by Mary Ting
“How about my parents?” Harper pushed back her shoulders and challenged Uncle Davin.
He furrowed his brow, blowing out a frustrated breath. Uncle Davin didn’t like being questioned by humans, let alone children, who he liked to call little people. “What about them?”
“Aren’t you going to help me save them?” Harper raised her voice, her fists bunched in hard balls.
Uncle Davin’s nostrils flared, and his angelic handsome face became red from rage. Shoving his face to Harper’s, his words gritted through his teeth. “You think saving your parents is the most important thing right now, when the volcano that will kill everyone on this island is about to explode?”
Harper’s eyebrows twitched, her hard face easing to some amount of understanding. I understood her pain.
Uncle Davin twirled his neck with a righteous attitude. “That’s what I thought.” Then he paced his hand on Milani. “Let’s not waste time. When we go back home, I want you to tell as many people as possible to evacuate.”
“Nobody will believe us,” Milani grumbled. “We’re just children. We have to get the press involved.”
Uncle Davin flashed all his pearly white teeth. “I’ve got a plan.” Then he changed the topic. “Take Harper and Hugo to the evacuation destination. They won’t be coming with us.”
“Why?” Harper frowned.
Hugo didn’t speak, but from his hint of a smile, he seemed happy to oblige.
Uncle Davin scowled. “This is no place for human children. And because I told you so. And what I say goes.” Then he flashed a grin at Milani. “Take us out.”
I snapped out of my stupor, staring at the words inscribed across the wall behind the caskets—Non nobis Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam.
Milani began to recite her spell. Jack grabbed my hand, Zach my other hand, and we were gone.
Chapter 22
Eli
I grabbed Mortem and astral traveled back in time. Mortem had just become my frenemy, as Uncle Davin called a person who was a friend and nemesis at the same time. Leave it to him to think of such a word. I had no idea what Davin was thinking when he called me Elmo, but he could be quirky that way. Funny. Grumpy. But an angel with a good heart and badass sword-fighting skills. Ugh. I tried to think of more attractive things than Davin.
“Why are we here?” Mortem glanced around, no doubt thinking of ways to escape. I’d be doing the same if the roles were reversed. Kind of hard with all the trees surrounding us, unless he transformed into his demon form.
“I brought us here because…” I flexed and un-flexed my fingers, trying to form comprehensible words. “I need to see more,” was all I could murmur. “I need more, Mortem.” I enunciated his name. “Something isn’t right. I feel it in my bones.”
I regretted expressing my feelings with—I hated even thinking his name. He had been a huge pain since day one. I hated him with every drop of my blood, and yet I opened up to him.
“So you brought us to a forest?” Mortem growled. His charming personality returned faster than I had expected.
“No. I told you I needed—”
My mother appeared first, running across the field toward us, and Cyrus trailed behind her. With my mouth agape, I yanked Mortem out of their way. Mother turned bravely to face Cyrus, with her sword ready to attack.
Cyrus slowed to a walk, calculating her steps, watching her every move. “You tried to trick me, Ikelia. You’re going to pay dearly for it.”
“Let Eligor out. Let him free.” She snarled, tightening her grip. “Then perhaps I’ll let you live.”
Cyrus strode toward her with no signs of hesitation. “You’re not going to kill me, Ikelia.”
“Don’t tempt me.” She raised her sword higher.
“You need to watch yourself. After all, you’re with child. We wouldn’t want anything to happen to him, would we now?”
Ikelia’s eyes rounded in fear. “How did you know? Who told you? It’s a lie.”
Cyrus reached closer, his steps faster. “I reached into Eligor’s mind. He’s very concerned about you and his son. But don’t worry, while he’s safely tucked inside me, I’ll be your son’s father.”
“No,” Mother hissed. “I will kill you, even if it means Eligor has to die.” She brushed her hand to her flat belly. She must have been a couple of months pregnant or less. I wouldn’t have known it; no physical evidence showed.
In one swift movement, fast as a breeze, Cyrus wrapped his fingers around my mother’s throat and lifted her a foot off the ground. “Then you better run, Ikelia. I have no tolerance for those who betray me.”
Mother held a small dagger in her hand. She’d managed to hide one and pull it out when Cyrus attacked.
“Set me free, or I’ll be forced to take action. I’m going to be a mother now, and no one, and I mean no one will touch my baby. I love him more than I love my life. Let this be a warning.” Her words came out strangled, but they were clearly understood.
Tears pooled in my eyes at the thought of how much my mother loved me even before I was born. But I had failed her. I had left her to rot in Cyrus’s prison. What lies had he told my mother? Perhaps he had told her I was dead.
Then Mother’s dagger drove through Cyrus’s chest, inky liquid soaking his shirt. Cyrus let go, staggering back, his wings peeping out slightly, and then folding in, repeating again and again, as if to mimic his throbbing pain. Then as if he were an actor on a stage finishing his performance, he stood with an air of confidence and chuckled.
“That was comical.” He glanced down at his bloody shirt. “You should know better. It’s going to take so much more to kill me.”
“Stay away from me, Cyrus. I’ll slice you a thousand times more if I have to.”
“You would actually kill Eligor for the safety of your unborn child?” Cyrus seethed. “Did you hear that, brother? Now you know how little you mean to her. I’ve told you many times the witches care for no one but themselves.”
Mother held her bloody dagger in front of her, ready to attack again. “Shut up, you filthy liar. Eligor meant everything to me. We were supposed to be together. You took that from us. You’re a selfish bastard. Eligor means nothing to you. If you truly care about him, let him free.”
Cyrus tilted his head sideways, slowly curving the corners of his lips. “Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. You shouldn’t have planted such cruel hopes in Eligor’s head. You shouldn’t have tried to capture me and send me to an endless pit of darkness.” He shook his finger in a scolding manner. “You’re paying for your crimes against me. Eligor’s spirit will be locked away in my heart. He will rot away, only knowing darkness. His heart will become cold stone like mine. When he no longer knows your name, no longer remembers the love you shared, then I will let him out so he can kill you. How about that for my sweet revenge, Ikelia?”
“You’re sick, Cyrus. You do not belong in this world.”
“I don’t,” he admitted with no reluctance. “I’m going to create my own world of destruction and chaos. I’m going to build an army. I’m going to make fire rise. I will create hell on Earth.”
Ikelia’s trembling hand gripped the dagger tighter. “What are you going to do?”
Cyrus picked at his nail, wiping away the blood when he touched his bloody shirt. “I can’t tell you my plan; you’ll only try to stop me.” Lowering his hand, he met her eyes with a wicked delight. “I’ll tell you this. It will begin at the root of all evil. No amount of water will quench the flame.”
Ikelia glared with abhorrence. “I hope you burn in hell. I hope you know pain, death, and agony a thousand times over.”
“The feeling is mutual, Ikelia. I will take your son when I deem him ready. Now run along before I change my mind.” He wiggled his fingers as if she was a nuisance.
My mother shoved her dagger back into the sheath on her waist. “I will never let you touch my child.”
“That’s what you thought about Eligor.” He smirked, dark tendrils swarming around h
im.
My mother hissed and jumped through a portal she created. Cyrus enclosed himself with his expanded wings, and black smoke engulfed him to disappear.
I collapsed to one knee, unable to handle what unfolded before me. My stomach recoiled, and then the need to vomit rose in my throat. My father. Inside Cyrus. Inside Cyrus. How? I gripped my hair with shaky fingers and sobbed. I didn’t care if Mortem watched me. My life had turned upside down and then some.
Mother knew. She’d told me my father died, and I guess in a way he had. She had to bear all the pain and cover the lie on her own. It all made sense.
She could have killed Cyrus. I’d always believed she could outwit him with her magic and skills, but perhaps she wanted to be captured. Maybe she believed she could save my father somehow if she was close to him.
I screamed from the depth of my lungs as I peered up to the sky. I couldn’t kill Cyrus without killing my father.
My chest heaved, and my muscles trembled. The shock of the news gutted me, slicing me into pieces. I asked heaven why and got no answer. I had to find my mother. She would know what to do. I would have to find the only person Cyrus might be stupid enough to trust. But as I continued to grasp the new revelation, I couldn’t stop the tears. I couldn’t push away the heartache. With my face to the dirt, I cried more and let it all out.
Chapter 23
Brody
Witnessing the death of the Knights Templar left me grieving, as if Jacques and Geoffroi were my friends. I had come to admire their courage, loyalty, and their strength to fight evil when they were merely human beings. I felt honored to have followed them, though at times it was super creepy, and I’d never forget the experience. I would never forget them.
When we arrived back to Lucia’s place, we went our separate ways. We were to report back in the evening. I should be at school, but school was the last thing on my mind. We were all going to die anyway. Eli would never give up his sword. No, he would if he wasn’t controlled by Cyrus. So the last missing sword to get the treasure was impossible to obtain.
What the hell? I nearly tripped over my own feet just standing at the front door. Earthquake? No. The volcano! I stumbled back to avoid colliding with my dad when he rushed out the door.
“Brody. Where have you been? I’ve been trying to call you.” He embraced me and let go. He planted his hands on my shoulders, forcing me to keep my eyes steady on his. “Haven’t you heard? It’s all over the news. The volcano is going to erupt. This is it. We need to get out of here.”
“I can’t,” I said solemnly, thinking about the Knights Templar. They had fought until the very end of their lives, and I had to do the same. I wasn’t going to be a coward and run away. “Dad, listen,” I said, when his eyes rounded in horror. “Cyrus won’t stop here. After he takes over Hawaii, he’s going for the world. Hawaii is the beginning. There will be no place for us to run. We would eventually have to fight. I’d rather try to stop him now and save what we can than wait until it’s too late.”
My dad’s intense, flustered gaze shifted to understanding. “You’re right, son. I’m tired of running. I know I can’t force you to leave, but I will make your mother and your sister take the boat across the island and fly to their relatives from there. Humans have started evacuating to the neighboring islands. Some of the women and men I’ve been training will want to stay and fight if I let them know our plan.”
I nodded, thanking him silently for not opposing my decision. “Good. We don’t have much time. We’re meeting Davin, the angel I told you about, tonight.”
Dad wrapped his arm around my shoulders, nudging me inside. “We should say our goodbyes to your mother and sister.”
With a heavy heart, I agreed.
Abel
“Why weren’t you at school?” were the first words I heard from Kohl when I entered.
Instead of going straight home after we had split up, I took a long walk on the beach, reflecting on my life. I tried to live a good life despite losing my parents. I could’ve ventured off on the wrong road and done drugs or become a total loser, but my life was worth more to me than to waste it.
Eli had been an important person in my life. With his friendship, along with Kohl and Cayden, I’d managed to make it so far. Sure, I had plans for college. Maybe even open up my own ice cream store. Never in my nightmares did I imagine I’d die as a teen. Well, assuming I didn’t live through the inevitable battle brewing. We didn’t have the treasure. We had no idea where to begin searching for the Snow Queen. What was next?
“Hey, man.” Cayden scratched the back of his head. “Are you—”
I tittered, both of my arms out to steady myself. I had a little beer, but not enough to make me sway. Then I noticed it wasn’t just me. Kohl glued himself to the wall while Cayden cowered by the sofa.
“What the hell?” Kohl hissed, his fangs out.
“It’s an earthquake,” Cayden shouted. “Hurry. Get under the covers. I mean, take cover. Where do we go? I forgot what to do. The last time we did a volcano drill was when I was in elementary school,” Cayden rambled, running around in a panic.
The quake stopped. We stayed quiet and immobile for a few heartbeats.
I had been standing next to the door, and I hadn’t moved as I prepared to make the hardest speech. “Listen…” I rubbed the back of my head. “There are things you don’t know, and I don’t have time to explain, but you need to get the hell out. The volcano is going to erupt any day, and when it does, it will cover the whole freakin’ island. So leave now while you have the chance.”
“We know what’s going on,” Kohl said, his back still to the wall. “If you expect us to leave, then you need to leave with us.”
I brushed my chin with my forefinger and thumb, thinking of how to counter his words, but words failed me. “Listen. Eli is still…we have a chance to break his bond with Cyrus. I can’t leave him.”
Cayden settled on the sofa and glared at me, his voice taut and louder with each word. “You still feel guilty for his mother’s death, don’t you? We all know you didn’t rat on his family. You were tricked. Eli needs to get over it.”
I lowered my eyes to my black and white checkered Vans caked with grime and ashes. Ashes from the Knights Templar. My heart hurled against my chest. The thought of fire consuming their bodies as they died in public in such humiliation angered me. The people didn’t know Jacques and Geoffroi had protected them from evil. A mob had condemned and killed innocent knights. For those people’s foolish, selfish, destructive ways, we would all suffer.
“Abel.” Cayden snapped. “Did you hear what I said?” His red cheeks let me know I hadn’t replied.
“I did,” I answered. “Eli and I were like brothers. Before one of us dies, I need him to know I didn’t betray him. But this isn’t just about Eli. This is about me doing something right, to make a difference in this world. I’m a supernatural being. If I don’t use it for something good, then why the hell do I even have it?” I thought again about the Knights Templar, their bravery, strength, and their will. “Even humans with no powers once stood up to Cyrus. They didn’t have a chance, and yet they stood tall and proud. I’m not going to run away.”
Kohl took a slow step toward me, as if I would run out the door if he made any sudden moves. “I’m not leaving. You and Cayden are all I have. I’m going to stay and fight.”
“We said we would be there for each other through good and the bad, well this is worse than bad, it’s hell, but I’m staying. Even if it means death for me, I’m staying by your side, man.” Cayden shifted on the sofa and rubbed the corner of his eyes.
It was the most emotional talk we’d ever had.
“I’m not going to tell you what to do, but so you’re clear, it’s Cyrus and his horde of demon children against a few of us. All of us might not make it out alive. The volcano may wipe out our homeland, but at least we tried, and we will do it together.” I nodded for emphasis.
Cayden did the same.
K
ohl hit his fist over his heart.
“I need to tell Vanessa,” Kohl said. “She’ll want to be with us.”
I frowned, but I knew I had no say in it. “We need to tell everyone to get out. Then we meet at Mr. President’s place.”
With fist bumps, we left to do our part.
Milani
People were going crazy after the warnings they had received from the news, social media, and even texts from their cell providers. City governments gave specific destination points to meet up for immediate evacuation. Cars sat bumper to bumper in traffic jams, people broke into markets and stores to loot water, food, and supplies.
I went to my cabin, and though peace filled the air, not even a bird chirped. No squirrels skidded along the trees, and not even the wind sang its daily song. They knew death was coming.
I sent my horses to a green pasture in California through a portal I created. Then I went to Eli’s cabin to send Midnight to the same destination. Then I went around all the local stables and portaled pigs, sheep, roosters, and dogs and cats. The owners had abandoned the animals. I didn’t judge them. They had no choice. After I did what I could, I went back to my cabin.
I had an hour before our meeting time. I pulled out my mother’s journal and decided to portal it somewhere safe just in case our island became engulfed in flames. I stumbled. The hill swayed and thunder boomed, only it wasn’t thunder.
Lava began to spill across the land, dripping like red honey. The ground rumbled, and the ominous clouds grew thicker and darker like the devil’s hand, ready to annihilate the land. I marveled at the dangerous beauty. It didn’t seem like reality, as if I were watching a movie. But it was real. Eli, Brody, Abel, Jack, even Uncle Davin, Zach, and Lucia, those I’d come to appreciate and enjoy their friendship, might not make it through the war. I might not survive. I’d fought Cyrus’s demons, but this was far worse. It was a battle to the death. Perhaps the end of time. Perhaps the end of humans.
