Abraham began reaching, I began kicking, and Asher was still pulling. When I thought I was far enough away and about to get to my feet, a felt something grab hold of my left ankle. I glanced down and saw Abraham’s hand wrapped fiercely around my ankle like a shackle. He growled as I tried to kick out. I finally succeeded, my foot colliding with his chin and he let go screaming. I jumped to my feet and ran after Asher as if the devil were behind me, or the Grim Reaper.
Chapter Twenty-One
Eden
I had never run so fast in my life. But my life had never been threatened before. I wasn’t certain Abraham would actually kill me. But come on, he was The Grim Reaper! He could kill anyone with only a mere touch. And why not kill the person who betrayed your trust?
“Eden? Are you okay?” Asher called out, looking over his shoulder.
“Yes. I’m fine. But I’m about to cough my lungs out. Can we stop?”
“We can’t stop until we’re safe, until we’re out of here. Do you remember how to get out of the realm?”
“Um…” Did I? The answer was simple: I didn’t know. But I couldn’t tell him that.
“Do you still have my soul?” he asked. And I had to stop and check, my heart pounding hard against my chest.
I put my hand against the collarbone and felt the familiar bulge of the crystal sphere under my shirt.
“Yes. I still have it.”
“I hope you remember the incantation.”
“Of course. It’s imprinted on my brain.”
“Good. We have to keep going. Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine. Let’s go.”
He took my hand and smiled at me. I smiled back and we started running again.
We found the door of the library and the secret passageway in no time. To make sure we were safe, and to put more distance between Abraham and us, Asher slammed the secret door shut after we had passed through. Of course, he’d be able to get back out. He owned the place. But it was better to be safe. We kept running out of Abraham’s office, through the house and towards the front door. Asher tried the door but it wouldn’t budge.
“It’s stuck!”
“Here, let me.” As soon as I put my palm against the wood, (there was no handle) the door creaked and opened outwards, letting us out into the murky twilight.
Asher
It was good to be out of the Death House, as I have come to call it, but something didn’t feel right about outside. You know the saying, the calm before the storm? Well, it’s true. The deathly silence means you know something bad is about to happen and you are waiting out in the open, unprotected and vulnerable, like a goat about to be eaten by a tiger. And we were the goats. We slowed to a walk, listening closely the entire time while making our way to the stairs leading up to the mausoleum. It was then we heard the growls.
“What was that?” Eden asked, clinging onto my arm with a grip of steel.
“I… I don’t know.” I tried not to sound afraid, but I was a big fat liar. I was scared. More scared than I have ever been in my life. “Let’s go.”
As soon as our feet touched the steps, Eden screamed. I turned to see what was wrong, and all I saw was black mist, red eyes, and teeth.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Eden
Asher pushed me up on to the steps first but he wasn’t quick enough. The Hellhound was faster. He was in front of me before I could even breathe. He was all black and looked like a French mastiff but less beefy. Its breath stunk of rotting corpses and something else sickly sweet. His drool was dripping out of his mouth like white tendrils. I screamed. I couldn’t move, but I felt Asher’s hand on my arm pulling me backwards so I went with him gladly. Then Asher began to run, pulling me with him. There were two Hellhounds and they surrounded us with one in front and one behind. We weren’t paying attention where we were running. All we knew was that we had to run. My sneaker caught on something on the ground and I went down, taking Asher with me. As I collided with him and he collided into the ground, the soul sphere shattered and we were overwhelmed by a bluish-white light.
Asher
When Eden landed on top of me, all the air was pushed out of my lungs and I couldn’t breathe. At least the Hellhound’s breath was out of my face. But there was a bigger problem. I didn’t know where the Hellhounds were because I couldn’t see anything. I could feel Eden on top of me but I was blind. There was the brightest light shining in my eyes. Then the weirdest feeling came over me. I can’t put words to the experience but I can try to explain it. It was as if my body was a balloon being filled with air. Sorry, I know it’s hard to explain.
Eden
I was blind.
I couldn’t see. And I had no idea where the Hellhounds were. I could no longer hear their snarling. I was still unable to see anything but I could feel. I felt Asher underneath me as he drew in a breath and exhaled, and then he was gone, vanished. And I crashed to the ground.
Epilogue
Asher
When I opened my eyes there was no more blue light, and there was no more Eden. I sat up looking around.
“Eden?” she was no longer on top of me, she was gone. “Eden?”
“She’s not here.”
I looked around trying to find the source of the voice, and then I saw a familiar face standing by the ancient willow tree. It was Jazmine. I was back in the garden. Back home.
“Where is Eden?”
“Where she belongs.” Jazmine looked bored. She was leaning casually against the trunk of the tree, examining the tips of her hair.
I made my way to my feet, dusting myself off. I was still covered in mud from The Realm of Death.
“Jaz,” I growled. “Where is she?”
“Back where you left her. In the Realm of Death.” She said with a sadistic smirk, twirling golden and pink locks around her finger.
Eden
When I opened my eyes I could see again, but I didn’t see Asher. He really was gone. And so was his soul, as I soon discovered.
“Asher?” I stood up and tried to brush off my jeans. But it was no use, the mud here stuck to you like a tattoo. I glanced around. Again, it was eerily quiet. The Hellhounds were gone. But that didn’t mean I was out of danger. I tried to turn back towards the stairs but somehow I couldn’t. My head felt strangely light. And as soon as I looked down, I knew why. I was surrounded by Death Blossoms.
Jazmine
I couldn’t believe how easy it was. Gosh, that bitch was so dumb. All it took was for me to lie out my bait and let her think I was after her boy. It worked perfectly. She was distracted from the real truth: that I controlled her fate. She thought Abraham sent her those visions and that it was all him. But boy was she wrong. Smoke and mirrors, baby! My plan had worked. I finally had my prize. I walked towards him.
“Asher, honey. It was your fate. You were meant to end up with me, not her.”
His eyes widened. “What did you do?”
I laughed as any evil bitch should laugh. “See, I knew you knew who I really was. We don’t have to pretend anymore. I can be myself around you.” I placed my hands on his chest.
“You did this. You knew who Eden was and you pushed me in her direction, knowing I was going to die.”
“Yes, it didn’t take long for me to find out that it was her who killed the ancient old hag of a nun who had passed her used by date.”
“But why?”
“I knew she was going to kill you. But I underestimated her, so I had to eliminate her.”
“You set the Hellhounds on us?”
Gosh, he was so dumb! “No, dumb arse! I created the flowers.” I shrugged and flipped my hair, grinning sweetly at him.
“Flowers? What flowers?”
I smiled knowingly. “Come and watch.” I took his hand, led him to the tree, and pressed my palm against the trunk. The movie began straight away in both our heads right at the climax. Was the heroine going to die? Only I knew the ending to this story.
Eden
Death Blo
ssoms were everywhere I turned. I knew these flowers. Every Nephilim knew these flowers and knew what they could do. To look at, they were the most dazzling flower in the universe, with violet petals, turquoise tips, and emerald green leaves. But beauty was dangerous. They grew like noxious weeds and emitted a toxic, addicting scent that smelt like candy. But the more you inhaled it, the more the toxins shut off your brain, slowly killing you. I swear they weren’t there before, but that didn’t matter now. They were here and I was dying. I tried running but I was too dizzy. It felt as if I were running through water. Eventually my knees couldn’t take it anymore and they collapsed out from under me. I fell to the ground. With one last exhale, I said my four last words.
“Asher, I love you.”
To be continued…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
L.L. Hunter is an Australian author who began writing when she was fifteen or sixteen, originally song lyrics, but then moved onto fanfiction when she was nineteen, having published over 20 stories online- One of which was nominated for an award. She has also written, directed and starred in two original plays entitled, “No Frills Airlines: Flight 123,” and the sequel, “No frills Airlines: Come Fly with Us.” The latter of which was a musical.
She has studied everything from veterinary nursing, forensic science and dramatic arts but has always known her true calling to be writing.
Her hobbies include writing her books, reading, singing, acting, directing, watching movies, 50’s fashion and playing with her animals. When she is not writing she can be found reading somewhere comfortable with one or both of her ‘furbabies’.
You can connect with L.L. Hunter on Twitter, (@llhunterbooks) Facebook, Goodreads or her blog llhunter.blogspot.com.au.
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