He watched the child. The long silver hair. The jerky, unnatural gait.
It was Rebeka.
She had escaped the veil.
First Leeah and now Rebeka? But there was a big difference. Leeah had died. Rebeka was a Fallen.
Rebeka approached the man, but kept her gaze lowered.
Cal started to run.
The concern in his man’s face was evident as he knelt down beside Rebeka. They spoke for a few seconds and then he took her hand and they disappeared into the woods at the edge of the track.
Cal ran faster.
And, why would Rebeka need his hair to escape?
To bring back a human to the serpent.
In a desperate sprint now, Cal crashed into the brush where they had gone in. Tangled foliage sought to trip him at every step, and succeeded a few times. He continued to plow ahead and finally pressed through directly onto an open trail.
“Rebeka!”
He spun in a circle.
“Rebeka!”
There was no sign of her or the man. With no other choice, he took off toward the clearing.
Toward Stassi.
I’ve put everyone in danger, and now I have to fix it.
CHAPTER 21
Traitor
Stassi sat on a boulder with her knees pulled in tight to her chest and her wings swathed around her body. It was how she found her only solace these days. Here, lost in her refuge, only joy existed. A warm, pulsating tranquility that blocked out all thoughts of dark-haired boys and betrayal.
But, as much as she would wish to, she couldn’t hide forever.
She unwrapped herself from her isolation and looked out through the veil to the clearing beyond. Cal had left a while ago, yet she hadn’t been able to bring herself to leave as she mulled over his words. Everything he said made sense, but he just didn’t understand that she could never abandon her people for her own selfish desire to be with him. It went against every moral fiber of her being. Just as he could never harm a child, she could never shirk her duty. A duty she had been born and bred to fulfill.
Still, it hurt. Deep longing had taken up residence in her chest and refused to let go. Perhaps in time it would get easier.
With a sigh, she stood and opened her wings wide, relishing in their blissful buoyancy. How she wished she could share this new feeling with Cal!
But Cal is gone.
For good this time, he had said, and it was for the best. She needed to move on.
She dipped into a crouch, preparing to take to the air.
“Stassi! Stassi, let me in!”
She froze on the balls of her feet. Cal skidded to a stop in the clearing and slumped to the ground on his knees, gulping in large breaths of air.
“Stassi! The Faedin are in danger! We’re all in danger! I’m not asking for me any more, I’m asking for the world!”
What is he talking about?
“Stassi! Rebeka is out here!”
Stassi gasped.
“She’s out here and it’s your duty, Faedin, to stop her! Now, quit the bullshit and let me in!”
Clutching Cal’s hair in her right hand, Stassi stepped through the veil.
At first Cal couldn’t believe his eyes. Stassi materialized out of thin air before him, wings extended and the sunlight framing her in a halo of light.
She looks like an angel sent from heaven.
He scrambled to his feet and suppressed the urge to run to her and take her into his arms. “Stassi, thank God.”
“What is all this about?”
“It’s Rebeka.”
“But how is she here?” Stassi spun to look behind her and held her palm to the invisible barrier that she could not feel, only sense. “Is the veil no longer working?”
“Yes, it’s working. She’s out because of me.”
Stassi turned back with raised eyebrows.
He sighed. “Before I let Rebeka go, back during the raid, she lunged at me and tore my hair out.” He pointed to the clump still in Stassi’s hand. “That’s part of it there.”
“And she used your hair to get out. Just like I did.”
“That’s my guess.”
“A Fallen out in the world,” she breathed in disbelief. “We’ve got to do something!”
“Yes, and we don’t have a lot of time. She’s bringing a human through. I think they’re going to try and free the serpent.”
A fanged snarl lifted her lips. “You have delivered your warning and for that I am grateful. The Faedin will handle it from here.”
He grabbed her arm. “No! I’m going with you!”
Her eyes drifted down to his hand and he jerked it back. “You have been banned from Faedin, Cal.”
“I don’t care about your silly rules! I’m Faedin! I’m a warrior! I will stand with you.”
“Cal…”
“You need me.”
“Cal, you cannot—”
“There’s more.”
“What?”
“I remembered on the way here what Rebeka said right before she attacked me.”
Stassi gestured impatiently for him to continue.
“When I asked her what had happened to her, she said something about a sire. That it was her sire who had done this to her.”
Stassi’s eyes widened in shock. “That’s impossible, Cal. Her sire is not a Fallen.”
“Who is Rebeka’s sire?”
“Bannon.”
“Take me to him,” Cal demanded.
Stassi hissed through her teeth. “Very well. The choice is yours. But you must understand that I may not be able to protect you.”
Now, it was his turn to gesture impatiently. “Fine. I’ll take care of myself. Let’s just go.”
She nodded and turned, but stopped to stretch her hand out behind her. “Take my hand.”
He slipped his hand into hers and it felt like it belonged there. Always.
They ran together through the woods. Faster than he had ever run in his life. Within moments, the heat of Faedin slammed into him and he ripped off his jacket and left it there on the ground. The trees blurred by. The wind tore through his hair as their lithe bodies hurtled along the path.
At last, they burst from the woods into the village.
The Faedin were in the midst of a celebration, and the changes were even more pronounced than the last time Cal had seen them. People had gathered around Abram to listen to him play the harmonica, and it amazed Cal just how good he sounded. Others danced and frolicked. And the most surprising of all was the sight of Gilad pressed up tight against a beautiful Faedin girl and kissing her!
At their arrival, the music came to a screeching halt and all turned their way. Smiles fell from faces. Eyes narrowed in wrath. Vicious shouts filled the air.
Stassi marched right up into the pavilion and knelt before Julius and Caliphy where they sat. Cal kept pace beside her and fell to his knees at her side.
Julius flew to his feet. “What is he doing here, Perstassia?”
The two warriors standing just inside the pavilion began to move toward them.
“Stop!” Stassi demanded. “Stop and listen! Cal returns with urgent news!”
Julius stopped the advancing warriors with a gesture of his hand. “Make your next words count, daughter,” he growled. “Your mate’s life depends upon them.”
Gilad and Abram burst into the pavilion and came to a stop behind.
Stassi ignored them and stood. “Rebeka has escaped through the veil and is leading a human to the Tree That Will Not Die.”
Julius paled. “Rebeka left through the veil?”
“Yes! It is a long story. Please, Sire, send warriors to the tree now!”
Julius clapped his hands and Gilad rushed in close. “Do as Perstassia says.”
Gilad turned a furious scowl on Cal. “Why should we? This human has brought us nothing but danger and shame! For all we know, he has planned all of this!”
Cal stood and looked into Julius’s eyes. “You have my
word. My only concern is for the safety of the Faedin.” His eyes flicked to Gilad. “We are wasting precious time. Ban me again after this is over, but for God’s sake, send the warriors!”
Julius’s nostrils flared. “If you are deceiving me, you will not be pleased with the consequence.”
“I’m not. I swear.”
“Very well. Gilad, tell Bannon—”
“No!” Stassi interrupted, and told them what Rebeka had said to Cal.
“No one has been able to find Bannon for a few days now,” Gilad grudgingly admitted.
Julius cursed under his breath and started barking orders. “Abram! Take a dozen warriors to the Tree That Will Not Die. Find Rebeka and this human and bring them to me! Go at once!” Abram nodded and ran off. “Gilad! I want you to personally find Bannon! I will get to the truth of this.”
Gilad bowed at the waist. “As you command.”
Stassi flared her wings. “What can we do, Sire?”
“Nothing,” Julius answered, his eyes rock hard. “You and your human will stay out of this.”
CHAPTER 22
An Ominous Tale
Bannon lounged against a tree and took a bite of his apple, letting the juices run into his beard. He twirled the fruit thoughtfully. He had read the ancient texts that Julius kept locked away in the pavilion, and most of the lore of their people claimed that an apple is what started the degradation of humans at the dawn of time. In this very spot.
He took another succulent bite.
Of course, he would never be so naïve as to blame such a momentous event on a piece of fruit. He couldn’t even blame Gai’tan, although he had certainly been at work that day. No, humans were responsible for their own fate. If it helped them to sleep at night to blame the apple, so be it.
All Bannon cared about was broadening his horizons. Leaving Faedin behind to explore the big, beautiful world beyond. Zakiel had promised him he could live a life of his own choosing if he brought Gai’tan a human. Seemingly an impossible task until the son of Adam showed up on their doorstep.
Alas, the little idiot ate the flesh, compromising his purity before Bannon could act. Still, Cal Taylor’s arrival through the veil proved that it could be done. Ultimately, Bannon had been forced to sacrifice his only offspring to see his plans through because he certainly wasn’t going to become a Fallen to do it. All that crying? He shuddered. Not in my lifetime. Although he regretted losing Rebeka, it was a price he had been willing to pay for his freedom.
At the sound of running feet, Bannon took a last bite of the apple and tossed it into the trees. Ah, here they come. He stood and wiped his hands on his trousers. No one would be coming near this tree unless Rebeka had succeeded in her task.
It is time.
The knowledge sent a tingling thrill racing through this body.
The Faedin warriors poured into the area around the pit. A dozen, if Bannon had counted right. It surprised him to see Abram leading instead of Gilad. He had hoped to dispose of his biggest threat first.
Bannon stood with arms out to his sides. “My dear friends! I thought you might be visiting soon, so I’ve come to welcome you.”
“Quiet, traitor!” Abram snarled at him.
“Strong words from a new warrior,” Bannon observed dryly.
“How could you betray us, Bannon? We all trusted you!”
“Trust gets you nowhere in the world, Abram. Lessons the Faedin are too stagnant to realize, stuck away here in a corner of the world, guarding… a tree.”
“We do more than that, traitor! We keep the devil at bay.”
Bannon turned toward the pit with a laugh. “Did you hear that, Gai’tan? You are officially at bay!”
“You will come with us,” Abram demanded. He gestured and two warriors started forward. “Julius will want to be the one to end your pathetic existence personally.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.” The two warriors hesitated as they realized he would not go easily into their arms. “You see, my new friends might have something to say about that.”
“What are you—”
Wailing and mindless shrieks rent the air as a hundred Fallen thundered forward out of the trees.
“Retreat!” Abram shouted, but it was too late. It had been too late as soon as the warriors arrived.
The Fallen horde crashed into the Faedin and took them to the ground in a snarling mass, pummeling, biting and kicking. The Fallen didn’t fight with weapons, but soon they would. Cal Taylor had given him the idea of united and armed soldiers, so Bannon had been stockpiling stolen weapons. Before long, the Fallen would be equipped to destroy any Faedin who blocked his way out through the veil.
“Sire!”
Bannon spun around. “Ah, there you are.”
Rebeka stood with a male human, his eyes as wide as saucers at the violence taking place before him. With a frightened yelp, he turned and sprinted back through the woods.
“Secure the human!” Bannon shouted to one of the Fallen and he took off, crying, after the man.
Bannon beckoned his daughter close. “You have done well, daughter. Very well. Come close. Let me give you your reward of the Wonder.”
His weeping daughter did not hesitate as she flung herself into his arms.
Neither did Bannon hesitate as he broke her neck in two.
Stassi paced back and forth, her wings quivering with nervous energy. The entire village had gathered together in groups, anxiously awaiting orders from Julius. She wanted to scream at the waiting. She needed to be doing something. Anything. As long as it entailed killing Fallen.
She glanced over at Cal. He walked along the row of bows, examining each one carefully before selecting one that suited his height and strength. She wondered why he felt the need to arm himself. Surely, Abram and the warriors would quickly find Rebeka and put an end to the threat.
She had to admit that his presence comforted her, stilling the pain of her heartbreak. She thought back to all of his daily visits and realized she had learned more about her mate after he had been banned than before. If possible, she loved him even more now. Against all hope, he had returned, and somehow she would find a way to make the Faedin see in him what she saw.
Julius strode out of the pavilion with a trail of warriors following behind.
“Where is Gilad? Has he returned with Bannon?” he asked aloud to no one in particular.
“No, he has not returned,” Stassi answered.
“Abram?”
“No.”
He slammed a fist into his hand and turned to the leaders at his side. “I need answers! Now! Send another party out to—”
“Wait!” Stassi called out. “There he is!”
Gilad appeared through the trees to the north, ragged and winded. It was obvious that he had been running for a long time.
“Well?” Julius demanded as he drew near.
Gilad shook his head. “Nothing. No sign of Bannon.”
Julius took a deep breath. “This is very worrying. As a precaution, I am ordering all villagers to their nests. I want only warriors on the ground until this situation is controlled. Also, see to it that scouts are positioned in the trees all around the perimeter of the village to send advance notice of any Fallen on the move.”
Two of the warriors ran off to see to Julius’s orders.
“Warriors! Gather around!” Julius went up the steps of the pavilion and turned to address the growing gathering. “On this day, my brothers and sisters, we will put your fighting skills to the test.”
Coarse yells filled the air, followed by fists banged to chests.
“The Fallen are no longer harmless annoyances, and it is time to deal with them once and for all. As chieftain of the Faedin, I command you to seek out our enemy and pound them to dust! Let them hear the thunder of our feet! Let them cower beneath our aggression until one by one they are wiped from the world!”
Feral cheers rang out and Stassi felt her own burst forth.
“Julius! Over here! J
ulius!”
Stassi turned at the shout. A young warrior that had been with Abram’s party sprinted toward the pavilion and skidded to a stop.
“Where is Abram? And the warriors?” Julius demanded.
“They’re dead. All of them. Cursed by the Fallen.”
The village grew deathly quiet. Julius clenched his jaw so tight, Cal thought his teeth might shatter to pieces. “Explain.”
The warrior did so, speaking of the surprise attack and Bannon’s duplicity. “He is the one leading the coordinated attacks of the Fallen.”
Julius looked like he had aged twenty years at the news. His face was pale and the flesh around his eyes sunken in. “We thought we had dealt with the threat with the death of Zakiel, but it appears Bannon is the true mastermind behind this new uprising.”
Stassi asked the question foremost in Cal’s mind. “Any sign of Rebeka?”
The young warrior shook his head. “I didn’t see her. Abram left me to wait at the edge of the woods to send back word should there be a need.”
“So the tree is unguarded?”
“Yes.”
Cries and curses lit the air.
Gilad pointed to a group of warriors standing to the left of him. “You six come with me! We will stand guard, Julius. I promise you Gai’tan will not see the light of day!”
“Yes, yes. Go, Gilad. Let us pray that you are in time. The Maker be with you.”
Gilad took off at a sprint, the warriors following close behind.
One of the remaining warriors cleared his throat. “Julius, if… if Gai’tan gets free—”
“It is a prospect we must prevent at all costs,” Julius finished. “Spread the word! Call in every warrior we have! If the Fallen want a fight, we will take it to them.”
As the crowd erupted for a third time, Stassi touched Cal’s arm and led him away from the group. Her face was as pale as Julius’s had been. Cal wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around her, but wasn’t sure how she would react so he kept his distance.
She stopped and wrapped her own arms across her chest. “For the first time in my life, Cal, I am afraid. The thought of Gai’tan slithering out of that hole is just too horrible to imagine.”
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