Taking Angels (The Angel Crusades)

by CS Yelle

  The passenger side window shattered, shards of glass spraying me as I jumped away from an arm reaching in the open window.

  “You’re mine.” Bastion sneered, reaching for me and catching a piece of my shirt.

  I pushed my feet against the passenger side flexing my legs, holding my body against the driver’s side. The pulling on my shirt bent my body in half as my legs held firm, but my back and waist couldn’t resist his tugging. Reaching out, I slapped at his arm and hand, trying to break free of his iron grip.

  Bastion’s face leaned in the back seat of the Camaro, grimacing with effort, his eyes wild with fury and vengeance.

  I reached back as I clenched my hand and drove my fist into his face with all my strength, sending him rocking backwards as his hands came up to cup his crushed nose. Blood gushed from between his fingers.

  “Ah, you bitch,” he screamed furiously. He took a step towards the car, unwilling to admit defeat, then stopped as he realized his men were losing the larger battle raging around him.

  I glanced out the back window to see many men lying motionless on the ground while Angelina, Allister and Taylor still stood.

  Men raced back to the cars and Bastion retreated as well, holding a hand to his bleeding face. The Mercedes sped away with four men in them. Eleven lay helpless upon the ground.

  I unlocked the doors and slid out the driver’s door, running to leap into Allister’s arms. He held me tight, his face buried in the side of my neck, his vice-like arms pressing me close.

  “I thought I lost you,” he whispered.

  “Me too.” Tears made my voice hoarse.

  He leaned back to look at me, his nose scrunched up.

  “I know, I know.” I rolled my eyes.

  “Sorry, but you smell like rotten leaves and sweat.” He frowned.

  We stood for a moment longer, silence hanging heavily over the incapacitated Eternals in the meadow.

  Taylor hung his head, shaking it slowly. “What is it?”

  “A sad day when an Eternal must fight one of his own,” he sighed.

  I lowered my gaze, nodding.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Angelina spoke for the first time.

  I looked at them. It was unclear where their blood started and their adversaries’ began.

  Bastion’s blood covered my forearm and sleeve of my shirt. I guess everyone drew an Eternal’s blood today.

  We swept the glass off the back seat the best we could and headed to the closest town.

  Chapter 20 A small motel with plenty of vacancies in the next town filled our current needs. I went in to get some rooms; my appearance, even after two days in the wilderness, the least offensive.

  We each showered and changed into the clean clothes bought at a local store. We sat in the room eating pizza ordered in from the one pizzeria, and talked. I missed plenty while Kendal’s prisoner and Angelina filled me in while Allister and Taylor verified Bastion’s retreat.

  “Your friends are all fine, as are your parents,” she informed me.

  “My parents,” I cried. “I bet they’re going crazy with me disappearing like that.”

  “They went to Duluth after your friends told them what Kendal instructed. The police searched the mall and all the surrounding areas for you for days. They even sent divers down in the harbor looking for you.” Angelina’s somber mood reflected the severity of the situation.

  “They must be frantic,” I moaned.

  “There is speculation that you may have wandered off, given the changes in your health. Some are thinking you may be suffering from temporary amnesia.”

  “Amnesia? Really? And they bought that?”

  Angelina gave me a “get real” look and I nodded. Things around me were very strange; amnesia was a more feasible explanation of what occurred in the past few months than reality. I nodded acceptance.

  “How did you escape Kendal?” Angelina broke into my thoughts.

  “He let me go.”

  Angelina’s head snapped up from pulling a piece of pizza from its box. “What? That doesn’t sound like Kendal, especially with what Bastion had over him. Why would he let you go?”

  “I think he likes me,” I answered quietly, averting my eyes.

  “That’s sick,” she hissed. “He took your angel and left you for dead. Now he has feelings for you?”

  “Guess so, please, don’t tell Allister,” I urged.

  She looked at me for a moment, unblinking, then nodded.

  “Thank you,” I whispered as the door to the room opened admitting Allister and Taylor.

  “What’d you find?” Angelina asked.

  “They’re gone, for now,” Taylor said.

  “I’m sure not for good,” Allister added, glancing awkwardly at Taylor, avoiding my eyes.

  “What?” I asked.

  “They took Kendal,” he said.

  “So, they got a killer out of Grand Rapids. Good for them,” I said, maybe a little too enthusiastically.

  “But not necessarily good for Grand Rapids, or us,” Allister added.

  “What do you mean?” I failed to understand how Kendal not killing more people was a bad thing.

  “Bastion didn’t know where you lived. He used Kendal to get you and now he needs to extract the whereabouts of your home from him so he can come and get you himself,” Taylor explained.

  “What if Kendal won’t tell him?” I asked hopefully.

  “Why would he do that?” Allister asked.

  I looked to Angelina as she bit her lip and kept her mouth closed, the effort it took showed in her eyes. She flicked her eyes from me to Allister over and over again.

  Subtly I shook my head, not wanting to do as she asked.

  “Tell him,” she cried out at last.

  “No.” I shook my head.

  “I will if you don’t.” She folded her arms across her chest.

  “You promised. Only seconds ago, you promised,” I argued.

  “Tell me what?” Allister interrupted, brow furrowed.

  “Why Kendal won’t tell Bastion where Britt lives,” Angelina sighed.

  I glared hard at her, but she rolled her eyes, smiled, and turned back to Allister.

  “Fine, I’ll tell him,” I blurted. “Kendal thinks he has feelings for me. He let me go when he heard Bastion say the council would kill me once I helped the council prove you guilty.”

  Allister’s expression was dazed, then hardened. “Do you have feelings for him?” His voice wavered with controlled anger.

  “No, how could I, no, never!” I stammered.

  “Do you think he cares enough to keep your secret?” Taylor asked, matter of fact.

  Allister gave Taylor a dirty look and Taylor merely shrugged.

  “I don’t know,” I admitted.

  “That’s not our only problem,” Allister pointed out. “With Bastion still in the area, he’ll try to stop us from getting back into the US. He’ll follow us to Grand Rapids unless we destroy him first.”

  Bastion still posed a threat to my family and friends; the victory in the meadow, short lived.

  “What do we do?” I asked.

  “I will go to Greece and face the council.” Allister squared his shoulders.

  “What?” Taylor, Angelina and I exclaimed in unison.

  “This is my fault. I need to go to the council and face them, take what punishment I’m given.”

  “That could be death,” Taylor hissed.

  “If the council so decides.” Allister nodded.

  “No, you can’t. It’s my fault, I should be the one to go before the council.” I stood up.

  “Don’t be ridiculous. The council will kill you on sight. You’re considered an abomination.” Allister moved to pull me into his arms. “You didn’t choose to be touched. I had the choice and made it.” He kissed the top of my head. “I’ll never regret touching you that day. Creating you is the most wonderful thing I’ve done in all my 180 years.”

  A cell phone rang and Angelina a
nswered, walking out of the room to talk. Allister leaned down as I looked up, giving me a light kiss and then followed her.

  “What are his chances?” I asked Taylor.

  “Britt, I don’t know if it’s my place to say,” he frowned.

  “Please,” I pressed.

  “Creating you is the greatest offense an Eternal can commit. I don’t know if leniency will be shown.”

  I put a shaking hand to my mouth. How could this be happening?

  “If it’s any consolation, I think you are far from an abomination,” Taylor comforted.

  His words did little to assure me though. I’d stood on the brink of death only a short time ago and now had so much to live for. All of it hung in the balance now.

  Angelina came in followed by Allister, their faces grim.

  “What?” I asked.

  They looked at Taylor and then to me, their eyes filled with sadness.

  “They’re holding Mother and Father responsible for my indiscretions,” Allister began, the words coming out hard. “Unless I come before them in a week’s time my judgment will be their judgment.”

  “Father said an ally informed him Bastion already knows this and will try anything to assure Allister doesn’t make it to Greece in time,” Angelina added.

  Taylor drew in a hissing breath and I gasped. This was what Bastion wanted all along, to discredit and bring down Victor. Allister was his means of doing it, but now Victor would stand trial in Allister’s stead. Bastion only needed to keep Allister away from Greece.

  “We have to get to Greece,” I said, bringing all eyes to me.

  “No, Britt, Taylor and I need to get to Greece,” Allister said. “Angelina and you are going home.”

  “I’m going to Greece.” Angelina stole my response.

  “Sister, think about it. You need to stay safe to carry on the Parks name. You need to stay to protect Britt and the people we’ve endangered in Grand Rapids.”

  Angelina opened her mouth to retort, then snapped it shut with a click. She nodded.

  Allister reached out a hand to me and I looked at it curiously.

  “Come take a walk with me,” he said.

  I slid my hand in his and we went out the door into the parking lot. Together, we walked past the building and into the forest up along a rise above the motel a slight distance before he stopped.

  He turned to me, still holding my one hand and then taking my other in his. He looked into my eyes and held my gaze. I gazed up at him motionless, mesmerized.

  “I want you to promise me you won’t follow us to Greece.”

  I opened my mouth to speak, but he squeezed my hand and shook his head.

  “Please Britt, promise me you’ll stay in Grand Rapids and stay safe.”

  “I can’t make that promise; what if you need me?”

  “I have all the help I need and Angelina will come if we need more. Please, no matter what, you must promise to stay away.”

  “You’re asking too much. I’ll come if you need me.”

  “You don’t understand. Going to Greece is a death sentence for you. You must not risk it. I can’t go on thinking you may follow me to your death. I need you to promise me you will stay away, no matter what.”

  I stared into his eyes. The pain overwhelmed me, hurting me just to look at them. Pressing my eyes shut I leaned into his chest, willing this to all be a bad dream; for it to end, for it all to be over. I looked back up at him.

  “Alright, I promise,” I whispered. The words taking all the effort I could summon.

  He pressed his lips to mine, his desire surging into me as he swept me up in it. The feeling filled me so completely, I lost track of everything but his touch, his lips. His body against mine became everything.

  He pulled away abruptly without warning and my eyes opened wide in surprise. Allister sagged

  unconscious, blood dripping down from a wound on his forehead and supported by two men as Bastion stood by holding a bloodied club. His broken nose swollen and his eyes black and blue, he stared at me with an amused look on his face; the silver tooth glistening under his swiping tongue.

  “Well, well, isn’t this romantic,” he sneered.

  “Stop it! Allister,” I shouted lunging towards him.

  Bastion stepped between us, halting my advance. “Come with me and the circle will close, Britt. First Victor Parks will pay for Allister’s crimes in his absence, and then we will present Allister to pay for his own crimes. We will bring you along to finish the triad. The council enjoys neat endings and your destruction will end the existence of an abomination as well as close the chapter on the Parks’s history.”

  “You forgot about one thing,” a high melodic voice drifted from a nearby hill. “The Parks women are just as deadly as the men.”

  Angelina and Taylor rushed the group, setting everyone into motion. The men holding Allister shimmered out of sight. The four standing behind Bastion split and two each met Angelina and Taylor.

  “No,” I cried.

  Bastion charged me, striking down towards my head with his fist. I dove away from him, rolling, and coming to my feet.

  I didn’t know what to do except evade. I couldn’t fight, but used my quickness to stay a step ahead of him. He began another charge, then blinked out of sight without warning.

  I looked around to find myself alone. Allister, Angelina, and Taylor, were nowhere in sight. I spun in a full circle, looking for any signs of them. Confused, I moved up to higher ground, searching for a clue, finding none. After several attempts to discern their whereabouts, I gave up and returned to the motel room.

  I waited, and waited, and waited, looking out the window every few minutes at any sound, at any perceived noise; anything announcing their return or indicating their whereabouts.

  I jumped at the few cars driving into and through the parking lot as day gave way to the night. I shivered not at the cold, but the feeling of abandonment and isolation I felt at losing the only thing I finally accepted would be forever.

  On the evening of the next day, I decided to do something; anything was better than nothing. I found the keys to the Camaro along with some money on the dresser. I checked to see I wasn’t leaving anything behind and pulled the door closed behind me. I walked to the car looking expectantly in the direction of the nearby forest where they disappeared. I unlocked the car and slid behind the wheel. Allister had the window repaired the first day in town and looked out the clean window up the hill where he left me.

  Starting the car, I backed out of the parking spot and slid into first before pulling away, willing them to come running out of the woods, jumping in before I left. They never came. I continued slowly out of town, wondering if I did the right thing, not knowing what else to do.

  I bought a map at a store on the edge of town, plotted my path back to Duluth, and jumped on the highway taking me back to the states. The drive, as lonely as I’ve ever experienced, dragged on forever.

  Reaching the boarder, I pulled the passport out of my back pocket, looking down at it as the realization that even the Eternal who gave me this, was now gone, perhaps forever. An uneasy feeling came over me as I acknowledged the sense of loss even for Kendal’s bizarre form of companionship.

  No, I thought. No way. I pushed the thought of missing that Eternal from my mind. I pulled up to the checkpoint, rolled down my window, and gave the guard a smile.

  “Evening Miss,” he said with a nod. “Passport please.”

  “Evening.” I handed him my papers.

  “Why did you visit Canada?”

  “I was doing a little hiking,” I answered. Not a complete lie, I couldn’t help but grin.

  “Everything appears in order.” He handed the passport back. “Have a nice night.”

  “Thank you.” I rolled up my window and breathed a sigh of relief as I pulled out of the border station.

  A weight lifted from me as I relaxed, thankful to be in the US again. I set the cruise and settled in for the couple hour driv
e to Duluth. I planned to stop, gas up, and get something to eat there.

  The sun slipped behind the trees as I pulled up to a gas pump in Duluth. My teeth began to chatter as a cool breeze blew in off the lake. I stood by the pump, looking over the bay and wondering where my Eternal friends were. I pumped the gas and paid for it inside.

  I didn’t feel too hungry so I grabbed some pop and licorice for the last ninety miles home. Switching on the heat as the temperature dropped, I set the cruise and scanned for deer; a problem in this part of Minnesota.

  Anxious to get home, the trip seemed to take twice as long. I pulled up in front of our house, the outside garage lights on and a light shining through the living room window.

  I braced myself and set the story straight in my mind. It took only a moment; I’d been preparing since leaving the motel in Canada. Allister found me at the north shore and I couldn’t remember how I got there. He loaned me his car since he and Angelina needed to fly out east to meet their parents.

  I took a deep, settling breath, opened the car door, and strode up the walk. Opening the door hesitantly, I walked into my house.

  Chapter 21 “Britt?” Mom’s anxious voice drifted to the entry. “Yeah, it’s me,” I answered.

  I could hear hurried footsteps as Mom and Dad

  rushed into the entry, wrapping me in their arms and holding me tight. We hugged in silence, each grateful to be reunited. Dad stepped back, took a deep breath, and I braced myself.

  “Where have you been?” Anger and worry had aged him these past few days.

  “We’ve been worried sick,” Mom added, new lines creasing her forehead as well.

  “I don’t know what happened,” I stammered. “One minute I was in the mall with the amigos and then the next Allister found me in Grand Marais.” Saying it out loud, my story felt thin.

  “Grand Marais?” Mom exclaimed.

  We stared at each other for an uneasy moment.

  “They said this could’ve been a case of amnesia brought on by your sudden medical changes,” Dad offered, his tone hinting that he wasn’t so sure.