Ariel Rising

by A. J. Sparber

  “Davin, I can sense him. Is he—”

  Davin doesn’t answer. I hear a loud pop, and the front of the DJ’s head explodes in a macabre spray of blood and tissue. It takes several seconds for reality to sink in—and then all hell breaks loose.

  Kids are running around aimlessly, screaming and crying. I see one girl fall and get trampled by two other kids. She manages to get back on her feet and takes off running.

  Tal appears beside us, holding Ella protectively, as more shots ring out. She’s shaking.

  “Ari, take Ella and go to the balcony,” Davin commands, as he points to the glass doors at the back of the ballroom. “Get down to the Valley and go straight to the river. Tal and I will secure things here, and then we’ll find you. Go!”

  “I want to help you.”

  “Tal and I are in no danger, but Ella is. PLEASE!”

  He’s right. “Be careful, Davin.”

  “I will. Now GO!” he roars over the deafening din.

  Ella is sobbing uncontrollably. “Did you see his head—?”

  “Shh,” I whisper in her ear. “I’m going to get us out of here. It’ll be okay.”

  I kick off my shoes, pick her up in my arms, and rocket to the balcony at full speed. To any human observer, we probably appear as an unidentifiable blur. Taking one last, heart-rendering look inside the ballroom, I leap up and onto the balcony wall.

  “Ari, you’re not going to jump!” Ella screams. She’s writhing like an eel, struggling to squirm out of my arms. “You’ll kill us both!”

  “Stay as still as you can. We’ll be fine.”

  “Please let me down, sweetie. Please.”

  “Close your eyes and trust me. You know I’d never hurt you.”

  I don’t want to prolong her agony, so I hold her tight against my chest and launch us off the balcony, toward the Valley, forty feet below. The soft ground cushions our landing and I look down to make sure she is okay. Her breathing is steady, but she’s out cold.

  I jog to the riverbank, set her down on the grass, and brush the hair away from her face. She’s coming around. Now she’s glaring at me. Her expression quickly progresses from confusion to anger. I brace for the tirade I know is coming.

  She sits up slowly and leans against a tree, fixing me with a look of grim determination. And then she erupts. “You picked me up like I was a little kid. Then you took off running like a freaking express train. And…and that jump into the Valley should have killed us both. But it didn’t. When did you become a superhero, huh? What the hell is going on?”

  “I can’t tell you right now. When Davin and Tal get here, we’ll go somewhere and talk. It’ll all make sense. I promise.”

  I lied. I have no idea whether the Warriors will want Ella to know what we are.

  “Really? You can’t tell me?” she asks, as I start walking upstream. “You get back here right now!”

  “I’m just going to look for the guys. I’ll be right back.”

  “Ari! You need to tell me. Right. Now.”

  Maybe I can give her a partial explanation. I turn and start to walk back toward Ella when a man’s voice resonates through the darkness—startling me.

  “My, such a pretty young lady.” His tone is deep, rich, and evil.

  I turn toward the voice just as its owner emerges from the shadows. Steely dark eyes and an aquiline nose dominate his face. His oily black hair is slicked back. I suddenly know what Davin meant by a Warrior’s instinct. He reeks of evil, causing the Essence to surge through my skin, as my body generates a protective shield. “You are Zon,” I hiss.

  “Oh, my. A Warrior,” he croons. “A most serendipitous encounter. How can this be?”

  “It’s your lucky day, I guess. Are you responsible for what happened in the hotel?”

  “I am responsible for many things, my lovely.” He bows at the waist and continues. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Artemus Bodden.”

  “What do you want, Artie?” Energy is boiling inside me. I’m coiled and ready to spring.

  “What do you think? I want to create chaos, provoke panic, and cause you to tingle with terror. And then I want to taste your fear, my dear.”

  He’s got my attention. I place my hands on my hips and stare daggers at him. “Can’t have any.”

  “Well, let’s see.” He pauses and stares at me—running his gaze the length of my body.

  I’m totally creeped out.

  “Hmm. First I’ll make you moan with pleasure and then I’ll make you scream in agony.” His face contorts into a perverted, sickening smile.

  “What the hell is going on?” Ella bellows. “Are y’all crazy?”

  “Ella, stay back there. Everything will be okay. The guy is nuts.”

  He is trying to charm me. I can feel it. He’s testing my power.

  “I’m completely sane, ladies,” Artemus says, with a lilt. “I just have a highly evolved sense of pleasure.” He’s leering at me now. God, I hate it when guys leer at me. Okay, this is going too far, and I’m about to pop.

  “You’ve got less than ten flippin’ seconds to live. I suggest you start praying for redemption.”

  Davin once asked me if I could look a snarling Zon in the eye and destroy him without hesitation. One look at Bodden and there’s no doubt. I can do this. I can tear him to pieces.

  “If you attack me, your human friend will die.” His tone is smooth and ice cold.

  I turn toward Ella. A man is crouched next to her. He smells like Artemus and looks even crazier—and he’s wielding a wicked-looking knife. Crap!

  Ella looks petrified, her face a mask of abject fear.

  I’m not prepared for this at all. What would Davin do? If I charge, she will surely be stabbed before I reach her. I could project energy, but I don’t have enough control yet. I could unintentionally hurt my best friend. Maybe even kill her. My only hope is that Davin and Tal will arrive in time to help. I have to buy us time.

  “What to do, what to do,” Artemus says, in a sing-song cadence. “Your fear is palpable. I haven’t felt pleasure like this in centuries.”

  He’s acting like a total perv.

  “You’re sick,” I say. “Let my friend go and I will be merciful.”

  “You are not in a position to bargain, Warrior.”

  “If she is hurt, you will die. There will be no negotiating. Do you want to die?”

  “Oh, please don’t be angry. It’s such a useless emotion. Fear is so much tastier. How can I terrify you?” He looks at me and then at Ella. “Ah, I think I know,” he says with a maniacal cackle.

  He turns to the beast beside Ella. “Lander, stick your knife into the pretty little human, but try not to kill her too quickly.”

  “No! Please don’t hurt me,” Ella pleads.

  Lander smiles wickedly as he leans close to Ella. “Are you afraid, little girl?”

  He runs his knife along the front of her neck, drawing a thin line of blood. He looks at the knife and moans. And then he licks Ella’s blood off the tip of his blade. Ella is sobbing, and Lander is getting more excited.

  “LEAVE HER ALONE!” I shout.

  “Watch closely,” Lander says. He sticks his knife into Ella’s stomach, inserting it slowly. Then he twists it.

  Ella screams in agony as my heart shatters into little pieces.

  “NO-NO-NO-NO!” I scream, as blood gushes from Ella’s abdomen, turning her beautiful gown red.

  I leap toward Lander, screaming, or perhaps roaring. He pulls the knife out of Ella and lunges. But he’s not quick enough. My foot connects with his midsection, and he flies into the river.

  I kneel beside Ella, who is lying on the ground, moaning. “Hang on, honey, help is on the way,” I tell her.

  “Ari, you roared,” she says in a weak voice.

  Ella looks behind me and her eyes go wide with fear, causing me to turn, just as Bodden raises a handgun and aims. I move in front of him, shielding Ella, as he fires. The bullets are repelled by my shield. He curses and t
hrows the gun onto the ground.

  “You will not leave this forest alive,” I say. The words come out as a guttural snarl.

  “Such a spoil sport,” he whines. “Regrettably, I will take your leave and live to fight another day. It was a pleasure to meet you. Now you’d better tend to your little friend. She does not look well at all.”

  I’m about to kick his evil face into pulp when a sudden movement in the shadows catches my attention. Gliding like a panther, Davin appears in front of us. His fist shoots out like lightning and the left side of Bodden’s head explodes.

  “Ari, behind you!” Davin shouts.

  I turn to see Lander charging up the riverbank toward me. He’s moving fast, too fast for me to plant for a killing strike. I slide to my left and strike the side of his face with a straight right hand. He staggers backwards, but recovers quickly and lunges. Davin steps in front of me, but this is my battle, and I won’t be denied. I shove Davin out of the way and launch myself at Lander. I’m on him in an instant, pinning him to the ground. He sneers, trying to speak, but I cut him off. “You will never hurt anyone again.” I snarl, grabbing two handfuls of his hair.

  “Please…”

  Is he begging for mercy? Because if he is, I have none to offer.

  “NO!” I roar, as I slam his head into the ground.

  He tries to spin free, but the Essence within me is far too strong. I drive his head into the hard, rock-strewn soil, over and over, and over again. I can hear the bones in his neck cracking. Blood pours from his nose, his ears, and his eyes. I want to rip the heart from his chest.

  “THIS IS FOR ELLA, YOU BASTARD!”

  A gentle hand grasps my shoulder. “Ari, he’s dead. You can stop,” Davin says, softly.

  I can’t look at him. I can’t stop smashing Lander’s head into the ground.

  “HE’S NOT DEAD ENOUGH!” I bellow.

  Davin lifts me off my feet and holds me against his chest, breaking the spell and bringing me back to what remain of my senses.

  “Ari, are you hurt?”

  I look down at my dress. It’s covered in blood—Lander’s blood.

  “I—I’m fine. He tortured her, Davin. Is she…?”

  We both turn toward Ella. Tal is kneeling beside her, pouring something into her wound.

  “What is he doing?” I ask.

  “He is administering a medicine that will help slow the bleeding. It is similar to what your mom would call a hemostatic agent—but more effective.”

  “Will it heal her?” I ask, hoping it would.

  “It will buy her time.” Davin doesn’t look confident.

  “Help her, Davin. Don’t let her die. Please!” I begin to sob.

  “She is human, Ari. I cannot share the Essence with her. But you might be able to. I think there is a chance…”

  I can’t move. I can’t speak. I just stare at him, wide-eyed, unable to stop sobbing. He grasps my shoulders and gives me a firm shake.

  “Ari, you need to help her. It’s her only chance.”

  “BUT YOU HEALED ME!”

  “Because you have angel DNA. Ari, please, there’s not much time. Your powers are unique. I believe you can help her.”

  “This is my fault. I hesitated, Davin. I should have saved her. This is all my fault…”

  “It is not your fault. Get hold of yourself and go to her. Now!”

  I shake my head, trying to clear my mind.

  I have to try.

  I go to Ella’s side and gently grasp Tal’s shoulder. “I’m going to help her heal, Tal.”

  Tal gives me a curious look and nods. He looks devastated. Defeated.

  I kneel down next to Ella and inspect her wound. Blood is everywhere. Lander didn’t just stab her—the monster tore her open.

  “What do I do, Davin?” I ask, as I lay my hand gently on her stomach. She flinches and moans—but doesn’t wake up.

  Davin kneels beside me and places a hand on my arm. “Ari, release your energy into her. See it in your mind. Think about how much you love her.”

  I nod, unsure whether I can do it, but I’ll try. I’ll try as hard as I can.

  I focus—pulling energy inward. Whatever Tal poured into her wound is working, because the bleeding has slowed to a trickle.

  Please God, give me a little help here. Maybe a miracle?

  I push out hard, releasing energy into her torso. The air around me warms, and a faint glow appears over my hand. It’s almost imperceptible. But then it grows brighter—until Ella’s entire body is bathed in a soft blue halo. Her eyes open wide and she gasps, trying to speak. But all she can do is mouth my name.

  Davin leans in closer and whispers, “It’s going to hurt a lot, but you must stay connected. Do not let go.”

  Ella’s eyes close again. I watch the slow rise and fall of her chest. “Don’t give up, Ella,” I beg, as tears stream down my face.

  Ella convulses, and I feel hot, really hot, as if every muscle and organ in my body is on fire. I groan in agony, refusing to scream, fearing I’ll lose my focus.

  “Hold on, Ari,” Davin says. “You’re doing it. I’m here with you.”

  After several long, agonizing minutes, the pain begins to subside and I can breathe again. Ella’s eyes open and she looks at me.

  “Ari?”

  “I’m here Ella.”

  “I know that. I can see you.”

  I smile at her through a steady stream of tears.

  “You healed me, sweetie. It was as if you and I were…as if we were one person. How…?”

  Her voice is weak and raspy. I look at the guys for help, not knowing what to tell her.

  “I will explain everything when you are stronger,” Tal says.

  “No you won’t,” Ella says. Her voice may be weak, but her mind is strong as ever. “You will explain now. That creepy dude called me human. Why would he do that, huh? And Ari and Davin did some things that were clearly more than human. I’m nobody’s fool, Tal.”

  “You need to rest, and then I will tell you everything,” Tal says, as he rubs her forehead and temples with a very aromatic ointment.

  “Stop it. That stuff is gross. You better tell me…” Her voice trails off and her eyes close.

  She’s sound asleep.

  “What did you put on her head, Tal?”

  “A sedative. She needs to rest.”

  “That was one hell of a sedative. Is it safe?”

  “Yes. She will sleep for a couple of hours and then wake feeling refreshed.”

  “Will you stay with her?”

  “I will not leave her side.”

  “Thanks. She cares for you a lot. If any human can handle our little secret, it’s Ella. If we hide the truth from her, she’ll know, and she’ll be terribly hurt. She’s a lot smarter than you think. You need to tell her what you are. What we are.”

  He looks at me with a wistful expression and sighs. “Sometimes I think she is smarter than most angels. I will talk with her tonight. You should get some rest, Ari.”

  “I think you’re right. If her condition changes, come get me.”

  “I will,” he says, and then he grasps my hand. “You were amazing tonight. I am very proud of you.”

  “Thank you, Tal. But I should have done more.”

  “You did all you possibly could. You displayed courage and good judgment. You are a true Warrior. Neither Davin nor I could have done more.”

  I smile and give Tal a pat on the shoulder. “Coming from you, it means a lot. Thanks.”

  He nods and smiles back at me.

  “Take care of her, Tal.”

  “I will,” he says.

  I stand up on wobbly legs.

  Davin wraps an arm around my waist for support. “How do you feel?” he asks.

  “A little drained, and I have a really big headache. Oh, and every muscle in my body feels like mush,” I say, wincing. “Other than that, I’m pretty good.”

  “I know the feeling,” he says.

  “Is that how you f
elt at Renegade Falls?” I ask, remembering how drained he looked after helping me to heal my leg.

  “Yes.”

  “How did you know I could heal her? Did you know?”

  He knew.

  He takes a deep breath. “I didn’t know for sure. But I suspected you could. Warriors cannot heal humans. But you are more than a Warrior, Ari. Much more.”

  “This is all so incredible, Davin. I felt as if I was inside her soul.”

  “There is something we need to consider.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Think of what you’ve learned about angel genetics. How do we heal?”

  We heal from the Essence. In the event of a major injury, we can help another angel by sharing energy. But angels heal themselves because they are genetically equipped to do so. I gasp. “The Essence. She used the Essence.”

  Davin nods.

  Is he implying that I changed her?

  “Oh, Davin. You don’t think…”

  “There is a very real possibility that you have altered her DNA.”

  “How can we find out?”

  “Let’s go sit down and wait for Thalia,” he says, pointing to a large SUV parked under a tree. “She will know.”

  “Oh God,” I whisper.

  Davin gives me an odd look, then smiles. “Precisely.”

  Chapter 18

  Davin and I are sitting in the cargo area of a large black Range Rover, which turns out to be a lot more comfortable than the ground. In fact, it’s quite luxurious.

  “Who are they?” I ask, as I look out through the open tailgate.

  Several people are scurrying about. Some are spraying a powdered substance on the ground, while others wield instruments that look like high-tech metal detectors.

  “Thalia sent in a team to clean up the area and dispose of the Zon bodies,” Davin replies, as he strokes my hair.

  “You called her?”

  “Tal called her just before we found you.”

  “Oh,” I say, as I watch a Warrior walk up from the riverbank, carrying a large bag. From the shape of its contents, I assume it’s a body. I shudder.

  “What happened after I left the hotel?” I ask. “Were there more casualties?”

  “Yes.”

  “How many?”

  “I’m not sure. After we dealt with the shooters, we left to find you and Ella.”