Gravitational Pull (Vis Vires, book 2) (Vis Vires trilogy)

by Marissa Carmel

  “Liv?” Siberian calls to me.

  “What?” I snap, and then cover my mouth with my hand. That was incredibly rude. “I’m sorry,” I rush to apologize. It’s the Justice effect.

  Siberian gives me a reassuring smile, then gestures for us to sit. I keep Justice in an inconspicuous eye line, watching him covertly, enraged, as he speaks with the stunning pixie. They seem so comfortable around each other, like they are old acquaintances; or maybe, something more.

  “That’s my sister,” Siberian nods in their direction. “Your sister,” my eyes grow. “Like the Queen?”

  “Yes,” he confirms. “They’re old friends,” emphasizing on the word friends.

  “Of course they are.” A multitude of emotions spin vigorously inside me. I don’t know whether I want to scream, punch something or cry. Maybe all three at once.

  Now I understand Siberian’s curiosity about which Seraph saved me.

  This is all just absurd.

  I catch Jocelyn walking swiftly towards the other Seraphs, a distraught look on her face. I hear a whistle through the crowd; Melenia is waving to me, wanting me to follow.

  “I can escort you,” Siberian offers, but I decline. I have a feeling this is a family matter. Although, presently, I feel like an estranged member. It can’t be good that all five Seraphs are here with Danika. I know something horrible has happened.

  I scurry to catch up to the others, who have disappeared into the forest. High heels and dirt are never a good mix. After many sunken, uneven steps I come upon them, covered in shadows, kneeling by a small pond.

  Jayden is projecting something on the water’s surface.

  I peer over Melenia’s shoulder, to see what they are all looking at. She feels safest at the moment. I peek, and see the devastation. A fire, an inferno is engulfing the pond’s reflection.

  “What’s going on?” I whisper to her.

  “Demon attack,” she whispers back. “It went after Danika.”

  Oh shit. My eyes immediately dart to Jocelyn.

  There is anger and rage marred on her face as she watches the scene play out. There is ruin everywhere in Danika’s tiny home as three ferocious Seraphs battle against an unruly demon.

  Next to Justice’s encounter with the Spirit Stalker, it’s the first time I’ve ever actually seen the angels collectively fight against the thing they call Evil. It looks like an animalistic death match. I

  cringe at the images. It’s brutal and gory, and I really hope I

  never have to witness anything like it in person. A visualized image is enough.

  AJ, Justice and Derrin prevail over the demon, but not without consequence. A body lays stiff on the ground. A young man, perhaps no more than thirty. He is covered in ash, bloody and bruised.

  Scott.

  Danika’s father.

  “Why did it attack her?” I ask Melenia, still crouched up against her.

  “Because it wanted her power. Danika comes from a long line of formidable witches. Old magic is strong magic.” Melenia frowns. “She has a rough life ahead of her.”

  How sad. I glance over at Danika, clutched in Jocelyn’s arms. She’s barely two and already being subjected to lethal demon attacks; at least I made it to twenty-one. And now she’s lost both her parents too.

  Now that I think about it, I don’t think sad is a strong enough word to describe her situation. Tragic is better.

  Against my better judgment, I muster up some courage and leave Melenia’s side. I stalk slowly around the others, careful to keep a safe distance. I feel like such an outcast with Justice here.

  I kneel down beside Jocelyn, wanting to give her the same support she has given me. AJ’s arms are tightly gripped around

  both her and Danika. He feels fiercely protective, entangled and

  yet, so conflicted. He wants to give them so much more, but restrains himself from doing so. AJ never hides his emotions from me, and here, now, it is almost as if he is calling to me; his clear blue eyes penetrating me through the darkness.

  As much as I want to understand what’s going on with AJ, it’s Jocelyn I need to concentrate on now, so I push whatever it is I’m feeling away and focus solely on her.

  There’s hysteria in her eyes and I know exactly what she’s thinking; what if? What if she’d been there? What if AJ, Justice and Derrin weren’t able to stop the demon? What if, like Scott, Danika died?

  What if she lost another child all over again?

  Jocelyn would never be the same if anything happened to that little girl.

  “Joz?” I speak softly, but she’s removed. “Is there anything I can do?”

  She blinks at me mindlessly, her worries overcoming me. “No,” she says abandoned, hugging Danika tightly. “But I’m

  glad you’re here.” “Me too.”

  We all sit quietly underneath a large covering tree, waiting for Jocelyn to pull herself together. When she’s ready, she stands, still holding Danika tightly in her arms. I’ll be surprised if she ever lets her go again.

  As we walk through the forest, back towards the festival I wedge myself between Jocelyn and AJ, making sure to keep a safe distance from Justice.

  Without even thinking I lock arms with Jocelyn, purely a caring gesture, but as soon as our skin touches I suck in her energy. The emotions I contract are dark and solemn; sensations just too grave for her light-hearted spirit. I stop walking and pull Jocelyn away from the others. She gives me a treacherous look; Seraphs hate it when I infringe on their emotions, but right now I don’t care. I just want to help her.

  “Jocelyn,” I reach for her hand. “Let me help you…” I search for the right words. “Feel better.”

  I attempt to remove the darkness and despair; her cheeks lighting up as energy flows between us then, suddenly, she slaps my hand away.

  “Don’t do that!” She hisses, and instantly I am surrounded by five angry Seraphs and one protective pixie. It feels like the world has suddenly turned on me, and I find myself actually afraid.

  I try to defend my actions, but Jocelyn isn’t having it.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” She snaps. “You can’t just come along and manipulate me! I need to grieve, it’s only right. You,” she glares. “You’re wrong.”

  It almost felt like when she said you, she actually meant me, the person, and not my actions. That hurt. It’s like she doesn’t accept who I am anymore.

  I step back, giving Jocelyn and the others space.

  The clique disperses after our scuffle, leaving me behind. Part of me welcomes the distance. The only one who lingers, of course, is Justice. He shakes his head crossly at me, and then walks on.

  Yes please, make me feel worse. I was only trying to help.

  I contemplate hiding in the forest for the rest of the night, but its eerie energy makes me decide otherwise.

  Emerging from the forest, I walk back into the square. Through the crowd of pixies, I look for Siberian. No surprise, he finds me first.

  “Good meeting?” He asks, taking my hand and escorting me back to where we were sitting earlier.

  “Not in the least,” I say. I feel absolutely worthless. This whole situation is just crappy. Jocelyn is even madder at me than before, the Seraphs are alienating me, and of course, Justice just had to rub it all in with his condescending, judgmental attitude. Why did I ever agree to come here? I should be at home, focusing on Nikkee’s wedding, helping her. Instead I’m stuck in la-la land, being emotionally bludgeoned.

  I drop my head into my hand and sulk.

  This sucks.

  Siberian tries desperately to cheer me up, but all I want is to go back to my hotel room, pack up and go the hell home. Although I have no idea how I am going to manage that. And I know Siberian isn’t going to help me.

  I’m stuck.

  Suddenly I see Justice striding through the crowd, gawking pixies everywhere.

  What now? He’s probably going to scold me, reprimand me or admonish me for something. Perhaps for
existing.

  “Hey,” he tries to act casual, but I can detect a wary tone in his voice.

  “Hey,” I say coldly, I am really in no mood for him right now. “Can we talk for a second?”

  “It doesn’t look like she’s very interested in talking to you,” Siberian intervenes protectively. “It doesn’t look like she’s very interested in doing anything with you.”

  “I think she can speak for herself,” Justice snaps.

  “I think you need to stop speaking all together.” Siberian stands up and gets in the Seraph’s face.

  “Stop.” I wedge myself between them and Justice jerks back immediately.

  Tiny stabs puncture my heart from his reaction.

  “Can you please get me a drink?” I ask Siberian as composed as possible, disguising the fact I am crying inside.

  “I thought you were being good?” Siberian accuses.

  “I’ve been good my whole life,” I fume.

  Siberian looks cautiously between Justice and I, then disappears through the crowd.

  “What do you want?” I cross my arms and glare at Justice.

  He lets out a frustrated sigh, “Can we at least be civil to each other?”

  “Be civil? Why would I ever be civil to someone who breaks my heart for sport?”

  He grimaces. “Do you have to be so dramatic?” “Dramatic!”

  Of course I’m being dramatic! I placed my entire existence in the palm of this man’s hand, and all he did with it was maliciously tighten his fist. Dramatic. He hasn’t even seen dramatic.

  “If you want dramatic, I can show you dramatic.” I lift my arm and threaten him.

  “Whoa, put the hand cannon away!” He surrenders, and then turns on a dime. “And don’t use your goddamn powers,” he barks, making me flinch.

  I stare back at him defiantly, shuddering inside. I never thought I could feel such disdain for someone I love, excuse me, loved so much. But just standing next to him makes me want to do some morally questionable things.

  “What do you want?” I ask again, very cold and short-

  tempered.

  “I wanted to make sure you were alright,” he says sincerely. “And by the looks of things you’re doing just fine.” He makes a bitter face towards the crowd.

  “That’s right, I am. Making friends and everything.” “I see that,” he says sourly.

  “What does it matter to you anyway?” I spit. “It doesn’t,” he replies curtly.

  “Good, it shouldn’t. You gave up any right to care when you turned around and walked out of my life.”

  He doesn’t say anything after that; he just gives me one of those piercing looks, the kind that scorches right through me.

  Siberian returns at the perfect moment. I am through talking to Justice, and now I really, really need that drink. Siberian hands me the glass and I guzzle down its contents. “Easy there, we know what happens when you drink the fizz,” Siberian flirts.

  For a second I think I see a spark in Justice’s eye, and am almost disappointed when I realize it is my imagination. I turn my full attention to Siberian, indicating to Justice that our conversation is over, but not before a streak of fire blazes up my neck. I glance over my shoulder to find Justice right in my peripheral vision. “We may not be together anymore, but I will always care,” he murmurs in a low, firm voice.

  I stare at him out the corner of my eye, time seems to stop, and in that moment it feels like we are the only two people in

  existence.

  “About who?” I asked callously. “Yourself?” He freezes and throws back an evil glare.

  “Do you want to dance?” I look back to Siberian. It was phrased as a question, but it sounded so much more like a demand.

  “Always,” he takes my hand, and leads me away from Justice with a haughty air.

  I can feel Justice’s eyes boring into me as we walk, but I don’t care. I just want to forget him, forget our time together ever existed, and forget that he will always be a severed vein I will never be able to close.

  Siberian bows, signaling the start of our dance. The music is slow and the pixies around us are moving in an arranged, separated flow, but I want something different, something more. I want comfort, closeness; closure.

  I take Siberian’s hand, and pull him up against me. He gives me a surprised look, but is very welcoming of the gesture. I wrap my arms around his neck and dig my cheek into his chest. He is more than willing to grip my waist and sway slowly to the music.

  “Is this how humans dance?” He asks in a low, soothing tone. “Sometimes,” I tell him. “When they want to be close.”

  Touching him, I feel relieved. I denied myself any physical contact, unwilling to surrender my immortal love, but here, now, I know it’s time to move on. And for the first time, in a long time,

  I feel undamaged.

  As we dance, glitter falls all around us. Enchanting the dream- like atmosphere, but I can’t escape the music’s haunting melody, and the reality that reminds me of the truth, that I’m not undamaged. I just desperately try to pretend.

  “I could dance like this with you forever,” Siberian whispers as he pulls me tighter.

  There it is again, that word, forever. I despise it, mainly because, to me, it pertains more to a prison sentence than anything else.

  “I’d get old after a while,” I say with my cheek pressed hopelessly against him.

  “I know that would never be true.” He slides his hands up my body to my face and stares down at me with glossy silver eyes. “I would like nothing more than for you to stay here with me Liv. I can give you everything you could ever want, all your heart’s desires.”

  I stare back at him silently. As tender, and as terrifying, as that proclamation is, my heart only desires one thing, and right now, he is standing across the courtyard, shooting me a demonic stare.

  This is wrong, this is so, so wrong, parading myself like this in front of Justice. But I just can’t pull myself away. Siberian’s searing gaze has me, and I want so much to just get lost in the moment, to feel his touch. I put my hands over his and brace for his lips, allowing him to have me, if only for a second. Then

  suddenly I jump: I’ve just been energy checked right in the gut.

  “Liv, are you alright?” Siberian asks, cradling me in his arms as my knees buckle. I look past his alarmed face, towards the sky. Above us, scary grey storm clouds are rolling in. They look as if they are breathing. Panic sweeps over the festival as thunder roars and lightning strikes replace the serenity of the night with terror and fright. And then, like a gale, Darklings rain down.

  It is the first time I’ve actually seen one. On the mountain top, they were just invisible energy, but here, now, I can see them body and soul. They look like nothing more than a silhouette, a shadow in the shape of human body. They have no eyes or ears or facial features, just a mouth. An all-consuming, sucking mouth that wants as much energy as it can find. And I must be beaming like a coastal lighthouse through thick fog, because they are all heading straight for me.

  As pixies push and shove and scatter, Siberian is aggressively ripped away from me by members of the Guard, and I am left alone to fend for myself in the mounting chaos.

  Trying to decipher which way to go in the turmoil, I hear him. “Liv! Run!” I see Justice making a mad dash through the crowd out of the corner of my eye.

  His voice gets louder. “LIV! RUN!” He shouts again, and I start to move, but in the wrong direction, towards him, and the Darklings. They’re everywhere, like an iron wall of darkness.

  I can’t make it to Justice; every step I take is thwarted by

  either a panicked pixie or an all-consuming Darkling. I’m stuck.

  Then, suddenly, like a back draft, there is a hot whoosh behind me. I wobble from the heat force. When I turn, it takes me a second to register what I am seeing. In sporadic ruptures the Darklings are catching fire. I don’t understand it until I physically see it. It is Jayden I notice first, materializing
a green fireball right in the palm of his hand. He hurls it at a Darkling, causing it to erupt into flames.

  My jaw drops. There’s a new trick. Unfortunately, their attempts are only slowing the Darklings down, not stopping them completely. And once the fire dies out, they are right back after their target. Me.

  As I’m pushed, shoved and swallowed up by the masses, I suddenly find myself surrounded.

  Like cornering a wild animal, they close in on me, covering every angle. They paralyze me with despair, calling to me to become one of them. I glimpse Justice pushing his way through the riotous crowd, he is making good headway, but the Darklings are closer, faster, stronger. I start to panic as I circle around looking for an out.

  There isn’t one.

  I know what I have to do. I’m not helpless, I can fight.

  I conjure all the energy I can muster and throw a blast, sending me, and the Darklings rocketing through the air. I crash land,

  slamming my head against the cobblestones. OUCH! Maybe

  taking on more than one evil shadow at a time was a bit overzealous.

  I quickly drag myself up, rubbing my head that’s now splattered with Darkling goop, waiting for the triple vision to stop. That’s when I see it, the Darkling that will end me. It appears out of nowhere, leaving me not a moment to get out of its way. I scurry backwards impulsively, shield my face and brace for the worst.

  But instead of being swallowed up alive, I suddenly find myself flung over Justice’s shoulder, barreling through the forest. All I see is blackness, but I can feel every branch paddling my butt.