by Crymsyn Hart
Marlon disappeared, proving him wrong that his old friend had no wings. Tris raced after him and found himself outside of a grand house in the middle of nowhere. He could feel the power that kept it concealed from prying eyes. He never would have been able to find it on his own unless he had been shown the way. Marlon put his finger to his mouth and motioned for him to come around the back. Tris drew his sword from his back sheath and followed Marlon to the back of the house and into the kitchen. The first thing he smelled was the metallic scent of blood, and he was blasted with cold air that made him shiver. When he turned to ask Marlon something, the other man was gone. A loud scream erupted from somewhere in the house. Lori.
All his instincts told him to run in and rescue his friend, but he had to be careful. Tris worked through the house and was surprised that there were no guards. Then again, the Grigori must have figured that the house was spelled against anyone who could not come in, so he wasn’t thinking a Fallen was going to walk into the house. He slid through a dining room and followed the sound of another shriek that made him cringe. Tris tightened his grip on his sword and told himself he was going to get through this and rescue Lori.
Another screech came from his friend. It sounded like he was being tortured. Fury spurred his hatred, but it was more for the vampires. It was all of his hatred condensed into one thing. Kill the Grigori and rescue Lori. If Daniella was there, he would see what part she had in Lori’s capture. He gritted his teeth and was about to burst into the room when he heard another voice.
“Enough! Leave him alone. You’re killing him,” Daniella exclaimed.
Tris recognized another voice. “Isn’t that obvious.”
Horatio. What is going on? Why is Horatio here? Why is Daniella pleading for Lori? Shouldn’t she be helping to torture him? He pressed himself against the wall and listened.
“Yes, it is. Soon Horatio will be like me, and you’ll be his pet. He’ll break you in, and you’ll be wishing that you called me Master once more.”
There was a loud smack, and Daniella whimpered.
“Quiet. Or the next time you speak, I’ll kill him. Do you understand?”
Tris’s heart wrenched at the sound. Maybe he had underestimated her. Maybe she really was a good one, and everything she had said was true. Maybe she actually had feelings for him. Too many questions whirled in his mind. He did not need to be distracted by them. All that mattered was getting Lori. He peeked around the door frame and saw Lori shackled to a metal rack. Horatio stood before him with a knife. The frigid temperature chilled his fingers. Tris gripped his sword and slipped into the room. Horatio was about to slice it down Lori’s already red and marred chest. His friend was half close to death, and his wings were hanging limply. Some of the feathers were scattered along the hearth carpet.
“Stop!” Tris commanded, gathering all of his power. This was the last act he would do as a Fallen; at least he could do it right this time.
Horatio glanced at him, and a smile slid over his features. “Tris, how nice of you to join us. I see you found your way here. I guess you and the little vixen are a little more connected than I assumed. Are you here to try to rescue her or Lori?”
“I would say he’s here for both,” the Grigori said.
Tris glanced over and saw the true Grigori that was Daniella’s master. There was nothing left of the angel. His once-majestic wings were now leathery scraps. His eyes were so sunken into his skull Tris wondered how he could still see. When he turned his gaze on Tris, those ice-blue eyes implied he had once been an angel, but then they glazed over to complete black; in them he saw his future, but pushed it aside. I will not become like him. I will redeem myself. Behind the Grigori, Daniella was bound with silver manacles attached to the fireplace. Her left side closest to the flames was red and appeared to be blistered. She turned toward him, and he saw how badly seared her face was. Seeing her beauty marred hitched his heart, but he had to stay focused. It seemed she was weathering the pain. I have to free her, no matter what happens to me. Joe can give her something of a life that isn’t locked in darkness. I see that now.
“It doesn’t matter who I’m here for. Let them go, and I’ll spare your lives. Even yours, Horatio, traitor that you are. How could you do this? Lori is your friend.”
Horatio grinned. “That’s exactly what I wanted you to think, but you don’t know how tired I am of doing what I’m told. I rather enjoy wreaking havoc rather than having to clean it up. Besides, killing vampires is overrated. What else is there? One more step, and I’ll be what I was truly meant to be. And you can’t stop me.” He lifted the knife to plunge it down into Lori’s chest when the temperature plummeted in the room and he froze in midair.
There was a blur and then a hole in Horatio’s chest where his heart had been. A small trickle of blood ran down his skin. The shocked expression on his face slowly relaxed and the knife dropped from his hand, embedding into the floor. It took a moment, but his body fell limply before the rack and lay still. Tris stared back at the Grigori across the room with Horatio’s still beating heart in his hand. His lips twisted into a devious smile before he tore a large chunk from the meaty flesh and swallowed it. He threw the remains into the fireplace. The flames exploded out of the hearth and wrapped around Daniella’s left arm. She screamed. The Grigori sucked the remnants of the blood from his fingers.
“It’s a pity, really, but he’s outlived his purpose.”
“And what purpose was that?” Tris stepped closer to Horatio’s body and pulled the dagger from the floor.
“He was only the distraction I needed in order to get you here. You’ve always been so close to the edge. All that hate you carry inside of you; killing vampires was the only way you could channel it. Caillech had you so close to turning, so close to sitting at my side. Even after you staked her, all you had to do was reach out. But Joe got to you first.”
“Calli was yours?”
“Of course she was. She was Balthus’s child. Once I saw her, I knew Caillech’s beauty could draw even an angel down from the clouds.”
Tris could understand that because Caillech had done that very thing. “Why would you want me now? I don’t want anything to do with you or your kind.”
The Grigori chuckled. “You don’t have a choice, Tris. You’re right on the edge, even closer than you were before. All you need to do is to kill your friend. I’ll even let you break in the bitch. She’ll be so much fun to play with.”
He glanced at Daniella. Fear lingered in her eyes. The heat from the fire was slowly dissolving her skin. Her flesh was rare and black in some patches. The beauty she had once been was eaten away, but he could not think about her right now. Lori was his main target. He studied Lori. His friend was near dying. It would be so easy and humane to put him out of his misery. But at the thought, the darkness growing in him rose up and he felt a glimmer of enjoyment. Tris could see the abyss and feel the power that it offered. If he stepped into it, then he could have a level of power he never knew before.
“Take the dagger and plunge it into Lori’s heart.” The Grigori stepped closer to him.
Tris was mesmerized by the way the creature spoke. He lost himself in the Grigori’s dark gaze. He lost his grip on his sword, and it clattered to the floor. Tris tried to regain control of his body, but he was not able to. His fingers curled around the dagger that he had slid into the waistband of his pants. He heard the seductive tones of the Grigori’s voice in his mind telling him what he needed to do.
“Yes. Plunge it into his heart, and you can join me.”
Tris stepped toward Lori. His friend opened his eyes and started to say something, but he was too weak. Cold fingers slid around his shoulders and along his neck.
“That’s it. Give yourself over to me. Once this is done, everything before it will be a bad dream.”
Yes, it would. Everything would be a bad dream. A cold desire infused him to snuff out the small flame that remained within Lori. It would be so great. He could let it all g
o. All of his burdens would fly away. He stepped closer and lifted the blade over his head.
“Tris, no!” He heard Daniella’s voice through the haze.
“What did I tell you?” the Grigori growled.
“What do I care? You’re going to kill me anyway.”
“True. Isn’t she marvelous, Tris, She’s been part of the plan since the beginning. Didn’t you know that?” the Grigori asked.
Fury boiled under his skin. The darkness from the abyss within him rose up and latched on to the rage. It twisted and turned and fed on itself. At each quick turn, it grew stronger and stronger until it built up and gripped him until he could feel the layers of his personality peeling away, revealing all the instincts and emotions that had been left from his pent-up rage. He wanted to believe with all his soul that Daniella was innocent of what the Grigori was saying, but he could not pull his thoughts away from what the fallen angel was spinning.
“Don’t listen to him. He’ll twist it all around,” Daniella said.
“Don’t worry about her. I’m the only voice you hear. Take the knife and complete your destiny. Release that rage. Lori has been holding you back. He’s been your watchdog, making sure you follow the rules and don’t go off the deep end.”
“Tris, Lori’s your friend. Put the knife down,” Daniella pleaded with him.
He glanced back at her and at his hand. The point of the blade pressed into Lori’s skin, and his eyes held a panicked look. So close, and the power that was locked inside of him fanned through his being. All he yearned for was to plunge that dagger into his friend and release the power. Tris never thought he wanted anything more than that. This was the path he had been set upon when he first fell for Caillech. What the Grigori said was true. Lori had always been his guard dog. He wanted to eradicate the nest in one swoop when Lori wanted to at least show them a little respect and some mercy. They did not deserve mercy. Neither did Lori. It was time to take his place
“Did you hear me? I said do it!” the Grigori demanded.
“Tris, look at me. Drop the knife.”
Tris gazed at Daniella, and all he saw was the true monster that she was. “You’re next.”
She shook her head. “I know you can see him for what he truly is. Remember who you are. Please, Tris. You can’t become like him. I love you too much to lose you.”
He pushed the point of the dagger into his friend’s chest. Tris shook his head and had a moment of clarity. He saw Lori hurt and dying. The Grigori was an evil monster twisted by his deeds. Everything in Tris screamed to let the blade descend into the other angel’s chest. It would erase everything that had happened, and he could move into the next phase of his path. When he looked into Daniella’s eyes, something in his heart wrenched. Joe had said that he had lost something, and looking into those wide doe eyes of the vampire before him, he realized what it was.
Tris lifted the dagger for one final swing to take Lori’s heart. At the last minute, he turned and sunk it into the Grigori’s chest. The shocked expression on the creature’s face was something he had not expected. Tris drew the curved dagger he had at his waist, and with one powerful slice he severed the head from the Grigori’s body and watched it sail across the room and land next to Daniella. His body fell to the ground. Once it did, Tris snapped out of the haze he had been in. The anger remained inside of him, but he could control it now. It simmered, so he could see straight. He took a deep breath and realized how close he had come to losing himself and everything he had worked for. He quickly went over and freed Daniella. Once the silver was away from her skin, she began to heal, or at least her body tried to. She still seemed to be badly burned. Tris rushed over to Lori and undid the bindings that held him. Daniella knelt down and undid the bonds around his ankles. Tris caught him and eased his friend down to the floor. Lori was further gone than he had thought. His wings were already wilting. The light was fading from his friend’s eyes.
“You did it,” Lori whispered.
“You shouldn’t talk. We have to get you back to Joe. Then he’ll be able to heal you.” Tris felt his eyes water.
Daniella knelt next to him and glanced at Lori. He smiled at her. “You’re going to be okay.”
“You’re so beautiful. You have to show him it’s the only way.”
Her brow scrunched together. “Show him what?”
He lifted his hand and placed it over her heart. Daniella arched her back and screamed. A glow erupted around her and the fire flared around her in what looked like great wings. A pulse of power pushed out of Lori and around them. Lori’s hand dropped, and Daniella slumped forward onto Lori. Tris felt all of his chances fall away, and he wondered if he could actually be saved.
* * * *
Daniella felt a pouring of energy flash through her body once Lori touched her. It seemed she was suddenly struck by the sun. It burned her from the inside out, and suddenly she felt a great weight on her back that pushed her over; she had never felt anything like it before.
It was so warm she could not sort out everything that had happened. She had almost lost Tris. Seeing him hovering on the edge of darkness ready to kill Lori, she realized something. She was in love with Tris. She did not want to lose him, and that was a revelation she was not sure she had figured out until that very moment. As she watched him teeter closer to whatever edge he was on, his eyes grew darker as though a storm was raging inside of him. He might have been an ass to her at times when his defenses were up, but she had seen underneath those walls when she had spent nights in his arms. Whatever Lori had done to her, it added weight to her back, but something else was happening to her. The burn had settled in her hands and forced her to open her eyes. Lori had stopped breathing, but even in death he looked stunning, even with the wounds. A glow emanated from her hands. Daniella stared at them.
“What’s that?” Tris asked.
She shook her head. “I don’t know.” Daniella wanted to say more, but something made her place her hands on Lori’s chest and another on his forehead. It was as though some invisible force guided her hands. She closed her eyes and had to heal Lori. When he touched her, something seemed to have opened up inside of her and she could finally say she felt complete. There was no more room for doubt. She pushed the glow inside of Lori. The more she pushed, the colder she became. Daniella kept it up until there was nothing left. Someone touched her shoulder.
“You’ve done enough. If you do more, then you’ll give up the gift Lori imparted to you.”
She glanced over and saw Joe gazing at her with sadness in his eyes. She focused down at Lori. His wounds were healed, but he was no longer breathing. Tears came to her eyes, and the warmth of one trailed down her cheek. Daniella touched it first and stared at it with questions rushing through her mind. “What did he give me? What’s happening to me?”
“Come on, we need to get you out of here before Lucifer sends his minions.” He helped Daniella up. She glanced in the corner and saw Marlon blending in with the shadows, but no one else saw him. They made it out of the library before she turned around and saw Tris still kneeling by Lori’s body.
“Isn’t he coming?” Daniella asked.
Joe shook his head. “Tris has to make a choice about what he wants to do. No one can make that for him.”
“But he didn’t kill Lori. He can’t become as twisted as that thing. He can’t.”
“He failed at his mission. He let Lori die and almost let you be killed. He doesn’t have a place in the Fallen anymore. He’s already shaded in darkness.”
“But doesn’t that mean he should get another chance? Aren’t even Fallen angels given a second one?” Daniella could not think about anything happening to Tris and him not being in her life.
“Sorry, Daniella. It’s not up to you anymore. Besides, you’re much too valuable now to be around Tris.”
She broke away from Joe and rushed back to Tris, who had not moved from Lori’s side. She knelt next to him and touched his shoulder. It was ice cold. Daniella pla
ced her hand on his cheek and turned his face toward her, but even then it seemed he was staring right through her.
“Tris, come on. You can’t do this.” She held his face between her hands and tried to reach him, but it seemed he was completely lost. His gaze had turned black. It was as though he had already given up hope.
Joe stood behind her. “He’s almost gone.”
“And you’re going to let him go? What kind of an angel are you? He’s one of yours, and you won’t even try to save him?”
“Because I’ve already saved him and made him into a Fallen when he could’ve been one of the Grigori already. I gave him a chance to be a Fallen, but he’s kept his rage and it’s twisted him. I can’t help him get over that. Tris has lost faith because he can’t even see what you are now.”
Daniella shook her head. “What am I now?”
“You’re an angel now; well, most of you is. Lori gave that spark of himself to you so that your other side would awaken fully. You’re still a vampire; that isn’t something that we can change, but the angel part of you puts you in another league. I’ll explain more of it later, but Tris has to make up his own mind. We can’t force him to do something he doesn’t want to do anymore.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Please, we need to go so Lucifer’s minions don’t find you.”
Another tear fell down her cheek and landed on Tris’s hand. Daniella pressed her lips to his and found them to be cold and lifeless. A wailing began in the distance and the shadows grew denser. Marlon stepped from the darkness and made himself known.
“I’ll watch over him.”
Something silent passed between Joe and Marlon. Daniella got up and leaned into Tris’s ear. “I love you, Tris. I wasn’t lying about that. Please come back to me.” She kissed him on the cheek quickly and drew back, letting Joe take her away from the man she loved.
