by S. J. West
I walk around Malcolm, steeling myself for what I might find, but nothing could have prepared me for what I see.
Levi used his lightning whip like a master flogger, punishing Malcolm for some phantom crime. Yet, the only crime Malcolm committed was kissing me, loving me, giving himself entirely to me.
I refuse to give into the tears that threaten to reveal the pain I feel as I look at Malcolm. I know Levi is watching me closely, and I won't give him an inch of satisfaction by showing my grief openly. I feel sure he would gain pleasure in my torment and such an emotion is something I will never willing give him. As I study what his lightning whip has done to Malcolm's back, I know for a fact Malcolm can't die, or at least not by Levi's hands.
His skin has been flayed completely away only leaving the remnants of shredded muscles hanging loosely from the completely exposed bones of his spine, ribs and shoulder blades. I literally stand and watch as Malcolm's lungs take in ragged breaths. The small flame of hatred that first ignited the moment Levi phased into Malcolm's workshop now grows to monstrous proportions. It explodes inside my chest like a bomb, all but consuming me.
I phase over to Levi, my hands burst into blue flames without me even having to think about it. I grab him by the front of the neck with one hand, slinging his body up against the blood stained wall at his back. The look of fear which enters his eyes isn’t enough to soothe my rage. The only thing that will satisfy my anger is his death.
“I’m going to kill you for what you did to him!”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Levi manages to strangle out. “If you kill me, you kill Lucas and your father. Can you really live with both of their deaths on your conscience? Do you think Malcolm will still love you after you kill his son?”
“I’m going to kill you,” I tell him, shoving my face into his to make sure he hears my words clearly. “Then I’m going to end the life of that changeling who killed Eliza before she even has a chance to look in Lucas’s direction, and I’ll find my father on my own.”
“You’ll never find him,” Levi says with so much certainty I know he’s telling the truth. “And you’ll never get to Lucas before the changeling kills him. As soon as you phase home without me by your side, she'll snap his neck.”
“I think I can get to her before she even has a chance to look in Lucas' direction,” I say, squeezing his neck tighter. “I’m feeling extremely motivated at the moment.”
“Anna…don’t…”
Only Malcolm’s voice can break through the haze of hatred I feel for Levi in that instant. I want to kill him so badly I can taste his death on my tongue like a sweet confection, tantalizing and addictive.
I squeeze tighter.
“Anna…”
Just one thought and Levi would be dead, gone forever from this world.
“Anna…please…”
I tighten my hold on Levi’s throat and pull him away from the wall only to throw him as hard as I can against the far wall in the room. The force of the blow is enough to knock him out.
I look up at Malcolm and find him watching me. The pain in his eyes isn’t just from the physical torture he’s had to endure. I know it’s also from the fact that Levi has Lucas. It makes me face the fact that the changeling probably could end his life before either of us could react.
“Malcolm,” I say. His name comes out sounding more like a strangled sob because I can’t hold in my sorrow over his pain any longer. I walk to him wanting to bring him comfort. Then, I do something that I’ve never done before. I walk on air.
It’s almost like there’s an invisible ramp leading from me to Malcolm. He watches me as I float up to him and somehow manages an almost smile.
“I wondered if you would be able to do that,” he says before taking in a ragged breath that appears more painful than replenishing.
When I reach him, I cup his face between the palms of my hands and rest my forehead against his, needing the physical contact to prove to myself that he's still alive.
“Oh, Malcolm,” I say through a heavy sigh, telling of how helpless I feel. “Why didn’t you let me kill him?”
“Not yet,” Malcolm says, closing his eyes like my touch is easing the burden of his pain even if it's only a little bit. “He has Lucas and Andre. We need him alive. For now…”
I pull my head away, and Malcolm opens his eyes to look into mine. Mingled with the pain I see in his gaze is his love for me. I want to weep but know that would serve no purpose for either of us. I need to stay strong because I have people whose lives depend on me.
“He deserves to die for what he’s done to you,” I argue, feeling my hatred for Levi completely burn a small hole in my soul that can never be repaired.
“And he will when the time is right, but that time isn’t now. You have to do what he wants.”
“So I should find the other Watchers and just give Levi the princes?” I ask, thinking there has to be a better plan.
“We don’t have any other choice. I won’t let him kill Lucas.”
“Neither will I,” I say, resigned to the fact that Malcolm is right. “And I won’t let him kill my father.”
“Then get the princes and make the deal. We’ll worry about the consequences later. Just save our son.”
The hate inside my heart is tempered slightly by Malcolm’s declaration. I know for certain with his last two words that he thinks of us as a family now.
“I’ll protect our son with my life,” I promise him. “And he’s safe for now. He's being kept at my house here in Cirrus. Millie and Vala will look after him for us.”
Malcolm sighs in relief which causes him to grimace slightly. It makes me wonder why he isn’t screaming out in pain from his injuries.
“How can I help you?” I ask. “Would a healing wand work on your wounds?”
Malcolm shakes his head. “No. You can't heal wounds made by his whip with that sort of thing. I’ll just have to heal on my own.”
“Then…your body is able to regenerate?”
Malcolm nods slightly. “It’ll take some time, but I’ll heal. Don’t worry about me.”
“That’s never going to happen,” I tell him, rubbing my thumbs across his cheekbones, feeling completely powerless. “I can't help but worry about someone I love so much.”
Malcolm turns his head slightly and kisses the center of one of my palms. He leans his cheek back against that hand and says, “I love you too, but you need to stay focused on what you have to do.”
“I'll get it done,” I promise him. “I'll make the deal and then we'll sort things out from there.”
I lean in and rub the side of my face against his softly.
“I want to kiss you,” I whisper.
“Then kiss me, Anna,” he urges.
“But what if it makes you lose consciousness again?”
“Then it would be a blessing.”
Without hesitation, I press my lips against Malcolm’s and pray my kiss has the same affect it did the first time. I hear Malcolm sigh in relief as I caress his lips with mine gently, showing him physically how much I treasure him. I enjoy the sensation until I feel his head completely fall forward, and I know the poison has worked once again. It brings me small comfort knowing my kiss can have such an effect on the love of my life, but at least he can get some rest now while his body heals itself.
“How touching,” I hear Levi say snidely beside me. “Really, I feel like I might actually have an emotional moment or something. Oh, wait…no…I think that might just be gas.”
I feel my body descend and have no way of knowing how I was able to fly in the first place. Though, I do remember Jered telling me it was one of Jess' gifts from Michael. I have to assume since she's one of my ancestors that's where it comes from. As I face Levi, I find myself desperately trying to reign in my temper.
“If I see that you’ve laid another hand on him when we make the trade, I promise that when I do kill you your death will not be a quick one.”
“So many threats, Anna
,” Levi says with a shake of his head like he's disappointed in me. “Didn’t Andre teach you any manners at all?”
“Release Malcolm from this force field.”
“And why would I do that?”
“Because if you don’t I’m going to smash your face in!”
Levi raises one hand to his jaw line. “The adorable little face of your beloved Auggie? You would defile his body like that, my little dove?”
“You’re not Auggie. And you really don’t want to test my patience right now.”
Levi smiles. “Such a little spit fire you are. I’m going to enjoy taming you, wife.”
“I only promised Malcolm that I wouldn’t kill you, Levi. I didn’t promise anything short of that.”
Levi rolls his eyes at me.
“Such theatrics,” he says, turning to face the wall behind him. He waves his hand over it to bring up a holographic control panel. After he enters in a code, Malcolm falls to the floor. I go to him and roll him onto his stomach, turning his face to the side so he can breathe easier. I lean down and kiss him on the lips one more time, hoping it keeps him unconscious for a little while longer.
The floor of the prison cell is as cold as I remembered it being. Knowing Malcolm’s hot blooded nature, I’m actually grateful for its coolness this time. I pray that it helps him heal faster.
Pray…
I close my eyes and pray to God.
I hear Levi take in a deep, sharp breath.
When I open my eyes, I see God standing across from me. I look up at him as my eyes cloud with tears.
“Help him,” I beg. “I swear I won’t ask for anything else, just help Malcolm this once.”
God looks down at Malcolm. His eyes hold a sorrow only a parent can have when their child is in pain. He studies the damage Levi has done with his lightning whip, but He shakes His head at me.
“I can’t interfere with the natural course of events, even when I want to,” He tells me. “I’m sorry, Anna.”
“Then what good are you?” I ask, feeling angry at God. “If you won’t help us, what’s the point of praying for you to come?”
“If I healed one person, I would have to heal every person in the world. Otherwise, it wouldn't be fair. Some people are simply meant to die, Anna. Malcolm will not die from these wounds. He will heal them on his own. I cannot interfere with the natural laws of the universe.”
I knew he was right, but it didn’t make it any easier to go along with.
God turns his attention to Levi.
Levi’s shoulders seem to sink lower as he faces his father, but he tries to hold his head up a notch higher in a show of defiance.
“I suppose you’re proud of yourself,” God says to Levi. Slowly, He shakes His head at the prince of Hell. “But, I couldn’t be more disappointed in you, Levi.”
“I gave up caring about gaining your approval a long time ago, Father.”
“You say that and yet you know you’re lying.”
Even I could tell that simple fact. In a way, I felt amazed that Levi still cared what God thought about him after all this time.
“The good thing about not being in your Heavenly host anymore is that I don’t have to stand here and talk to you if I don’t want to.”
“No,” God agreed. “You don’t, my son.”
Levi seems taken off guard by God's use of such an endearment, but quickly shakes it off before looking over at me.
“Gather up my brothers and meet me in the desert.”
“Desert?” I ask, not understanding what he’s talking about. “What desert?”
“Jered and the others will know where to go,” Levi says with a dismissive wave of his hand. “You have until 7am Cirrun time the day after tomorrow to bring them to me.”
“And what happens if I can’t make it in time?”
“Then I kill the boy!” Levi shouts irritably. “Just do what I tell you, Anna! And don't come back here to visit lover boy unless you want me to end Andre's life. I think you've had quite enough touchy feely time with him as it is.”
Levi phases away leaving me alone with God and a mercifully unconscious Malcolm.
I look down at Malcolm’s ravaged back.
“I don’t want to leave him alone like this,” I tell God.
“He won’t be alone,” God reassures me. “I’m always with him.”
I stand to my feet and force myself to look away from Malcolm. Otherwise, I won’t be able to leave.
“I won’t let anyone hurt my family anymore,” I tell God, feeling as though I should warn him that I might do things he won’t approve of.
God nods.
“Do what you have to do, Anna,” He says. “I know you’ll make the right decisions in the end.”
I take in a deep breath and phase.
I stand in what’s left of the room I slept in at Malcolm’s house in Lakewood. The house has been reduced to ash now. A few smoldering timbers lay haphazardly against one another marking the evidence of a once happy home. I scan the ground around my feet and breathe in a sigh of relief when I see what I came for.
I bend down and pick up my sword still sheathed in its baldric. Amazingly enough the leather of the baldric isn’t damaged and neither is my sword. I remember Jered telling me that archangel Jophiel’s vessel, JoJo Armand, had made the baldric to be resistant to fire.
I wipe the soot off of the baldric and slip it on my back, tightening the cinch of the belt around my waist.
I realize I should have asked Malcolm where Jered is, but in those moments with him, I wasn’t too worried about it.
I know someone who can give me the information I need.
I just hope, for her sake, she's in the mood to talk willingly.
Chapter 2
I phase to Celeste DuBois's red front door and kick it in. The door slams against the grand staircase inside, sliding down the glossy wooden steps until it comes to a rest against the polished oak floor inside the airy foyer. I probably should have knocked instead of barging in, but I'm really not in the mood to play nice. I pray Celeste answers my questions quickly. Otherwise, I fear what I might do to her in my current state of mind.
I could almost forgive her for betraying Malcolm and me to Levi. She was in love with Malcolm and having him shun her because of his feelings for me must have been devastating not only to her self-esteem but also to her heart. Jealousy was a powerful emotion I could understand. What I couldn't forgive was the fact that she placed Lucas' life in danger by telling Levi where to find us. He was an innocent in all of this, and his life should have never been placed in peril. Her selfish need for revenge could have cost Lucas his life. That, in my eyes, was unforgivable.
I stand within the now empty doorframe, cross my arms over my chest and wait. It takes less than a minute for the residents of the home to wake up and appear at the head of the staircase. The one I’ve come for is standing dead center among the gathering of scantily clad women, staring down at me with a look of surprise.
Celeste’s face is clean of make-up which makes her appear younger in my opinion. Her long blonde hair is braided and hanging over one shoulder. She’s wearing a full length, red velvet robe with white lace trim. Her eyes hold a worried look at my unexpected arrival. I’m sure she thought I would be in the hands of the emperor by now, safely tucked away in Cirrus where I couldn't reach her.
“You can’t just barge into my home like this in the middle of the night!” She says to me rather indignantly. “We may be lowly down-worlders to you, but we do have some rights!”
“You should choose your words wisely when you speak to me, Celeste, and you should definitely watch your tone. Considering what you did, I could have you executed for treason. In case I need to remind you, I’m empress of these lands,” I tell her. “That means I can pretty much do as I damn well please.”
“You don’t act like any empress I’ve ever seen,” Celeste says scathingly, looking me up and down.
I smile. “I’m a new type of empress,”
I tell her. “More…hands on.”
“Well, your highness, I would appreciate it if you left my home. Some of us have to work for a living. Not all of us are fortunate enough to have everything we want handed to us on a golden platter. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get some beauty sleep.”
Celeste turns her back to me.
It’s a colossal mistake.
I unfold my arms and run up the stairs. I say run, but it’s more like I fly up them. I’m not even sure my feet ever actually touch a single step. Once I reach the top of the landing, I grab Celeste by her right shoulder and spin her around to face me. I don’t completely have my strength under control because my anger is influencing my actions, and I end up spinning her around so hard she falls to the floor with a loud thump onto her backside. The breath is knocked out of her so it takes her a minute to recover enough to say something.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” She demands, breaking my last strand of patience with her.
I grab her by the front of her robe and haul her up off the floor in one fluid motion. My strength surprises her and those around us, causing her girls to slowly back away from me.
Celeste looks at me, but the bravado she showed earlier is nowhere to be seen now.
“There’s something different about you. You're more confident...more determined,” she says to me, studying my face carefully. I see understanding enter her eye just before they well with tears. “I guess Malcolm told you how he feels about you. The love of a good man can make you feel like you can move mountains. At least, that’s the way I felt when I thought he loved me.”
Tears slide down Celeste’s face, and I find myself pitying her. I know she doesn’t deserve such an emotion from me, but I can’t help but empathize with her plight. I know what it feels like to love a man but have him completely dismiss your feelings. In my case, Malcolm actually loved me even though he did everything in his power to hide that fact from me. In Celeste’s case, he never loved her. Yet, she mistook his frequent visits to her for physical gratification as meaning that he did.
