This time I was the one to approach her. I put my arms around her, with my hand resting on the small of her back, and pulled her toward me. I leaned down and as soon as my lips were on hers, it was as if my thoughts were a haze. Even though she was taking too much energy from me, I didn’t care. I didn’t want to stop kissing her. Then, the kissing led to more, which surprised me, but I couldn’t stop. I knew what it felt to lose her and I couldn’t let her go. I wanted her. All of her! When she stopped kissing me, she smiled and there was that look in her eyes that was the same as when we first met. She was happy to be with me, so happy that it hid some of the sadness from what she was going through at that time.
She moved her hands down to the hem of my shirt and lifted it up and over my head. Without saying a word, she kissed me again, lowering both of us to the floor. As our kiss deepened, I could feel my energy slipping away once more, but it didn’t matter. Having her was all I ever wanted. That love, it was nothing I ever felt before. I wanted to stay like this forever.
I loved watching her, everything about her, but soon, I was overtaken by pain. I had to close my eyes because that pain was so excruciating. I could feel the burning and I knew that my wings were getting darker once again. It was as if I was falling all over again, but this time, it was all for the wrong reasons. Before I even opened my eyes, I could feel that this was not right. This was not how I imagined our first time.
I opened my eyes and it wasn’t Jennifer leaning on top of me. It was the succubus and she was smiling.
“What did you do to me?” I asked.
She shrugged. “You seemed to be enjoying it.”
“You need to stay away from me!”
She laughed as she moved away and got dressed. “But I’ll have to feed again. You don’t want me going after the humans, do you?”
The burning pain increased with my rage and hate for her.
“You’ll not pull your sick little games again, do you understand?” I warned her.
“As long as you don’t try to deny me what I want.”
I put my shirt on and turned around to leave.
“I’ll look for you when I need you again,” she said. “And I’ll need you again.”
I rushed out of the building. I was so full of anger that I made a fist and punched the wall over and over again, until my hand bled. It didn’t hurt nearly as much as I deserved. I could have healed myself but I didn’t. I wanted to feel the pain. I stared at my bleeding hand and dropped to the floor against the wall. I felt as if I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t understand how I let this happen. I knew what she was doing. At some level, I could feel that there was something wrong. I couldn’t understand how I let this go on, but I knew that regardless to whose fault this was, I would never be able to forgive myself.
***
Stephaine
When I got to the dorms with food for everyone, I was surprised by the news that Kim and Chase were there, and they were giving one of the fallen information about what happened. Everyone still seemed to be agitated because of Chase being so close to them, so as much as I wanted to hear what Kim had to say, I felt I was more needed with the haunted. I had to reassure them that Chase was here to help us.
Eventually, things calmed down, and I saw Kim come out of one of the rooms.
I knew that she was tired, but other than that, she was okay. “Kim, where is Chase?” I asked.
“They thought it best if he keeps some distance from everyone else.”
“What happened?”
Kim told me about how she got out of the building and that Ethan stopped the succubus from coming after them. At that moment, I knew things were going to get worse by the second. I thanked her for her help and rushed toward where I had last seen Ethan.
It scared me that I didn’t see him at first, but I then spotted him next to one of the buildings. My fears were confirmed when I saw the succubus walk out of the building and past him. I could almost feel his agony, and his wings… they were so much darker. I tried to warn Xavier of what was happening through my visions. The succubus smiled at Ethan and kept walking toward the main building where Benjamin was.
As soon as she was gone, I rushed toward Ethan.
“Ethan? Are you okay?”
He just sat there.
I shook my head. His pain was so visible that I couldn’t even bring myself to ask what happened to him… to his wings. “Go back to the dorms and rest. I’ll stay and make sure no one gets out.”
Ethan nodded. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”
“I’m okay to stay here for longer than that. Just rest.”
“That was the deal,” he said. “Hannah will need me again. I have to be here or she’ll hurt the others.”
I shook my head. “I warned Xavier about this. They know they don’t have much time now. When the succubus and Benjamin come after the humans, they will have no choice but to come for us all, and try to find their way in.”
Ethan hesitated, but he finally went back to the dorms.
Not long passed before someone came out of the building that I was watching. I could see some resemblance to Kayla and I knew right away who he was. I wasn’t sure how he got out or where Daniels’ was, but I wondered if he had help from Ember, who stood by his side. I was ready to do what I needed to do in order to stop them, but then, he looked into my eyes and I felt the sorrow that was hidden within him. I felt sorry for him. I felt a burning sensation within me as soon as I made the choice that I was no longer there to protect the others. I was there to protect him, to help him—the boy whose soul got lost, the boy who he never got to be… all because of the choices made on his behalf.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Kayla
After leaving the gym, Hunter and I walked toward the back of the Academy and sat on a bench by the lake.
“I don’t like him,” said Hunter.
“Well, neither do I, but this is necessary.”
“I’d rather if you didn’t have to train with him,” said Hunter.
“That makes two of us, but it is what it is.”
“Maybe we should demand that I’m with you during all of your training.”
I just shook my head. “I can handle him, Hunter. I have to learn as much as I can about who I am, and he’s the only one who can help me.”
Something about what I said made Hunter uncomfortable.
“None of what is happening is your responsibility, Kayla.”
“It may not be, but I can help. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I caused people to suffer because I was selfish and turned my back on them.”
Hunter pushed a lock of my hair behind my ear. Even being so close, I got the feeling that he was distant somehow.
“You’ve changed so much,” he said.
I shrugged, because mostly, I didn’t know what to say. He was absolutely right. I had changed and as much as I missed parts of my selfish days, like not having the weight of the world on my shoulders, I was also glad to grow into someone who I knew my parents deserved as a daughter. Someone who Hunter deserved to be by his side after everything that he went through in his life, even if what we had was only temporary.
We still had plenty of time before we had to go back, so we started to walk toward the dorms. As we got closer, we saw Xavier and Clarissa rushing in our direction and they didn’t look happy.
“What happened?” I asked.
“Training starts now. The demons are out and they have started to feed. The fallen will only be able to keep them fed for so long without putting the humans at risk. We have to train and train fast.”
“Why not go now?” I asked.
“Benjamin is in control of everything, including the wards. He’ll have to consent to our entry, which as we said before, you’ll be able to accomplish. We need you and you are not ready.”
“We could still go—”
She shook her head. “We can’t risk losing a Nephilim.”
I gave her a puzzled look.
�
�One day you’ll understand. Hunter, go with Xavier. I’ll take Kayla to Samael.”
Hunter started to protest.
“I’ll make sure everything goes smoothly, Hunter,” said Clarissa.
He nodded and we went our separate ways.
As I walked away from him, I felt a knot in my stomach. Something wasn’t right, well, besides the obvious. I just had a bad feeling about this training and I wasn’t sure if it was my training or Hunter’s.
Clarissa and I walked quietly to the gym. I was sure Clarissa was processing whatever information they got from Stephaine.
When we walked in the gym, Samael was laying down on the floor, throwing a baseball up, catching, and repeating the process.
“It hasn’t been an hour yet,” he said not stopping what he was doing.
“We have no time for games, Samael,” said Clarissa. “We need Kayla ready as soon as possible.”
He sat up and looked at us. “Good. I guess the sooner this is done, the sooner I can go back.”
Clarissa pulled me aside and whispered in my ear, “I’m going to be outside. Samael tends to be more immature than usual when around authority figures, and I need him to focus on your training and not on getting on my nerves. If you need anything, just call for me.”
I nodded, thinking how Hunter would not be happy about this.
Samael stood up and threw the ball to the other side of the gym.
“Well, what can you do?” he asked.
I gave him a puzzled look.
“Can you sense where they are? Read their minds? Block them out? Send them away?”
“I—I guess I have done all of those things at least once before.”
He looked surprised. “Impressive. So why am I here?” he asked.
“Look, there’s no guarantee that I can do those things again and I don’t know what else I can do. I know nothing about the Nephilim.”
“You do know that the Nephilim, us, we are mortal. You do know that, right?”
“Of course.”
“So, why the suicide mission?”
“It’s not a suicide mission. In fact, you’re here to prevent it from being a suicide mission, so quit wasting my time and do your job.”
He gave me a smirk.
“No offense, but I wouldn’t volunteer to go in there and stop two demons under these circumstances. I don’t care how much training I have, or I give you… it won’t be enough.”
“I’ll worry about that. You just tell me how I can destroy a succubus.”
He gave me a puzzled look. “I was told it is the half-incubus that you have to worry about.”
“Him too.”
“Sweetheart, you can barely take on one of them, let alone two.”
“First, do not call me sweetheart. Second, I didn’t ask you what I can or cannot do. Just tell me how it can be done.”
He laughed. “I’m starting to think that you’re not that bad. Let’s do this then.”
He started pacing.
“To destroy a demon, you have to pierce their heart when they are most vulnerable, and you need the right weapon to do so.”
“Vulnerable as in… they haven’t fed in a while?” I asked, thinking maybe this would be easier than I thought. Of course, I was wrong.
“Emotionally vulnerable. I understand you have a bit of a family history with him. Use that. Use his father, and your mother.”
I cringed at the sound of that. “His father?” I asked.
“Incubi offspring are often neglected. I guess that adds to how screwed up they become.”
“Wouldn’t the same be applied to the succubi?” I asked
He shook his head. “Succubi are stronger. They are daughters of Lilith. Not only were they not neglected, they were taught about the power they have over men. They love themselves first, which eliminates a lot of weaknesses. They are confident, which means it’s possible that rejection would get you to that vulnerable state, but unless someone who she wants badly rejects her, well… it won’t work. Like I said, they love themselves first. I imagine that if someone was strong enough to reject them, they would probably move on to their next prey. So, just focus on the incubus. Take him out, and if the succubus is left alone, she’ll probably just run away.”
I felt cold. “She won’t run. Not without—”
“Not without what?” he asked.
“Never mind. What about the weapons that will actually work? Where are they?”
He walked over to the bench and grabbed two black boxes. “These are both mine, but you can use one for now. Clarissa can get you your own later.”
He handed me one of the boxes and I opened it to find a silver dagger, with a red stone in the middle and a design shaped like angel’s wings across the handle.
I took it from the box, mesmerized by how beautiful it looked.
“Be careful,” he said. “It’s sharp.”
I looked from the dagger, up to him, meeting his eyes. “So, this is it? I just pierce her heart with it?”
“HIS heart” he corrected me.
“Yeah, that’s what I meant.”
He rolled his eyes.
“It’s not as easy as you think. Even vulnerable, they’re going to fight you. I hope you didn’t expect them to just stand there all sad and alone and let you pierce a dagger through their hearts.”
“Well, of course not.”
“Good. This is where most of your training will come in. The rest is all about refining your other skills, and being able to anticipate their moves by using those skills.
“Ready?” he asked.
“What for?”
“Endurance training. You might want to put the weapon away. I don’t exactly feel like getting stabbed.”
I put the dagger away and we walked to the middle of the gym.
“Attack me,” he said.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Attack me. I need to see how strong you are.”
I shook my head. “I’m not going to just attack you for no reason!”
“Okay, as you wish. Close your eyes.”
“Why?”
“Just do it. I won’t get near you. I’ll stay right where I am.”
I closed my eyes.
“I’ll be standing in front you. Remember that.”
“Hmm, okay.”
“Nothing will make you stronger while attacking them, then anger about something that they have done to you. Let’s say, your half-brother. If he ever hurt you or your family, use that.”
I could feel my breathing getting heavier, but I was still in control and tried to stay calm.
“Benjamin threw you into this world. It is because of him that you are here today.”
Still, heavy breathing. I was getting mad, but I could control it.
There was a long silence.
“Are you still there?” I asked.
“Yes,” said Samael. “I want to try something different. Keep your eyes closed.”
“Hmm. Okay.”
“Forget the incubus. Picture the succubus. What is her name?”
“Hannah.”
“What does Hannah look like?”
“Pale, skinny, long red hair.”
“Hmm. I could imagine how she can be hard to resist.”
I ignored his comment, but I felt as if the blood running through my veins was getting hot.
“I want you to imagine that she is in front of you right now. Do not open your eyes.”
I nodded.
“So, she seems pretty hot. Is that why your boyfriend couldn’t resist her or was it her succubus charm?”
My eyes flew open and I was full of rage.
Samael didn’t stop. He kept pushing. “She kissed him, didn’t she? By the look on your face, I would say you got to watch it happen and your boyfriend didn’t do a damn thing to stop it. Heck, he probably enjoyed the hell out of it. I bet you were the last thing on his mind while she had her tongue down his throat.”
I launched forward and punch
ed him on his face, just as Clarissa came running inside.
“What is going on?” she asked.
Samael was grinning as he cleaned the blood dripping down his lip. “Training. She is stronger than she seems… when provoked.”
“Maybe you should take a break,” said Clarissa.
Samael shook his head. “If you want her ready soon, you need to let me do this on my own terms. She has a lot of work to do. Especially in relation to her priorities,” he said as he looked at me and winked.
Clarissa gave him a puzzled look then looked at me.
“Are you okay to keep training?”
I nodded, not taking my eyes away from Samael, who was grinning.
Clarissa walked back outside.
“What did you mean by focusing on my priorities?” I asked.
“Isn’t it obvious? They are not taking you there to revenge your boyfriend making out with a succubus. You need to focus on your brother. That is your task.”
“How did you know?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I assumed that was why you were out to get her. Everything else was just about reading your body language and keep provoking you.”
I shook my head.
“I assume by your reaction, the kiss lasted a while.”
“That is none of your business.”
Samael smiled. “Are you going to tell me how he survived and why he is being trained to go with us? I mean, he’s not an angel, fallen or not, and he is definitely not a Nephilim.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Hunter
I followed Xavier to the same place we had trained before. He told me things were getting worse at the other academy and that we needed to speed up our training.
This time, we went to the basement. The stairs leading us there were the first sign that this was not going to be good. There was little light and the place was freezing cold.
The entire basement was much bigger than I expected, but I guess they had built the place to fit their needs. The basement was filled with cells. One of them was completely closed up with dark boards blocking everything and a door with a lock on one of the sides. The others were steel bars and inside them there were demons, and they wasted no time in getting up as soon as they saw me.
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