Justice hesitates for a moment, glancing back and forth between the unicorns and me, before shifting out of his crouching position. He takes a seat on the ground, sitting Indian style, and
then carefully separates some of the bushes in front of him, so he
can still see the unicorns grazing. I do the same, moving from my knees to the surprisingly comfortable ground of the forest. I can only see the two baby unicorns though his peep hole.
“Let me paint you a picture Liv,” Justice begins, and I can tell he’s reluctant to tell this story; he’s always disinclined to talk when the subject matter is him. “You’re a boy, finally believing you’re free from the hellish life you’d been living for as long as you can remember. Then, in one instant, all your hope and dreams get ripped away when you see your best friend, your brother get brutally murdered because of your debts. And then you get brutally murdered yourself.”
“Doesn’t sound pleasant.” I interrupt.
“No, it wasn’t,” Justice agrees. “But that was just the beginning. Instead of going to heaven to rest in peace, you’re offered an opportunity, a second chance, to be part of the greater good.”
“By who?” I question.
“The stars,” Justice says without missing a beat then goes on. “And you’re so mixed up from all that’s just happened, rectitude sounds fulfilling to your restless soul. The soul that’s not ready to give up living. So you agree. And before you can finish uttering the one syllable word, you’re crashing to earth. Then, like nothing happened at all, you find yourself standing in the middle of the foyer of The Cliffs with the most god awful burn in your
chest like the Devil himself is trying to rip his way out. And
Daniel is there, expecting you. He welcomes you and reassures you. And sells you on this new life that you chose. And you believe you made the right decision. Then you find out your best friend, your brother, has been given a second chance too. And you’re ecstatic. It was all worth it. But when you finally see him, he’s different. He hates you. And the change in him creates a change in you,” he frowns. “And then, after all that, Daniel takes you to see Cross. A self-centered, self-absorbed, egotistical man who tells you you’re an anomaly. That your second chance was a fluke. It was never meant to be and your soul is marked.”
“Marked for what?” I perk up, disrupting hm.
“I don’t know and that fucker won’t tell me,” Justice bites. “He says it has something to do with my mortal life crossing over into my immortal life.”
“And he won’t tell you what that means?”
“Nope, and I swear he taunts me just for the fun of it. Sicko needs a life.”
“That’s pretty messed up on his part.”
“Cross is pretty messed up in general.” Justice pulls a vibrant green leave off the bush and starts picking it apart. “After one hundred years, I finally gave up hassling him. But it doesn’t mean I don’t resent him or still wonder about it.”
“I can’t say I blame you,” I tell him sympathetically.
“It is what it is.” He throws the bare stem of the leaf on the ground. “There are other things to brood over now.”
“Like us?” I confront him.
“Last time I checked there wasn’t any us.” “And whose fault is that?”
“Liv, are you going to start this again?” “Yes, we never did finish our conversation.” “I would hardly call that a conversation.”
“Are you going to tell me what you meant by any of them?” I press.
“No.”
“You’re impossible.” “So I’ve been told.” I scowl.
“Well, here’s something you’ve never been told: I may still miss you, and I may still love you, but I’m not going to wait around forever for you. Brood over that.”
Justice’s jaw drops open. I stand up rashly.
“What are you doing?” he hisses.
“I want to get back to Century city,” I snap at him. Now more than ever. “And we aren’t going to do that by sitting around in the woods all night, so I’m going to put your virgin theory to the test.”
Easily and cautiously, I slide out from behind the bushes. Exposing myself to the unicorns who are still comfortably
grazing.
“Liv!” Justice asserts quietly.
“What?” I turn back and look at him like don’t be a punk.
I slowly inch over to where the unicorns are mingling. They don’t seem to be bothered by my presence. As I get within arm’s reach, one of them looks straight into my eyes with fierce attention. It paralyzes me right where I stand. As our gazes lock and I’m sucked right into the beast’s subconscious. Its energy is so raw and real; the stallion is pulsating with purity and grace.
I slowly lift a hand to its long slender face. Its features are sharp yet so soft; striking. It lets me lightly place my fingers on the tip of its nose, and then it nuzzles its face into my hand. I stroke it’s long, slender forehead delighting in the interaction with the legendary animal. The unicorn suddenly startles, instinctively standing it ground to protect its tiny offspring. I turn to see what frightened him and find Justice standing behind me, frozen.
“I don’t think it likes me,” he says cautiously.
“I think it knows you’re not a virgin.” I tell him dryly.
The unicorn whinnies. “I think it likes your sense of humor.” Justice says.
“Who doesn’t?”
Justice tensely reaches out his hand to the unicorn, who allows him to touch him.
The widest smile spreads across Justice’s face. The smile that
is so genuine and sincere. The smile that I love.
The two of us stand quietly next to each other as the unicorns surround us, allowing their curiosity to let us into their sacred circle. I don’t know how much time we spent standing there, but I will never forget the nerve-tingling experience of being enveloped by real, live unicorns.
After however long, the largest unicorn begins to nudge me forward, as if signaling it’s time to go. I frown at Justice; I’m not ready to part just yet. But the unicorn has other ideas. Pushing harder, I stumble forward and begin to walk, and to my surprise the unicorns accompany us, as if our personal escorts. I can’t help but catch a glimpse of Justice’s face in the moonlight breaking through the trees. He seems to be especially smitten with one of the baby unicorns. It melts my heart.
Although there isn’t an uncomfortable silence between us, I still feel the need to talk.
“What did you mean when you said it felt like the Devil himself was trying to rip right out of your chest?”
Justice looks at me briefly, before he taps his chest with her finger. “My grace,” he says. “It’s where my power stems from. Remember when I told you I was a distant cousin to a certain type of angel?”
“Yes,” I answer, recalling the obscure response he gave me in paradise when I asked him what he really was.
“We’re reborn with the Seraphim’s flame. They’re the highest ranking angel in heaven, and we are an extension of them here on earth.”
“How is that possible?” I ask curiously.
“The stars wanted guardians,” he explains, “warriors who could protect the balance between good and evil. So they reached out to the Archangel Michael, the leader of heaven’s forces. But he couldn’t give them what they wanted so he went to the Seraphim on their behalf. Seraphiel, the chief Seraphim, was in favor of the star’s request. And being an angel of fire, he pulled a piece of his grace from himself in the form of a tiny fireball, for Michael to give to the stars to create their sentinel’s.”
“So, that’s what puts you at the top of the magical food chain, your association to them?” It’s a question and a statement all at the same time.
“Yes, as well as the power we wield.”
“Right, because the more magic you have, the more powerful you are? Like in politics.”
“Yes,” Justice agrees. “If I had to choose though, I’d deal with a demon over
a politician any day.” He says drolly.
If nothing else, my time in Devonshire has proved to be educational.
“That’s what the creature was going after when he was digging in my chest,” Justice divulges.
“The Seraphim’s flame?”
“Yup,” he confirms. “If he ingested it, he would’ve not only obtained my immortality, but all my abilities as well.”
Justice’s abilities in the wrong hands? I can only imagine, cataclysmic.
“Well it’s a good thing I was there then,” I tease.
“It was because of you I was in that situation in the first place,” Justice replies, and he’s definitely not amused.
“Well I’m sorry,” I wrap my arms around myself and pout. “You could have just let the Darkling have me.”
“Liv,” Justice says, deeply sincere. “I would rip out my grace before I’d let anything happen to you.”
What?
I almost fall over my own feet.
How can he be so distant and still say things like that to me? I just don’t get it.
I just don’t get the mounting mystery that he is. “Nice!” Justice suddenly exclaims.
“What?” I look away from him and follow his gaze, that’s when I see it; the orangey lights of Century city glowing in the distance of the forests clearing.
“It’s not far now, we should make it back before daylight, one strike short of a Darkling attack,” Justice says haughtily.
Then the air abruptly becomes thin, and a familiar emptiness creeps inside me.
“I think you spoke to soon,” I tell him as I look up. Swirling above our heads are ominous, breathing storm clouds threatening to destroy me.
“Run!” Justice yells, pushing me; we take off for cover underneath the trees, the unicorns scattering.
Justice and I dash through the forest, desperate for an escape.
But just like before, the Darklings gain on us.
I knew it was only a matter of time.
I used my powers, and they were a freaking flare calling them straight to us.
They get closer and closer until out of the shadows we are surrounded by black, prowling silhouettes with no facial features to speak of, except for their mouths. Their terrifying, all consuming mouths, stretched wide; eager for its kill.
They’re everywhere, calling me, summoning me, stealing me away.
“No, no, no!” I shake my head hysterically in my hands. “Liv, fight it!” Justice strains as he shields me with his body. “I’m trying,” I mutter wearily.
The emptiness is overwhelming, it’s devouring me. If we don’t do something soon, I’m done.
Frenzied thoughts race through my mind. Desperate decisions have to be made.
There is only one solution.
A really, really painful one.
“Oh fuck it!” I bluster. “Do it!” I screech. Justice turns to look at me.
I shake my hands erratically at him. “Do it before I change my mind!” I shout.
His expression tells me he knows exactly what I’m bumbling about. And one second later, two massive, burning wings sprout from his back, as his body explodes into flames. He grabs my hands with crushing force and take off on a nightmarish flight back to Century city.
Apologies and Epiphanies
“Ahhhh!”
Justice drops me right in the middle of the city. “Umph.” I hit the cobblestone street with a thud. I roll and bounce until the force is done batting me around. He could have at least dropped me in a bush! My entire being is on fire. The short ride back was so hot; it’s a miracle I didn’t just melt away.
I sit up, rubbing the sorest parts of my body and take notice of the crowd gathering around me. I assume they want to gawk some more at the human, especially since she just fell from the sky.
Something is off though. Their stares are different, more intense. Like they are dissecting me, instead of mystified by me.
I stand up hastily and brush myself off. I’m not far from the hotel, so I start to walk. Fast.
Justice is suddenly beside me, abreast to my pace.
“Why are they all starting at me like that?” I ask him with short breath.
“Because they know what you are,” he tells me. “Supernatural?” I glance back and forth between him and
them.
“Powerful,” he clarifies.
He hurries me into the White Tulip, but stops at the staircase.
“Aren’t you coming?” I turn and look at him.
“No,” he says sharply. “Go up to your room and stay there.” Bossy, bossy. “I need to go do some damage control.” And he doesn’t look happy about it either. I think I really got myself into trouble by using my powers.
Ripping off Jocelyn’s broken shoes, I run up the forever winding staircase, a strange brush of warm air flipping my hair as I do. I climb and climb until I get to my floor. I am just about to bolt into my room, when I have a change of heart. I glance down the dark corridor. Justice will hemorrhage if he finds out. But I don’t care, I need to do this. I let go of the gold door handle and make my way down the long red hallway. I stop uneasily in front of another large, wooden door with a gold handle. I take a deep breath. I’m not sure what’s going to happen when I turn the knob, I just know I need to do this.
I knock, and an even, soft voice calls for me to enter.
I open the door to Jocelyn’s room, not expecting to find what I see. Pastel mobiles are hanging from the ceiling, toys are scattered all over the floor, and a white hand carved crib sits sweetly next to Jocelyn’s bed.
The entire suite has been transformed into a beautiful baby girl’s nursery.
Precious.
Jocelyn is sitting in a rocking chair by the large picture window; the room light and airy from the morning sunrise. Danika is fast asleep in her arms.
“Children suit you,” I say, attempting to break the ice. She smiles warmly, hugging the innocent child.
“Good to see you’re in once piece,” she says as her acute sapphire eyes follow my wayward path into her room.
“Only physically,” I tell her, as I sway apprehensively.
“What, no reconciliation?” Her expression perks up. “I thought for sure that spending the night lost in an enchanted forest on the run from wild demons would definitely rekindle a spark.” Jocelyn says this with a bit of farce.
“Not in the least,” I say thwarted. “How is she doing?” I nod to Danika. I don’t want to talk about what happened in the forest. Or him for that matter. Right now my sole concern is to grovel at Jocelyn’s feet.
“She,” Jocelyn pets Danika’s head. “Is an astounding little person.”
“What’s going to happen to her now?”
Jocelyn flashes me a contented smile. “I’m going to raise her.” “You?” I lift my eyebrows.
“There’s no other choice. I can’t let her go into the system, and a human family will never be able to protect her-”
“Or love her,” I cut her off. “The way you can.”
She stares deeply into my eyes. She appreciates my understanding, and I think it comforts her to know I believe what she’s doing is right.
I see this as the perfect opportunity to grovel. “Joz,” I say apologetically, “I-”
She raises her hand to stop me. “There’s no need for apologies Liv, we were both at fault. I never should have said those things to you. I was just shocked to find you with him.”
Um, me too.
“I guess I never really believed you and Justice were over, and then when I saw that, I don’t know, I went into attack mode. I felt betrayed on Justice’s behalf.” She shakes her head at the absurdity. “When I got back to my room, I realized how wrong I was. Then in the forest, I was just so wound up with emotion…” She shrugs, regretfully.
“I never should have tried to do that,” I erratically interrupt her. “I crossed the line. I just couldn’t bear to see you hurting.”
“I know, that’s one of the
things I love about you, Liv,” her blue eyes sparkle. “That’s what we all love about you.”
“Not everyone.”
“Even him, even if he is too stupid to realize it.”
I love Jocelyn’s candid honesty. Especially when she’s firing it right at Justice.
“So, friends?” I ask timidly.
“Obviously,” she shakes her head and rolls her eyes. If she wasn’t holding Danika, I would tackle her to the ground.
“Sooo, do you want to tell me what’s going with AJ?” I pry. Jocelyn looks at me with a timorous stare.
“I’m really not sure to be honest. He’s been with me and Danika every second since he got here.” She can barely contain her delight. “He left right before you knocked on the door.”
AJ must have been the gust I felt on the staircase. He was moving so fast I didn’t even see him.
“Where did he go?”
“To see Justice, to help with damage control.” Jocelyn eyes me apprehensively.
Crap.
“Why did you ask about AJ?” She inquires, suddenly aware. “Well for one thing, he was actually in my apartment. Which
is weird to begin with, seeing he’s more anti-social then I ever was,” I point out. “Then in the forest he was showing me a link to you and Danika and was completely at odds about it. He’s conflicted. I just can’t get a read on why.”
Jocelyn lets out a deep sigh, still rocking Danika in her arms. “You understand what I’m talking about I take it?” Gauging
her reaction.
She nods. “Decades ago,” she begins. “AJ and I were close. That’s the best I can explain it. He took me under his wing so to
speak, and helped me with the transition. Nothing ever happened, but there was always a connection.”
Gravitational Pull (Vis Vires, book 2) (Vis Vires trilogy) Page 14
