“Cylar had to be eliminated, but I couldn’t just murder him. And I did want to see if he would reveal more information.”
“Hmm,” Davin says. “What was your plan?”
“As soon as Ari arrived on Olympus, Reyna began to act strangely. It did not take me long to realize that Cylar was drugging her. He wanted you dead…”
“Both of us?” Davin asks.
“Ideally, yes. But he did not want to be implicated. Instead, he would induce Reyna to murder you—in a fit of jealous rage. I told Reyna what was happening, and she agreed to play along.”
“She was really under his control?” I ask.
“Yes, but not to the extent that Cylar believed. Reyna allowed me to give her a second drug, which minimized the effect of the drug Cylar gave her. And, as a precaution, we disabled the two core disruptors Cylar had given her. When Reyna failed to kill you, we knew Cylar would tip his hand, giving me a legitimate reason to kill him.”
“But you almost got Davin killed,” I say with a hint of annoyance in my voice.
“We had no idea Cylar was armed. The weapons are ancient—and very hard to acquire. No one was supposed to get hurt—except Cylar, of course.”
“I see. But in order to change Davin, didn’t I have to heal him? Was he destined to get hurt?”
“No,” Lana says. “Once you were bound, the transformation became inevitable. It would have occurred gradually, triggered by your closeness.”
“Healing me caused the change to happen instantly?” Davin asks.
“Yes,” Lana answers.
“Can she change anyone?”
“We’re not sure. We think it requires a strong emotional bond. And now that she’s changed you, it is highly probable that you have the same ability.”
Davin suddenly tenses. “If the Fallen think that we can transform others…”
“I know, Davin. Believe me, I know. But you still do not understand how powerful you both are. They do not have the strength to force either of you to do anything against your will.”
“But they might be able to compel us to bend to their will. Coercion can be a powerful weapon.”
Leave it to Davin to leave no stone unturned. The Fallen are prideful, but not stupid. If they realize that they can’t outmuscle us, their only recourse will be to outsmart us. Or trick us. Or blackmail us.
“We will discuss this with my father, Davin. We will design a good strategy. We will consider all contingencies.”
Davin clears his throat and flashes a tight smile. “There is much to prepare for.”
“It begins with our training here,” Lana says. “We are counting on their pride. We are counting on goading them into battle. And then we will annihilate them.”
“You are the most confident person I’ve ever met,” I say.
“We’ve had this discussion before. Trust me. Once you’ve been coached, you will be invincible.”
“Something is still bothering me,” Davin says. “When your father and you left Ari, who protected her?”
“When my father was called back to Paradise, he decided that Ari and Andi needed more protection than I could provide. So four Prostáti were assigned.”
“I never knew.” I say.
“They are stealthy. They also are quite powerful. You could not have been safer.”
“They let me approach her. Why?” Davin asks.
“They probably sensed you were not a threat,” Lana replies, smiling.
“They should have at least questioned me,” Davin says, with a hint of sarcasm.
“They are extremely intuitive,” Lana says.
Davin moans and rubs his temples briskly.
In a little over three months, I’ve gone from a high school senior to an angel—an angel who can shine as brightly as a star. Literally? Metaphorically? I am afraid to ask.
“So, what are you going to teach us, big sister?”
“Many things.”
“For instance?”
“You will learn to fly.”
“You’ll teach us to fly?” I ask, unable to hide my excitement.
“Mm-hmm.”
“I didn’t know you could fly,” Davin says.
“Would you like a demonstration?”
Davin grins. “That would be nice.”
Lana moves several yards away and stands with her arms at her sides, her head slightly bowed, and her eyes focused on the horizon. A small smile spreads across her lips and she shoots straight up, like a Saturn rocket.
She has to be traveling hundreds of miles per hour. I crane my neck as I track her, squinting into the sun. She rotates her arms in a small arc, and suddenly she’s flying parallel to the sea, looking less like my sister and more like a sleek fighter jet. The loops, rolls, and dives that she performs are absurdly cool.
I gasp. “She can really fly.”
Davin’s eyes are glued to her. “I’m going to enjoy training.”
“Me, too. How fast do you think she’s going?”
“Impossibly fast, Ari. It’s astonishing.”
“Davin?”
He doesn’t answer. He looks like a little boy dreaming of a new toy.
“Davin, you’re awestruck, and it’s so terribly cute.”
“I’ve always wanted to fly,” he says, as he wraps an arm around my waist.
“Me, too.”
“She’s magnificent…”
“Shh. She’s landing. Let’s watch,” I say.
I can do some pretty amazing things. I can run like a jaguar, jump like a kangaroo on steroids, sprint up vertical walls, and project lethal bursts of energy. But seeing my sister soar through the air, like a peregrine falcon, is the single most humbling experience I’ve ever had.
Epilogue
After our briefing, Lana goes inside to shower, leaving Davin and me alone in the courtyard. “I’m not very tired. How about a walk along the beach?” I ask.
“That’s a wonderful idea.”
Moonlight strolls are always romantic, but a stroll under two moons borders on the mystical. Together, they cast a soft amber glow over the beach. The effect is otherworldly, relatively speaking.
“You look very handsome in the moonlight, Davin.”
He places his hand on my arm, and I turn to face him. “And with each passing day your beauty grows, as befits the goddess who will preside over all angels.”
“Um, it is we who will preside. We’re in this together, pal. And if I’m a goddess, then you are a god.”
“I don’t feel like a god. I’m not really sure I would want to.”
“I guess we’ll find out when we meet my grandparents. Do you feel like Lana was holding something back?”
“At first, I did. But I have a funny feeling there are some things she may not fully understand.”
“I guess we’ll find out. Eventually. In the meantime, let’s just try to be ordinary angels.”
“There is nothing ordinary about you.”
“You’re biased.”
Davin laughs softly. Leaning close to me, his lips tease mine, and a tingling warmth spreads through my body. I melt into his arms.
“Mm,” I say breathlessly, as my lips meet his. My lips do not tease. No, my lips are very serious.
Alone among the stars, the moons, and the sea, no words can describe the depth of our love or the connection we share. I can feel his soul as it sings to mine. If I could have only one kiss, one kiss to last until the end of time, this is the one I’d choose.
I rest my head on his chest, and his fingers lace through my hair, sending shivers down my spine.
Davin suddenly tenses. “Remain still and do not panic. Someone is approaching us.”
“Friend or foe?” I whisper.
“I don’t know.”
Davin gently turns me so that I’m standing behind him.
A woman walks toward us. She’s wearing a flowing white dress that touches the tops of her bare feet. Long golden hair blows in the breeze. Her movements are graceful, her
bearing confident.
She stops several feet in front of us and smiles.
“I am Chloe,” she announces in a clear and strong voice. “I bring you news from Paradise.”
I’m speechless. Her eyes are deep violet and shine brightly in the moonlight. I’ve never seen eyes that color before. She is stunning. And she’s a messenger. From Paradise.
Davin locks eyes with her. “How do we know you were not sent by the Fallen?”
“Do you think I am evil, Davin of Genobli?”
“If you are, I will know soon enough. What news do you bring?” Davin calmly asks.
Her expression is stoic and her voice even. “The Fallen have built a web of treachery and evil that will prove difficult to unravel. You will witness suffering and destruction on a scale never before seen, and your quest for victory will bring with it pain, sorrow, and despair. If you are to prevail, you must never lose sight that love is your standard and grace your sword.”
“Your words trouble me, Chloe. Is this a prophecy? Is someone warning us that tragedy is inescapable?” I ask.
“I am sorry if my news disturbs you.”
Davin’s eyes meet mine. “It’s not a prophecy. We do not even know if she was sent from Paradise. But be that as it may, we will make choices, and those choices will determine the outcome. Do you understand, my love?”
“I do. But it doesn’t make me feel much better,” I say.
Chloe smiles, reassuringly. “The Fallen and the humans will also have choices to make. I wish to help. I would be honored to fight by your side. Will you permit me to serve you?”
“You want to serve me?”
“I am an angel. And you are…”
“I am the promise,” I say. It sounds silly.
“You and Davin are manifestations of the promise made to your father. You are the nemeses of the Fallen and the protectors of mankind. If you allow me to help, I will be a most valuable asset. I am Prostáti.”
“Are you sure you want to serve us?”
“Yes. Serving you will help me to serve the Light.”
“The Light? God?”
“They dislike that title.”
“My grandparents?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, well. Excuse me,” I say, raising my eyes to the heavens like an idiot.
Chloe laughs.
“Four Prostáti protected my mother and me on Earth. Do you know them?”
“Yes. Lycos, Calliope, Nyx, and…me.”
“Why should we trust you, Chloe?” Davin asks.
“That is a fair question,” she replies. “I watched your Promise grow up. I protected her. When the Stratori called Galen tried to seduce her, I was ready to intervene. I allowed you to approach her. I was there when you healed her at the waterfall. I…” She hesitates and looks at me with an odd expression. “I care about you both.”
“Where are Lycos, Calliope, and Nyx?” Davin asks.
He seems to be mellowing out. He believes her.
“Lycos and Calliope are in Paradise. Nyx, my Promise, is with Damian.”
“You allowed me to help Ari when she was attacked by the human boy Luke?”
“I did. But I would have stepped in if necessary. Your reputation extends a lot farther than you know, Davin. We knew you would never harm her.”
Davin blushes and I smile.
“And you were with us when she injured her leg?”
“Yes. If you were not so smitten, you might have been able to prevent her from falling into the water. I was angry.”
Davin looks flummoxed. “I…” he sputters.
“Wait,” I say. “You were smitten with me?”
Davin rolls his eyes.
“You did a wonderful job healing her,” Chloe says. “But then when she kissed you, and you embarrassed her, I came very close to throttling you.”
“Yeah, so did I,” I mutter.
Davin cringes. “I needed to protect her, Chloe. If I allowed myself to be distracted…”
“Your souls had already connected. You had already chosen to accept the connection…to care for her. To love her. You could have been kinder, Davin.” Chloe’s face softens and she continues, “But you have more than made up for that transgression.”
Davin gazes at her for a moment with a look of bewilderment, which slowly turns into a warm smile. “True. I will be forever in your debt for all you’ve done to keep Ari safe.”
That’s my Warrior.
“Chloe, come with us to the house. You must be hungry,” I say.
“You will have me join you, then?”
I look at Davin and he nods.
“Welcome to the team,” I say.
“Thank you,” Chloe replies, giving me a slight bow.
As we walk to the house, I pray for strength, wisdom, and a miracle or two.
Lana is sitting in the kitchen. Any doubts about Chloe are dispelled as Lana stands and pulls her into a hug. Apparently, they are acquainted.
“I assume you have met before?” I ask.
“Chloe was your guardian, Tink. She did not leave your side from the time you were eight until you began your training on Olympus.”
“I heard. She was my hidden angel, huh?”
“Prostáti can cloak themselves,” Lana says. “They can become invisible.”
“I know,” I reply.
“Ari,” Chloe says, “I can teach you and Davin how to cloak yourselves. Would you like to learn?”
“Maybe you could teach just me,” I say. “Then I can sneak up on Davin and…”
Davin clears his throat. “She can teach both of us or neither of us.”
I look at Davin and chuckle. “Yes, Chloe, we would be honored if you could teach us. Both of us.”
“I would love to,” Chloe says.
“Well, it’s been a long day,” I say, yawning. “If you don’t mind, I am going to bed.”
“Excellent idea,” Davin agrees.
Davin and I bid the ladies goodnight, leaving them to catch up on old times.
Davin closes the bedroom door, wraps his arms around me, and pulls me close. “How do you feel?”
“Fine…until I think about Chloe’s news. Then I feel distressed, apprehensive, frightened, and really angry. People aren’t going to know what hit them. They may not even know who is on their side. Some may even think the apocalypse has come.”
“We will not let that happen, Ari.”
“But we don’t know, Davin. We just don’t know.”
“We should defer judgment until we’ve completed training, met with your father, and established our strategy.”
Suffering and destruction on a scale never before seen. The words resonate in my mind.
“I suppose. But could Chloe’s tidings have been any worse? Davin, I…”
My eyes well up with tears and I begin to tremble.
He places his hands on my shoulders. “Whatever happens, I will be at your side. Always. We are partners. You will not face this alone.”
“I know,” I say, as tears begin to fall. “But…”
And then I’m hit with a tsunami of sadness, and I sob quietly, grieving for the souls I won’t be able to save, knowing that once the battle begins, there will be no time for tears. No time for grieving.
Davin holds me close, letting me cry it out.
“Are you alright, Ari?” he asks, softly.
“Yes, I’m better. I had to get that out. The human part of me needs to cry sometimes. It’s therapeutic.”
“We’re going to prevail, Love.”
“I know, Darling.”
“Are you very tired?” he asks.
“I can call up my energy reserves if the right opportunity presents itself. Did you have something in mind?”
He picks me up and carries me to our bed. “Well…there are other therapies that can be beneficial in times such as these.”
“True,” I say, as he lays me gently on the bed. “Very true.”
The End of Book 1
&nb
sp; Coming soon: Ariel Between Two Worlds, Episode 2: The Battle for Earth (sample chapter follows)
Sneak Peek
Book Two: The Battle for Earth
[Prologue]
Standing barefoot in the surf, she stares out to sea. It’s so beautiful. The kind of place normal people dream about. Under different circumstances, it might seem like Paradise. Instead, it’s worse than hell.
In the distance, she can barely make out the speedboat as it darts toward Guam, forty miles away. “Goodbye Janus,” she whispers. “Thank you so much for stealing my innocence, for making me understand there are things in this world worse than death.”
Shoulders slumped, she turns slowly and walks along the beach. No one will come looking. The other angels are not a threat because she belongs to Janus—and Janus does not share his toys. “Angels,” she muses to herself. They’re not the lovely, protective creatures depicted in myth and literature. They’re not very angelic at all. They’re going to rule the world. That’s what Janus said. They would fix things. Make things right. She believed him, too. Right up until the first time he raped her.
Turning left, she follows the steep slope up to the bluffs. Last year, she’d have been struggling for breath. But the angels made sure that their girls were in top condition. She had both a personal trainer and a stylist. If she could escape, she might be able to land a job as a model. She was that fit.
Reaching the crest of the hill, she pauses and gazes down at the surf, a hundred feet below. To her right, a dense patch of tropical vegetation covers the cave entrance—a hole in the ground, which she discovered several months ago, by falling into it. Fortunately, her injuries were not serious. Janus did not know.
The cave is her private place. A place where she dreams up elaborate escape plans. Plans that can never possibly work. But she does have one plan that will work.
Lowering herself through the opening, she drops to the cave floor and heads downhill, walking through a narrow corridor, inside a large rock formation that extends a hundred feet out into the ocean. At the end of the corridor is a large circular cavern with an opening to the sea along its far wall. During low tide, the opening is just a few feet above the water. At high tide, the cave is totally flooded.
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