The Angel Trials- The Complete Series

by Michelle Madow

  He wailed and tugged on the chain again. He shook his head in a “no” motion, more tears wetting the fur under his eyes.

  I had no idea if this was going well or not. It didn’t seem like it was. But the chain was pulled taut right now. This was my chance.

  “Now, Annar.” I used my free hand to hold onto her hair, and she ran forward.

  When we reached chain, I swung my sword down at it, slicing it cleanly in half.

  I pulled back on Annar’s hair, using it like a rein. A second later I realized that might irritate her, but she obeyed my request to halt, and turned us to face the giant.

  He raised his now free arm in the air and stared at us in amazement. He looked to the tree, the broken chain, and us again. Finally, he cheered and jumped three times. With each jump, the ground shook, and I held tighter onto Annar’s mane to stay in place.

  Once he finished his celebration, he walked toward us and held out his hand that had been chained. There was still a shackle around his wrist. A piece of the chain hung from it. He pointed to the shackle and then at my sword, tilting his head in question.

  He wanted me to remove it. But it was bound so tightly around his wrist. I feared that if I tried removing it, I’d end up hurting him in the process.

  I looked up into his eager eyes, dreading having to shake my head and tell him that no, I couldn’t remove the shackle.

  But before I could, Annar rotated around so she faced him. She lowered her head and touched the tip of her gleaming horn to the shackle.

  The shackle shimmered and disappeared into thin air. The chain that had been bound to it dropped to the ground at our feet.

  The giant’s wrist was chafed and bloody from who knows how long being shackled to that tree. But he was free.

  He reached into a pocket in his loincloth and pulled out two golden apples. They were the size of normal apples, but looked tiny in his oversized hand. They also truly were golden, with a metallic, shimmering skin.

  Surely they weren’t edible?

  He lowered the first one toward Annar’s mouth. The unicorn chomped down on the fruit, consuming it in a few bites.

  Now the giant looked expectantly at me, holding the apple out toward my face.

  I plucked it from his hand, studying it and examining its strange metallic sheen. Normally I would have been afraid to eat it. But Annar had eaten it with no hesitation. Nothing bad had happened to her. Plus, I was really hungry. And the giant was still watching me, waiting. I had a feeling he wouldn’t take it well if I refused.

  So here went nothing.

  I opened my mouth wide and took a large bite out of the shiny apple.

  It. Was. Amazing.

  Not just the taste. Because yes, the juice was like liquid sunshine, and the fruit was perfect and sweet. But this apple must have been magical. Because as I ate it, my hunger and thirst subsided into nothing. And most amazingly, my energy shot up like crazy.

  I’d been living in such a state of anxiety and exhaustion these past few weeks that I’d gotten used to it. But after eating the apple, I felt fresh, energized, and ready to take over the world. I hadn’t felt so awake and clear headed ever, to be honest. And amazingly, every bit of the apple was edible, including the core.

  “Thank you,” I said to the giant, using the back of my hand to wipe any excess juice off my mouth. “That was delicious.”

  The giant smiled and nodded, his eyes shining with happiness that I’d enjoyed the apple. I couldn’t believe that less than fifteen minutes ago, I’d contemplated using my sword to slice him in half. He was a kind, gentle soul. I was glad I’d seen that before doing something awful.

  He smiled again—like he knew what I was thinking—before turning around and running gleefully off into the hilly landscape behind us.

  He was free. I hoped wherever he was going, it was to return to others like him.

  Which was exactly what I needed to do, too.

  And so, Annar and I faced forward, ready to continue along the red clay path that led straight into the dark forest.

  32

  Raven

  I did not want to enter that forest.

  The trees were so tall that they looked like they went up into the sky forever. It was dark, dense, foggy, creepy, and basically everything a normal person would avoid. Unless they were trying to get themselves killed.

  To make things even creepier, the moment we stepped into the forest, it was suddenly nighttime. When we’d freed the giant, the sun was high up in the sky, not anywhere close to setting.

  Now it was gone. And the treetops were so thick that when I tried looking up to see the moon, all I saw were branches and leaves. The only bright thing in the entire area was Annar’s gleaming horn leading our way. Without her horn, it would have been pitch dark.

  Owls hooted up ahead, and I heard other, strange noises coming from animals I didn’t dare try to picture. Given everything I’d encountered in this place so far, it was safe to assume I wasn’t on Earth anymore. So whatever creatures lurked in these woods… I was probably better off not knowing what they were.

  We’d only been walking in the forest for a minute when a giant spider dropped down in front of us. I shrieked and leaned back. The spider was literally four feet wide, and I could see every gross, disgusting detail of its eyes, hairy body, and most disturbingly, its pinchers.

  I hated spiders. And judging by the way this one was eyeing us up and moving its pinchers in and out, it was ready to have us for dinner.

  But I’d already come this far. I wasn’t going to end up a spider’s meal.

  I needed to gather my wits and handle this.

  So I took a deep breath and reached for my sword, ready to do whatever was necessary to continue along the path. Even if that meant facing off with this giant spider.

  I signaled to Annar to go forward. But as we got closer, the spider crawled back up into its web, giving us space to continue along the path.

  It was like the spider had gotten a whiff of us and decided we wouldn’t be a satisfying meal.

  I kept my eyes on it the entire time we walked underneath it, ready to use my sword in a second’s notice. But it let us pass.

  “Huh,” I said, placing my sword back into its sheath. “That was easy.”

  It was too easy.

  Warmth flowed into my hands through Annar’s mane, and she sent another image into my mind. Not an image—a memory. Of both of us eating the golden apples.

  But now I saw that when we ate the apples, a sparkly, golden protective aura formed around us. A shield. The shield was still around us as we walked through the forest. I couldn’t see it myself, but from the image Annar sent me, the creatures of the forest could. It signaled them not to attack.

  “Are you telling me the apples gave us some kind of invincibility shield?” I asked, my mind blown. I used to play the video game Mario Kart as a kid. One of my favorite moments was when I got an invincibility star and was immune to attacks. From what Annar was showing me, the golden apples seemed similar to that star.

  Annar nodded, confirming my suspicion.

  Wow. I wished I could go back and thank the giant. I’d known the golden apple had made me feel great, but I hadn’t known the full extent of its powers.

  I shuddered to think about what we might have had to face in this forest without the golden apples protecting us.

  Once past the spider, Annar burst back into a gallop. We were out of the forest in thirty minutes tops.

  I had a feeling it would have taken a lot longer without the protection of the apples.

  We stepped out of the forest into a gorgeous purple sunset over more rolling hills. But the path didn’t continue in one single lane like it did before.

  It forked into four separate paths. All of them made of the same red clay.

  At the end of each path were enchanting abodes. They were far away, but close enough that I could still see what they were.

  A massive stone castle overlooking a welcoming, magic
al forest.

  A palace by the sea that looked like a golden version of Oz.

  A Grecian mansion so high up in a mountain that it was practically part of the clouds.

  And lastly, a cozy Victorian house with smoke coming out of the chimney, surrounded by fertile farmland.

  Once I looked at each of houses, another timer appeared in the sunset streaked clouds. Thirty seconds.

  Seriously? Whoever was in charge of this strange quest certainly enjoyed forcing me to make gut decisions.

  With no time to waste, I looked at each choice again. The Victorian house reminded me way too much of the bunker I’d been trapped in with the other gifted humans. So that one was out. I didn’t like heights, so no thanks to the mansion in the sky, no matter how beautiful it was. And I’d had enough of forests for one day.

  “The palace by the sea,” I said, the decision easy. I’d grown up next to the ocean. Of course the palace by the sea called to my heart.

  Annar’s horn glimmered in what I thought was happiness, and we galloped toward the golden palace.

  I had no idea what was waiting for me inside.

  Hopefully someone who could give me answers.

  Because at this point, I sure had a lot of questions.

  33

  Raven

  Annar and I rode up to the massive double door entrance of the palace. Once she stopped, I took a deep breath of a fresh sea air and looked up at the building in awe.

  The golden spires twinkled with light. I felt so small next to it. The towers were so high that they went up into the sky. I couldn’t imagine what the inside of this splendid palace must look like.

  Suddenly, a step stool appeared beside Annar. It was the perfect height to help me get off her back. I had no idea how it got there. It literally appeared out of thin air.

  This place I was in—wherever it was—was weird.

  I jumped off the unicorn’s back, sadness growing in my heart as I did so. Once on the ground I turned to her and placed a hand lovingly on her neck. “I guess unicorns aren’t allowed inside the palace, are they?” I asked.

  She shook her head no. There was sadness in her eyes, too.

  “So this is where we say goodbye?” The words were hard to say. Despite the short time we’d spent together, I’d grown attached to Annar. It felt like the two of us had been destined to meet.

  She nodded yes.

  “Will I ever see you again?” I asked.

  She touched the tip of her horn to my forehead, and a warm, female voice echoed through my mind. “I hope so,” she said.

  I blinked once she pulled away, shocked. “You can talk?”

  Well, she hadn’t really talked. But she’d spoken to my mind. Which I definitely hadn’t realized she could do.

  Her lips curved up into a knowing smile, and she touched her horn to my forehead again. “Of course I can communicate with words,” she said, as if anything else would be ridiculous. “I’m simply picky about who I choose to communicate with. And you Raven Danvers, have certainly proven yourself to me. Now, go into that palace and prove yourself to him.”

  “Who’s ‘him?’” I looked over my shoulder at the palace in worry. The beautiful building now seemed more intimidating than ever.

  When I turned back at Annar, she was gone. The step I’d used to dismount was gone, too. She’d disappeared into thin air. Like she’d never existed at all.

  My heart dropped. “Annar?” I called out for her, although I knew she wouldn’t come.

  No answer. All I heard was the breeze whistling through palm trees and the waves lapping along the shore.

  Tears welled in my eyes at the disappearance of my new friend, and I blinked a few times, letting them roll down my cheeks. “Goodbye.” I looked out to the ocean, knowing she couldn’t hear me, but hoping she somehow could. “Thank you—for everything. And I hope we see each other again, too.”

  As I was looking out, a big dark cloud rolled in. Thunder echoed from out in the distance, and I saw droplets falling down into the ocean. Rain.

  If that wasn’t a sign for me to go inside, I didn’t know what was. So I wiped the tears from my cheeks and stepped toward the towering doors. They were so tall—about four times my height. Tall enough for a giant to enter.

  Perhaps I’d be reunited with the giant I’d saved from the tree. But he’d run the other direction. And I had a feeling from what Annar had said that the person I’d be meeting at this palace would be powerful. Not just in strength, but in wisdom, too.

  The thunder rumbled louder now. The rain was getting closer.

  I looked around for a doorbell and found none. So I raised my hand and gave three strong knocks, hoping whoever was inside would be close enough to hear.

  I was debating trying to knock again when the doors creaked open, welcoming me inside.

  The foyer was as big as a ballroom. There were marble floors, a gorgeous golden chandelier, and a grand staircase that split off into two and curved around the walls. There was even a wooden treasure chest pressed against the far wall.

  “Hello?” I stepped inside and looked around, feeling as lost and out of place as Maria in The Sound of Music when she walked into the Von Trapp mansion for the first time. “Is anyone home?”

  It was dead quiet.

  Whoever Annar said was waiting for me inside the palace clearly didn’t feel like my arrival was important enough to bother greeting me.

  Unless I had to find him. This whole experience was so strange that I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case.

  As I was contemplating where to begin, the chest creaked open.

  Bright, yellow numbers appeared on the inside of the top. Five minutes. Not surprisingly, the numbers were counting down.

  I hurried over to the chest, kneeled down in front of it, and looked inside. There were four vials. Each was filled with a different color liquid. Green, yellow, blue, and red.

  Clearly, I had to choose one of them. But I doubted whoever was giving me this test was asking me which one of the four colors was my favorite. There had to be more to it.

  The only other time I’d been given five minutes to make a decision in this place had been when I had to choose one of the four weapons. I’d been able to touch those and see their inherent powers.

  Maybe I could do the same with these vials of liquid?

  I reached for the one on the far left—the green one. The moment I touched it, I knew what drinking it would do.

  It would give me unlimited wealth.

  I don’t know how I knew. I just did. Touching it made the knowledge of what the potion could do pop into my mind.

  I touched the other three potions, learning what they could do, too.

  The yellow one would give me immortality. The blue one would give me endless knowledge. The red one would give me strength greater than any supernatural.

  Four minutes left on the clock. And I sensed the four minutes would feel like they passed quickly, because this was a huge decision.

  I looked around the grand foyer of the palace, searching for clues that someone was there. “Who are you?” I asked into the void. “Why are you offering me this?”

  No answer. But the numbers on the countdown glowed brighter, as if they were telling me to hurry up and make my choice.

  I refocused on the four vials inside the chest.

  There was one potion I definitely wouldn’t drink right now—the yellow one that would give me immortality. Mainly because the people I loved most in the world weren’t immortal. How could I be immortal and watch them all grow old and die? I’d mate with Noah, and he’d grow old while I stayed the same. Then once he passed onto the Beyond, I’d remain on Earth forever. And because of the way mating worked, I’d never find love again.

  So yeah, that was a definite pass on the immortality.

  Drinking the green potion for wealth was illogical when there was the blue potion for knowledge sitting beside it. With unlimited knowledge, I’d be able to acquire wealth on my ow
n. So it was easy to eliminate the green one.

  My eyes flicked between the blue vial for endless knowledge and the red vial for total strength. Two completely opposite things. One for the mind and the other for the body.

  After everything I’d been through these past few weeks, I definitely wanted strength. The situations I’d been faced with would have been so much easier if I’d been stronger than a supernatural, instead of the weak human that I was. So the red vial was certainly tempting.

  But endless knowledge provided so many possibilities. Ones that went beyond strength and wealth. How many people could be helped if I had the knowledge about how to help them? How many lives could I save?

  Plus, endless knowledge would give me knowledge about how to be a better fighter. Sure, I wouldn’t have strength that out powered any supernatural. But I’d have the knowledge about how to defeat any enemy I faced.

  It was the most useful of all the potions in the long term.

  And so, my decision was made.

  I reached for the blue vial and lifted it to my lips, getting ready to drink.

  But right before the liquid touched my tongue, the vial disappeared into thin air, along with all of the others. The timer stopped counting down, and the top of the chest slammed shut.

  “Really?” I couldn’t help rolling my eyes. “You aren’t going to let me drink it? You just wanted to see which one I’d pick?”

  I didn’t expect an answer. So I wasn’t disappointed when I didn’t get one.

  But I was surprised when golden, glowing arrows appeared on the floor by my feet. They led through the foyer and up the grand staircase.

  Directions for where I was heading next.

  I followed the glowing arrows up the steps and into the long hall on the second floor. The hall was just as grand as the foyer, with rows and rows of doors inside of it.

  Where did all these doors lead? Part of me wanted to open one and look.

  But this wasn’t my home. I couldn’t just go opening doors and disturbing whatever might be behind them. Especially when the arrows clearly had a destination in mind for me.