Scarred (the Spellbound Series Book 3)

by Rene Lanausse

  “Thanks,” I mutter. “Is Krystal around? I need to talk to her.”

  Apollo and his sister glance at each other, before he answers, “She’s testing the prowess of a group of young spellcasters at the moment. If you wait in the amphitheater, she’ll be with you shortly.”

  The temple’s golden doors swing open, and I walk straight down the marble passage to the amphitheater. In an odd way, it feels like I’m leading a tour group. Alyssa and I may be the only ones among us who have been here before; Lily and the other Nephilim likely weren’t adopted by a clan, and never got to go through the ritual journey through Genesis. Nick was turned into a spellcaster by forces outside of his control, and Jenna has no supernatural powers whatsoever. Sure enough, when I look over my shoulder at the others, half of them are marveling at the temple’s marble interior. I smile, and face forward. They haven’t seen anything yet.

  There are a few Guardians already occupying the amphitheater, lounging around in their seats or writing in leather bound journals. Thankfully, none of them bow when they notice me enter; I prefer the subtle head nod, or silent acknowledgment that they offer me. My eyes roam over the stained glass windows above the seats. Each of them portrays various scenes from mythology, everything from the Olympians defeating the Titans, to Izanagi producing the sun and moon from his left and right eyes respectively. There’s even one window that looks like a city skyline, with someone that looks an awful lot like me flying over the rooftops.

  I sense that there’s someone invading my personal space, and spin to confront them, only to find Krystal gazing at the same stained glass window I was. “I suggested that one,” she says. “After Alyssa broke the last window, there was a lot of debate over what to replace it with. In the end, everyone agreed that it’s time to recognize the new stories being told.”

  Heads turn towards the newcomer in our midst, and the moment Nick spots Krystal, his face breaks into the widest grin I’ve seen him wear in months. He rushes over to Krystal, and sweeps her up in a massive hug. “Holy shit,” he says to himself over and over. “Krys, I never thought I’d see you again. How is this even possible?”

  “It’s a long story,” Krystal laughs as she returns the hug. She takes note of Nick’s pale complexion, the black veins reaching across his skin, and the red eyes, and she asks, “What the hell happened to you?”

  “Lucifer happened,” Nick replies. “But that’s an even longer story.”

  All the joy in Krystal’s face dwindles into nothingness as she sobers up. “Is that what you guys are here to see me about?”

  “Sort of,” I tell her. “I was wondering if you guys might have a secret stash of angel weapons here.”

  “There’s a bunch of them stored away.”

  “Good, because we’re going to need them.”

  “Alright.” Krystal gestures for us to follow her as she leaves the amphitheater. We turn down a hallway, and she says, “I’m glad you finally figured it out.”

  “Figured what out?,” I ask.

  “I couldn’t tell you with Michael around, but all I’ve been hearing since I arrived are horror stories about what angels have done over thousands of years. They’re not at all what they seem.”

  “Yeah, I’m realizing that.”

  Before long, we reach the end of a familiar looking hallway, and Krystal presses her hand against the marble wall. With a jolt, the floor beneath us sinks into the ground. Anyone not standing on the moving platform hops down onto it, lest they be left behind. When we reach the end of the ride, Krystal lights up the space with tiny fragments of light, and the room full of ancient artifacts comes into focus.

  “This way,” Krystal urges as she walks toward the back end of the room. She steps onto the dais where Michael’s sword once stood, and waves her hand once. A section of the marble wall swings inward to reveal a second secret room, which she leads the group into. Everyone follows Krystal inside, except for me. I already have my weapon; I think of the sword I own, and the souls of the archangels trapped inside of it. I’d rather avoid using such a weapon if I can, but if it’s what I’ll need to take care of Lucifer, then I’ll suck it up and do what I have to.

  I hear footsteps behind me, and turn around to see Alyssa looking over the artifacts. “Why aren’t you inside with the others?,” I ask.

  Alyssa shrugs, and says, “I’ll grab a sword or something in a few. I just wanted to check out this room… most of these objects have been lost for centuries. And I probably won’t ever get a chance to see them again.”

  “I never figured you were into this sort of stuff.”

  “There are a few things you don’t know about me, Santos.” Alyssa bends to look at a ring, and gasps. “Tell me this isn’t what I think it is!”

  “What?” I come closer to see that she’s examining the Aegis, the ring that protects the wearer from any and all harm. Given her interest in the room that we’re in, I’m sure she knows exactly what she’s looking at. I lean against the display case holding the Aegis, and ask, “Do you want it?”

  Alyssa’s eyes widen with excitement, but she quietly points out, “It isn’t yours to give.”

  “I don’t care. I think you should have it.”

  “But-“

  Alyssa’s protestations are too little, too late. I’ve already unlocked the glass display case with a spell, and pulled out the ring. I’d put the ring on her finger myself, but I don’t think either of us would be entirely comfortable with that, so I hold the Aegis out in my open palm. Alyssa stares at my palm, as if I’m offering her something dangerous. “Just take it,” I plead with her. “You want it, and it’ll keep you safe, so I don’t care if I get in trouble for this. You’re worth it.”

  After a moment’s deliberation, Alyssa takes the ring. She looks up into my eyes for a brief moment, and whispers, “Thanks.” But the next moment, she’s gone, practically tripping over herself to join the others in picking out weapons.

  Several minutes later, the entire group emerges with a collection of swords, halberds, and spears. Even Jenna now carries a pair of daggers with angelic sigils engraved in the blades. Krystal closes the secret room behind her, and says, “Everyone’s armed to the teeth. You’d better bring these back, angelic weapons are hard to come by. And we keep the lost ones locked up here for good reason.”

  Jenna shrugs, and says, “Don’t worry, you’ll get them back.” But when Krystal isn’t looking, she examines her new daggers with a wistful eye. She may not want to be a hunter anymore, but old habits die hard. She’ll be reluctant to let them go.

  Krystal walks us out of the temple, and back to the doorway back to our realm. All of the Fallen step through except for Nick and I; we’re not leaving without a proper goodbye. “You better come and visit me more often,” Krystal tells us before giving us individual hugs. “It’s hard to make new friends when most of these people have known each other for centuries.”

  “We’ll be seeing you again,” Nick assures her. “Don’t worry about it.”

  “Good. And be careful.”

  “We will.”

  Krystal waves us off as we step through the tear, and I walk backwards so I can get a good long look at her before she disappears from view. As soon as I’m back on Earth, I spin around to face the Fallen. We’ve drawn up our battle plans, and we’ve acquired an arsenal of weapons to help us in battle. There’s only one thing left for us to do. I clear my throat to attract the group’s attention, and ask, “Who’s up for a bonding exercise?”

  A minute later, all of us (sans Jenna) stand on the precipice of the Empire State Building, peering down at the sprawling city before us. One by one, each of us unfurls our wings, teeters over the edge of the building, and plunges to the ground. As they all pass, I take a moment to notice the minute distinctions between our wings. Morgan’s wings are cream colored, while the feathers on Joel’s are white with golden tips. Nick’s wings are black like Lily’s, but instead of feathers, his are covered in a thin membrane of what looks like
stretched skin. And Alyssa’s are a translucent red, the same shade as her irises when she unleashes her hidden power.

  When my turn comes, I lean forward, and hurtle towards the ground. For some of us, trusting each other will be easy. I’ll happily put my life in Alyssa’s hands, or Nick’s. But for the rest of us, this leap of faith is more than metaphorical. It’s fighting alongside near strangers. It’s a terrifying risk, and part of me wishes there were a way to protect the Earth without the aid of people I hardly know, and certainly don’t expect to have my back. But the same way I trust the air to keep me aloft when I spread my wings, I have no choice but to trust that they’ll come through in the end.

  25

  The last few days before Lucifer’s army arrives are some of the most relaxing I’ve had in over half a year. Everything’s been planned, I’m not being attacked or put through intense training, and best of all, I get to spend some quality time with my mother. I’ve been keeping her out of the loop on so much of what’s been happening, but the more time I spend with her, the more everything keeps spilling out.

  To her credit, my mom has become so immune to the insanity that’s consumed our lives, that she doesn’t bat an eye as I tell her what’s transpired. She doesn’t even seem surprised to hear what Michael’s planning for the people of Tokyo. She merely shrugs, and says, “Your father’s always been a very pragmatic person. And stubborn; once he’s sure he’s right about something, he can’t be swayed.”

  I pull my knee up to my chin, and wrap my arms around my leg. “I still can’t believe you ever dated him.”

  “I can. The nineties were a strange time for me. I’d dated the same boy throughout all four years of high school, and when he dumped me to go to UCLA, I decided to broaden my horizons. Your father was the last in a string of failed experiments.”

  “Mom, boys are people, not science projects.”

  My mom rolls her eyes at me, and says, “The experiments were never about them. I was trying to find myself in other people… which is terrible advice, don’t do what I did.”

  “Roger that.”

  “I don’t think you’ll end up going down that road, anyway… I think you’ve already found your niche.”

  I look up at my mom, and ask, “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, this time two years ago, you always had your nose in a book, obsessed with someone else’s story. But you’ve come so far, and now the story’s all about you.” My mom leans forward in her seat, and pushes her laptop onto the couch beside her. “You’ve grown up into an incredible woman. You’re strong in so many ways that I can never be. You’ve naturally found the balance between being compassionate and hard as nails. You care so deeply for the people around you, and you’ve become everything they’ve needed, from warrior, to superhero, to political activist-“

  “Failed political activist,” I remind her. “Nobody on the news has mentioned me or any other freak in days.”

  “And that’s fine. Change takes time, kid, and people are very stubborn. My point is, you’re the kind of person who will put the world on your shoulders without anyone asking you to. You love helping people, even though it’s a thankless job. You’re incredible, Heather. And I’m proud to call you my daughter.”

  I wave off her assessment of me, even though I’m hiding a smile. “It’s whatever. I learned all I needed to know about helping people from you, Doctor Santos.”

  “Not a doctor yet, kid. First, I’ve got a book to finish and a couple more years in school.”

  “Yeah, yeah. You’ll get there.” I look around at the apartment she’s chosen, and ask, “Have you started packing yet?”

  “I’m already done. I gotta say, now that I’m leaving the city by choice, I’m not happy about it. Happier than when I got dragged across the Hudson River by a bleeding teenager, but still not happy.”

  “Maybe we can come back after everything calms down, but for now, it’s safest if you and the others leave.”

  “I know.” My mom pats my cheek, and says, “I just hate abandoning my city, and my baby.”

  I smile at her, and pull her into a tight hug. “I’ll be fine, Mom. I promise.”

  “You better be. I’m too old to squeeze out a replacement kid at his point.”

  In no time in all, it’s time for my mom and the others to leave. They’re going to wait out the battle at Michael’s house in Huron, or in a hotel room nearby if the house is still under hunter surveillance. I carry my mom’s bag downstairs to the lobby, where Emma, Landon, and Rachel are waiting for us. Each of them grabs onto me, and as one, we all vanish, and reappear on the banks of Lake Ontario.

  I escort everyone inside the house, and tell them all to wait in the living room while I check that it’s safe. I can tell with my second sight that we’re the only people here, but I don’t want to take any chances. I check the second floor, the attic, and the ground floor before relaxing, and preparing to leave.

  Landon is the first one to hug me goodbye. He wraps me in his arms, and tells me, “Knock ‘em dead.”

  Interesting choice of words. I don’t plan on killing anyone, even Lucifer if I can avoid it. But I bite back my initial reaction, and reply, “Don’t worry. I will.”

  When Landon lets go of me, Emma pulls me in her direction, and hugs me tightly. I’m actually a little surprised; I wasn’t under the impression that we were very close. As if she can read my thoughts, she pulls away, and says, “We have to get to know each other better when all this is over. If you’re cool enough for Nick, you’re cool enough for me.”

  “Thanks?” I smile awkwardly, and ask, “How about we meet up at a firing range sometime? I’ve seen what you can do with a gun, and I could use a good teacher.”

  Emma fixes me with a genuine smile, and says, “It’s a date.”

  Rachel keeps her farewell short and sweet. We embrace, and she tells me, “See you on the other side.”

  “Yeah, you too.”

  Saying goodbye to my mom is just as easy. When we hug, she holds onto me for a long time, and we stand wordlessly in each other’s arms. I don’t mind; we’ll talk when I come to pick them up and bring them home. We’ll have more to talk about then.

  As soon as my mom lets go of me, I’m ready to head out the door. Just before crossing the threshold, I turn back to look at these people I’ve fought to protect for so long. With the final fight drawing near, it almost seems wrong to leave them so… unguarded. But I’m sure they’ll be fine. They’re survivors. I tell them, “See you guys later,” before turning and walking through the front door.

  Before I leave, I walk out onto the dock, all the way out to where I can’t see the bottom of the lake. I stand looking out at the horizon for a moment, at the water reflecting the rays of the midday sun. Tomorrow, I’ll be walking right into the fight of my life. Tomorrow could easily be the last time I see Nick, or Alyssa. It’ll be the last time I ever see my father. In a way, I’m glad that this chapter of my life is nearly over, but I also wish I could have more time. I haven’t had long enough with these people I’ve come to know and love. I don’t want them risking their lives, but I can’t make their choices for them. In the meantime, I still have the lives of others to worry about. I have to put a stop to Michael’s plans for the people of Tokyo.

  I close my eyes, and concentrate as hard as I can on everything I’ve seen of Tokyo. If I don’t get this spell right, I could wind up in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. When I think I’ve gotten the right mental image, I teleport halfway around the world, and I can immediately feel the change in temperature. I don’t feel wet at all, but I still look around me in shock, expecting to see nothing but water on all sides. Instead, I’m standing in an empty monorail station, with nobody around for company. All of the signs are written in kanji, so I breathe a sigh of relief. I think I’m in the right place.

  I unfurl my wings and take a running leap into the air. No wonder it’s so much colder here than in Huron; I’ve traveled literally across the planet from where I o
nce was, meaning that it’s just after midnight here. I soar upward towards the moon, and gaze down at the sprawling city beneath me. Under different circumstances, I’d have loved to visit Tokyo. And maybe someday, I properly will. But right now, I’m just here to plant a sigil, and leave as soon as possible.

  Even though I’m high up above the city, I can’t see a hint of the circle Queen Aileana said the angels would need for their spell. There are no lines in the ground where there shouldn’t be, or any sigils emblazoned into the buildings. Could she have been wrong about what I’ll have to do? I close my eyes, and shake my head, and that’s when I see it: a massive ring of white flame around the city. And just within the limits of that ring, symbols whose meaning elude my understanding. When I open my eyes, however, I can see nothing amiss. Just the lights of the city twinkling at me in the absence of stars.

  I close my eyes again to be sure I hadn’t been imagining things, and sure enough, I can see the ring of flames again. Evidently, whatever Michael did, I can only see the effects with my second sight. While trying to figure out exactly how Michael set up the ring, I scour the ground below for the ring’s center. It’s hard to tell without going higher, but I’m already freezing, and I want to get the job done as quickly as I can. I angle myself towards the approximate center, open my eyes, and put on an extra burst of speed.

  When I finally begin my descent, I’m above the grounds of what looks like an ancient Japanese palace. I dive towards the ground, and level out just in time to whiz between several trees, and come to a stop right before crashing into a white tree that’s already shed every leaf it had for the winter months. I take a moment to catch my breath, and think through what I’ll need to do. It won’t be enough to take a branch and draw in the dirt; whatever Michael did will require an actual spell. But since there’s no one here to teach me, it looks like I’ll have to figure it out on my own.

  I pull out my phone, and scroll to the picture I took of the sigil I’ll need to recreate. I think back on the white flames I could only detect with my second sight, and wonder if all I’ll need is a little fire. I’m reluctant to experiment while I’m surrounded by trees, though; I have a history of accidentally starting forest fires. At the same time, I’m worried about what will happen if I’m discovered here, or if my absence in New York draws suspicion. I have no choice but to try.