light.

  The room was disheveled; furniture overturned, bedding strewn about, pillows torn apart, the stuffing still floating in the air. Most alarming, the blood was everywhere.

  “Angelina!” Allister rushed over to the corner by the bed where Angelina lay staring blankly at the ceiling; her blood painting the wall beside her.

  My breath caught in my throat, squelching the scream waiting to escape as I stared at her.

  She blinked. I pushed Allister aside when he appeared only able to gape at his sister in shock. I knelt next to her, placing my ear to her mouth. My hair fluttered and I looked up with excitement.

  “She’s alive, get over here, she’s alive.” I motioned to Allister.

  He knelt beside me, placing his hand on her chest. Blood oozed out of five holes around his fingers and onto his hand. Her arm looked broken and her leg twisted the wrong way. Allister could heal her. He would heal her. He had to.

  Allister closed his eyes as he pressed his hand against the source of her most threatening injury. His eyelids squeezed tight in concentration and then opened wide. His face turned to a mask of horror as he stared at his sister and then up at me.

  “What, what is it?” I cried.

  “She’s too far gone, I can’t bring her back,” he whispered, his voice hoarse.

  “You brought me back, what’s the difference if you break the rules once or twice, save her,” I shouted.

  “No, it’s not that, I don’t have the power to bring her back. He might as well have ripped her heart out, he’s severed the arteries,” he cried, tears rolling down his cheeks.

  “No, she can’t go. I won’t let her go,” I shouted back.

  In a panic I pushed his hands aside, replacing them with my own. Instantly I felt her pain. Her broken bones, her internal bleeding, and the deep wounds in her chest; I felt them all. I sensed something rising within me, something surging to the surface like at the hospital. At first I wanted to slow it, to try and control it; afraid of it taking control and burning me to ash. Then, the choice was taken from me as something burst free from within and took over.

  I tilted my head back screaming, scorching my vocal chords with the intensity released through my throat. Anger erupted at the thought of losing her, of seeing Kendal get away. I let go; all my will power, all my thoughts of caution telling me I pushed the boundaries. I ignored them and let the energy do what it will. The pain manifested in a rush of white, hot, scalding light in my brain and then everything went black.

  Chapter 15 I opened my eyes, more like pried them open, since they refused to listen to my commands. I struggled, forcing them to finally respond.

  Allister sat next to me. I lay on a bed, the canopy partially hanging on the only post left intact of the four. Angelina’s bed. The thought of Angelina brought her fate rushing back to me. I sat up so quickly my head wailed in protest. I put a hand to my spinning head and felt the pucker of the scar from my brain surgery against my fingertips. Allister’s warning rang in my memory. I slid a hand to my side and sure enough, the appendix scar rubbed against my fingers. Then, I saw Angelina next to me her face at peace, content. It was all for nothing. I failed. Damn it, I failed. Tears filled my eyes as I looked upon Allister’s sister.

  Allister reached over, took me by the chin, and turned my head to face him. His tired smile confused me and I pulled free of his hand to look back at Angelina. I focused on her chest and saw the movement. I froze, not willing to accept until I saw another, and another.

  I spun back to Allister, my tears spilling down my cheeks.

  He smiled, his tears wetting his face.

  “You did it,” he whispered.

  “I did it,” I repeated, monotone.

  “You did it,” he said again, pulling me into his arms, burying his face in my hair.

  I sobbed into his shoulder, unable to control the emotions pouring out of me. I shook in his arms and he held me close, not moving, but holding me tight until the spell passed.

  When I moved a little he relaxed his hold, allowing me to lean back, his shirt wet with my tears.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me,” I sniffed.

  “It doesn’t matter,” he grinned. “You saved my sister when I couldn’t. I owe you my life. No matter what happens, you will always have my gratitude for what you did tonight.”

  He put his fingers on my chin and tenderly pulled my lips to his. I felt my heart race. Losing myself in his touch again, I didn’t have the strength to fight it, not even if I wished to, which I didn’t.

  “Humph.”

  Allister and I jerked apart as Angelina sat staring with disapproval.

  “Sister.” Allister leaned across me to embrace her.

  She hugged him back and then pushed him away, eyeing me curiously.

  “You saved me?” she asked.

  I nodded, unable to form words, still waiting for my heartbeat to slow.

  “Why didn’t you?” she turned to Allister looking stern.

  “I couldn’t. I tried, but I didn’t have the power to do so.”

  “And you did?” she looked back at me.

  “I don’t know how, but yes.” I shrugged, “I did.”

  “Thank you,” she said with a hint of a smile.

  “Sure, no problem.”

  “Does this mean I have to like her now?” she turned to Allister.

  “Yes, it does.” He nodded, unable to hold back his smirk.

  “Damn,” she sighed and looked at me, resigned.

  I healed Angelina completely, the only remaining sign of her attack the five minor scars where Kendal touched her. I pulled my sweatshirt down, exposing my own scars from his attack to her and she met my eyes, another thing binding us together.

  “He shimmered in out of nowhere,” Angelina explained. “I didn’t even sense him, and suddenly, he was in my room.”

  Nodding, I held my hand to my new scars. “I saw me through his eyes in my dream and woke just in time to slow him down. Allister arrived before he finished me off,” I told her.

  “Good thing, else I wouldn’t be here either,” she pointed out matter-of-factly.

  “I swear he’ll pay,” Allister said through clenched teeth.

  I saw the rage boiling within him. The image sent chills through me. I hoped his rage never sought me out.

  “I better get you back home,” he said, turning to me.

  Fear pulsed through me, the thought of Kendal hunting me turning my blood cold.

  Allister sensed my reticence. “Angelina and I will keep an eye on your house tonight,” he said, turning to Angelina.

  She nodded her agreement.

  “He won’t reach you again, I promise,” Allister assured me.

  “He could harm you too, or did you forget?” I reminded him.

  “I’m a more dangerous adversary than either of you,” he said.

  I looked at him doubtful, but when I turned to Angelina, she nodded her agreement. The image of his rage filled eyes flashed through my mind and I believed them.

  “Kendal would be lucky to leave with his life if he confronted Allister.” She smiled. “And he won’t catch me off guard again. The ne
xt time won’t be so easy.”

  “A fighter and a healer?” I asked. “How’d that happen?”

  “Just lucky I guess. I believe healing is a redeeming factor to any violence I need to exact. If I had a soul, I would say it is my redemption.” He shrugged, downplaying the importance of his declaration.

  I chuckled, shaking my head at his reasoning, realizing I used the same rationalization to excuse my connection to Kendal’s killing.

  I took his extended hand and still tingled after reaching my room. Angelina helped me neaten things up while Allister circled the house to assure Kendal didn’t lurk in the shadows. He shimmered back in a moment after we put everything in its place.

  “No sign of him,” he said. “Can I borrow your cell phone?”

  “Sure.” I took it off the desk and handed it to him.

  “I need to tell Mother and Father what’s happened,” he said, shimmering out of the room.

  “I’ll go see if I can pick up Kendal’s trail. Don’t worry, he’ll not get by us,” she declared. “See you tomorrow.” She vanished.

  Allister returned, handing my phone back as I looked at him, expectant.

  “They’re on the jet, nearly to Greece,” he said. “They’ll come straight back once they refuel.”

  “What’d they say about Kendal?”

  “They’ve been doing some checking and Kendal is very connected with the council in Greece. They’re suspicious this is a plot to eliminate our entire family.”

  “Why would anyone want to do that?” I asked.

  “Victor once led the council and holds sway over them even now. If we’re eliminated, other factions will have a greater chance of overthrowing the council, which Father supports.”

  “And then add me to the mix,” I sighed, feeling even more a burden.

  “You’re the best thing that’s happened to me in over a hundred and fifty years. I’ll never regret breaking the law to keep you in this world.” He leaned down and kissed me, shimmering the instant he pulled away.

  I sat down on my bed, my head still spinning from his kiss. I didn’t realize I still held my cell phone until it buzzed in my hand.

  I glanced at the screen. Trish. “Hey.”

  “Can’t sleep. You know that thing with Mr. Kinsley?” Trish asked.

  The image of Mr. Kinsley’s guardian angel being pulled from his body flashed across my mind. His dead eyes, hauntingly staring into nothingness still made me sick to my stomach.

  “Yeah, crazy huh?”

  “You know who did that?” Trish asked. “Yeah.”

  “Thought so. Kind of creepy,” she sighed. “Try being there.”

  “I can’t imagine, Britt.”

  “Really sucks.”

  “What’s up? You don’t sound too good.” Concern warmed her voice.

  “I think I’m really falling for Allister,” I confided, changing the subject to something more enjoyable.

  “Who wouldn’t?” she laughed. “He’s gorgeous.”

  “I suppose you’re right,” I giggled.

  “Does he feel the same about you?”

  “I think so.” I felt my insides warm at the thought.

  “Britt, if you’re going to live forever, why not be happy with someone like Allister?” Trish was surprisingly reasonable.

  “I know, but I’ll outlive everyone I care about,” I told her the source of my unhappiness. “You, Elise, Cassie, Mom and Dad.”

  “Except Allister,” she reminded. “Don’t over think this like you always do. Being normal, you might already be dead. Being an Eternal, you’ll outlive everyone, except other Eternals, one of which happens to be in love with you. Don’t make this a bad thing, cause it isn’t.”

  “Thanks Trish,” I smiled.

  “For what?”

  “For being the friend who can see the good in everything.”

  “That’s what I’m here for.” She laughed. “See you tomorrow. Night.”

  “Night.” I ended the call and set the phone on my dresser.

  I curled up in my blankets, feeling better about being an Eternal for the first time.

  Mom knocked on the door the next morning to wake me up. I scrambled to unlock the door, realizing I forgot to plug my alarm clock in after the attack last night.

  I rushed to get ready, pulling a shirt over my head as a car honked out front. I glanced out my window overlooking the street. Allister stood beside his Camaro, arms folded, waiting for me as Angelina leaned against the black car’s trunk, giving me a nod when I looked out.

  I warmed at the simple gesture from Angelina as I grabbed my backpack and headed downstairs. At least we might be able to be in the same car without me getting frostbite from her now.

  Mom stood in the entry.

  “Where are the girls?” she asked.

  “They knew Allister and his sister were picking

  me up,” I told her.

  “Don’t let having a boyfriend pull you away from

  your friends,” she cautioned.

  “Don’t worry, they like Allister too.” I grinned,

  giving her a kiss on the cheek as I walked past and

  headed out the door.

  Angelina hopped in back as I slid into the front

  and Allister got behind the wheel. The rumble of the

  engine still excited me as we pulled away from the curb. “Did you guys get any sleep?” I asked, first

  looking at Allister and then turning to look at Angelina. “Some,” she replied. “Kendal looks long gone.” “Good, I think. Shouldn’t we be searching for

  him? Doesn’t he have to pay for what he did to those

  innocent people, and what he tried to do to us last night?”

  I asked.

  Allister’s eyes narrowed. “I promise you, he will.” His words made me shudder. Their intensity left

  no doubt; Allister would see that Kendal paid for trying to

  kill Angelina and me.

  We pulled into the parking lot as the other

  students milled around the building entrance. It seemed to

  me, nearly everyone stopped and stared as Allister opened

  my door and helped first me and then Angelina out. I

  wondered when the novelty of us being together would

  wear off.

  “Don’t they have anything better to do than ogle

  us?” Angelina mumbled under her breath as we headed

  for class.

  “Let them look,” Allister grinned. “They’re

  jealous I have the two hottest girls in my car.”

  “The car doesn’t hurt either,” I smiled back. Only a few steps away from our parking spot, the

  Wrangler pulled up and the three amigos piled out. “Morning,” Elisa greeted us warmly.

  “Hey.” I nodded back.

  Angelina gave a slight smirk and walked ahead. “Does this mean Angelina is warming up to us?”

  Cassie asked, looking at me and then back to Angelina. “A bit, maybe, as long as you can keep a secret.”

  Angelina gave Cassie a cautionary look.

  “Sure, sure, no problem,” Cassie said raising her

  hands defensively in front of her.

  “How’s our girl?” Trish asked, swinging an arm

  around my shoulders.

  “Good. Thanks again for the talk last night,” I

  whispered.

  “No problem.” She winked at me.

  We split up once we got inside and headed to our

  respective classes.

  When I walked into my history class before lunch,

  I stopped, stunned as Allister sat in the seat next to mine.

  With a raised eyebrow I slid in next to him, staring at him

  until he turned to me.

  “I needed to get this class in before graduation,”

  he grinned. “Might as well take it with you.”

  I nodded as the teacher started the lecture. I stared

  most
of the hour at Allister, the teacher so enthralled in

  early American politics he never noticed.

  After the bell we walked together to lunch. The

  girls already sat with Angelina at a table saving our seats.

  We got our food and sat down with them.

  “Ladies,” Allister greeted.

  The girls laughed, saying hello and Cassie

  blushed.

  “I want you to know, I understand the relationship

  you have with Britt and I respect it, but what is said at

  this table must remain at this table, understood?” The girls nodded enthusiastic, thrilled by their

  inclusion at last.

  Allister turned to Angelina and me. “We speak of

  nothing specific in front of them, only vague generalities,

  agreed?”

  “Agreed,” I said.

  “Fine.” Angelina tipped her head.

  “I will patrol around Britt’s house tonight,”

  Allister said. “Trevor came home from Greece ahead of

  Mother and Father to stay with Angelina,” he added,

  seeing my concern at her being left alone.

  “That guy with the pony tail and all the muscles at

  your house?” I questioned.

  “He’s one of our private security team,” he

  explained.

  “Where were they last night?” I asked. “We believed Kendal was headed to Greece and

  thought the security would be better used with Mother

  and Father. We won’t underestimate him again.” “What happened last night?” Elisa asked and then

  put a hand to her mouth as our eyes swung to her. “Err,

  sorry.”

  “You can know Kendal tried to hurt Britt and

  Angelina last night. By being around us, you may

  endanger yourselves as well. You must decide if it’s

  worth the risk.” Allister looked to each of them. “If being with Britt is dangerous, I’m willing to

  risk it. I won’t abandon a friend when times get tough,”

  Trish said proudly.

  Cassie and Elisa nodded.

  “But I thought you couldn’t die?” Cassie spoke

  up, confused.

  “Only another Eternal can hurt us,” Angelina

  explained. “In order to kill us straight away, they need to

  tear out our hearts.”

  The girls gasped.