Ethereal Underground (Ethereal Underground Trilogy)

by Briana Gaitan

  The redhead’s eyes begged for them to stop throwing the water at her, as it was swirling around her, slamming into each part of her body and making her fall to the floor. Once, Annalise would have cared and wanted to make it stop, never being one to see the death of anyone. All she could think about now, as the water flowed into the fallen’s mouth, was revenge. She knew some of it was coming from Ash, wanting to make Endarial suffer for killing Jedzia, and she was okay with that. She was glad to know that he was getting his revenge, and they would no longer have to deal with her.

  “You will have to remove her wings for this to work,” Annalise reminded him.

  Endarial’s eyes became wild as she coughed, trying to speak but only water coming from her mouth.

  Ash pulled himself away from her and the water faltered slightly, but Annalise pushed herself to the limit once again and forced herself to continue to the swirl of water. She saw her friend, sword in hand, move around behind the fallen. Annalise focused on the water to move off of her back to allow him access. He grabbed ahold of the fallen’s wings, cutting them off quickly as she screamed, but only gurgling sounds came from her. Annalise forced herself to watch as he dropped the sword and wings to the ground and held his hands up to help slam the water down her throat. It caught the seraph off guard, and his anger made her falter, almost losing concentration just as Endarial fell to the ground.

  She shut off her affinity and took a few deep breaths to steady herself. Annalise had never used so much of her power, except for when she brought Ash back to life, and she knew that she would sleep for many days when she got back home. He walked over to her and offered her his hand. She took it and let him pull her to her feet.

  “You did great, Anna.”

  She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and cast her eyes to the ground. All of these intense emotions were starting to get to her, “Thanks, you were fantastic as well.”

  His hand came up to cup her chin, forcing her to look at him, “I am very proud of you.”

  “All those things you said back there when we were at the fallen realm,” she started, nervous to ask him but wanting so badly to know the answer, “Were you being sincere?”

  “Annalise!” Finlay said dramatically which interrupted their conversation.

  She turned to him, irritation plastered on her face, “What?”

  “We need to go before Loki gets back with reinforcements. You two can cast googly eyes at each other once we reach the Underground.”

  “Finlay’s right,” Ash said and cleared his voice as he turned to walk forward.

  Annalise tried not to sigh, getting very tired of always being interrupted when she wanted to share how she felt. She followed behind them, eyes moving over to Finlay’s back where his wings were missing. It made her sick to see it. A seraph was meant to stand proud and tall with their wings at their back. She knew that he was hurt on the outside and on the inside, but he would not show it. Both of them had lost their dearest friend, and now he had lost his wings, in such a short period of time. She wasn’t sure how they would recuperate, how she herself would go back to reaping souls each day. It would be nice to have some distance from the mortals, however; the more she was around Ash, the more she became like him. She had become emotional, and she wasn’t sure how to handle it.

  Ash

  The journey back to the eighth layer was worse than the travel down. Ash couldn’t sleep, he was afraid Loki would show up at any moment and he wasn’t in any condition to fight. Using Anna’s affinity had made him weak. Weaker than he cared to admit. Annalise had to carry all of them up from the tenth layer entrance, and after using all of her power she could barely walk. Arie, in better shape than all of them, would take turns holding each of them up and helping them walk. She didn’t even complain or try and lecture them. Most of her concern was aimed at Finlay and the fact that losing his wings made him vulnerable to death. They didn’t run into anymore fallen, and Ash really hoped it was because they had been scared off. His hands were stained with blue blood, and he was quite sure they would always have a bluish tint. They had washed off at a waterfall they had found in the ninth layer, but both of the mortals were surprised when the blood left a stain on their skin. Arie griped about the blue tint ruining her career, but Ash loved the reminder of the death he had caused. After washing up, they continued on their way back to the eighth layer. The journey home was tiring. None of them had the energy to fight any creatures they came upon, but they somehow managed. What was worse, none of them knew the way out of the ninth layer to the tunnels under the city. Finlay had taken the lead, torturing creatures for information until they had found their way out. Even in his injured condition, he still fought each one persistently. It had taken all of twenty-four hours to get back home.

  “If I ever see that unicorn again; I am going to kill him,” Finlay said as they stumbled into Arie’s house. The unicorn had taken them around in circles for almost two days, but no one could figure out why.

  “Maybe he enjoyed the company,” Annalise decided. Ash gave her a look of disbelief. He had known from the moment he laid eyes on the unicorn that there was something wrong with him. He shook his head in frustration. He had to agree with Finlay. Annalise had been so quiet on the walk home, Ash didn’t know what to think. There had been so many times when they had connected, and after they had worked together to kill Endarial the connection had only grown stronger. He had a better grip on her affinity and emotions now. He could tell she was changing too. She had started to show more emotions, both the good and the bad, and the annoyance of the flow of emotions had grown considerably less. She hadn’t mentioned her plans for the future, but Ash knew he couldn’t be without her. Her beauty was just an extension of who she was. Her kindness and caring kept him grounded, kept him from screwing everything up. If she hadn’t stopped him from yelling at Arie, he was certain they would all be dead. She made him a better warrior. This was how they were supposed to fight, with their partner at their side. They finally made it back to the eighth layer and decided Arie’s home was the safest place to be while they recuperated.

  Ash watched as Arie gave Finlay a hug. He was happy for them both. Finlay had really shown how far he was willing to go to protect Arie and in Ash’s book, that made him an alright guy again. Arie examined the blue blood that had dried and stained the back of Finlay’s shirt and pants. His wound had started to heal, but still looked nasty.

  “I will get you something to clean your wounds.” she said. She stood up to walk to the kitchen. Finlay reached out to stop her.

  “I am fine. I will heal quickly,” he tried to assure her. Arie only glared at him and stubbornly spun around on her heel to get the medicine anyway. Annalise excused herself to go freshen up in the bathroom, leaving both of the males sitting awkwardly in the living room. Ash looked at the ceiling and put his hands behind his head to stretch. He wanted them to go back to being friends again, before all the secrets and girls complicated things.

  “So…” Ash told Finlay. He looked everywhere but at his friend’s face. “I guess I should apologize for being such a jerk lately. I understand how much you care about Arie now.” He gave his friend a smile, he usually hated these kinds of talks but lately it seemed like he was having them more often than not. The way Finlay was willing to give his life up for Arie; there was no way he could try and keep them apart.

  Finlay nodded, “It’s my fault. I should have told you about me and Arie instead of sneaking around behind your back…..and I’m sorry for almost getting you killed.”

  Ash sat up forward and put his elbows on his knees. “That was seriously messed up. You put both me and Arie in danger. Your Elders are all screwed up. Who gave them the right to say who lives or dies?”

  Finlay didn’t say much, he just stared into empty space.

  “I mean,” Ash went on, “You aren’t gods or anything. You’re just a race. A much more evolved and stronger race, but we mortals have our own say in life.”

  Finl
ay ran his hands down his face and sighed like Ash was saying things that he already knew. “I agree, but what can I do? The Elders have had us guarding souls until they need them for almost two thousand years.”

  Ash crinkled his brow, “What do they do with these souls?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t even think Annalise knows. I know you don’t like the Elders, but they aren’t that much different from your Officials.”

  “And if your Elders asked you to let Arie die?”

  Finlay’s jaw tightened, this was something that had bothered him. “I am certain-

  Finlay was interrupted by a knock on the door. They both stood straight up and pulled their weapons from the table. Arie didn’t tell many people where she lived, and she certainly didn’t live in the type of neighborhood that got friendly visits. Ash and Finlay both walked over to the door. Finlay grabbed the handle to open it while Ash stood at the opening ready to fight. He hoped it wasn’t another fallen, they would be stupid to attack in such a public building. He remembered Endarial breaking down Jedzia’s door, which eased the dread in his stomach. Fallen do not knock.

  Ash kept his eyes open as the door swung open. He blinked in disbelief as the figure before him walked in without an invitation. The figure wore a long black robe with a dark hood pulled down over the front. Ash lowered his sword and nodded at Finlay to do the same. He knew who the visitor was; it was a face he knew quite well. How could he have forgotten that they were looking for him?

  “Official Sune,” Ash said with a nod. Sune reached up to lower his cloak and reveal his long black hair pulled tightly against his neck. The Officials always wore cloaks when they left the conservatory. It kept their identities hidden. Sune didn’t smile, his jaw was tight with concern.

  “Ash. We have been looking for you. We were told that you were seen walking into your redhead’s home.” His voice was stern. Ash felt like a child being scolded. Behind Sune stood two other Officials hidden under matching cloaks and six keepers in uniform, who stood outside the home.

  “Yes. I heard there was a bounty out for me,” Ash lowered his head. As much as he wanted to tell the Official to go away, the man was and always had been the head of the keepers and therefore Ash felt nothing but diminutive around him. He had caused disappointment and sadness to those he had grown up around. Though they didn’t act like a family, the keepers were the only family he had ever known. Ash had carelessly gone to Jedzia’s home and brought the fallen behind him. He knew this would be coming when they got back, he just didn’t think it would happen so soon.

  Sune put a hand out to rest on Ash’s shoulder. “My Ash, it pains me to do this. We must take you home, so that you may answer for your crimes.”

  Finlay leapt out from behind the door, his sword high in the air. “What crimes has Ash committed?” he asked Sune.

  Sune stared at Finlay with distaste. After a moment, he started to speak. “You are a seraph. We have been interested to learn that your kind has been living among us for thousands of years,” he stated. Finlay put the sword down and let a smile light up his face. The regular Finlay charm oozed out of him.

  “Pleased to be at your service, Official Sune.”

  Sune seemed to let his guard down for just a moment. He looked intrigued to see a seraph defending Ash. “Ash, you have been charged with treason and for leading the fallen enemies into our homes. You provided them with our keeper technology, stolen from our alchemist. A fallen was injured in the fight and after much interrogation he told us about the keeper who they had working for them. We tried to question our lead alchemist, but he too had disappeared.”

  Ash glanced at Finlay. They both knew it had been Jaron who had betrayed the keepers, not Ash. Ash tried to find the words to explain his innocence; or at least the energy to fight Sune if needed. He wasn’t sure what to say, though. Finlay decided to interject and speak up for his friend instead.

  “Ash is innocent. In fact, we just came back from slaying the fallen that took Jedzia’s life. In that quest, we found out who gave out the keeper technology. It was Jaron, and I disposed of Jaron’s body myself.” Finlay reached over to hold Ash’s hands up, the blue blood still stained them. The stain proved he had slayed a fallen.

  Sune looked back and forth between the two who stood before him. Ash kept his face up, looking his former superior in the eyes. After a few minutes, Sune started to speak. “I believe that the seraph is telling the truth. I have always defended you, but I am afraid this time I cannot protect you.”

  Finlay held his sword up higher and pointed it at the other Officials who stood outside the door. “If you want Ash; then you will have to get through me,” he demanded. Sune put his hands up and took a step back. His face remained calm.

  “One moment, seraph. I will speak with the others.”

  Another Official pulled his hood down. It was Julian.

  “Put your sword down. You have no proof that Jaron was the traitor. Jaron was one of our best keepers.” Ash watched as the Officials bickered back and forth on who was to blame. He had so much he wanted to say, but in this case, he decided that it was best to remain quiet. Eventually, Sune turned around to speak quietly to the others. He could hear them bickering softly, but couldn’t make out what they were saying.

  He looked over at Finlay who seemed to be straining one ear to listen in. Ash opened up his mouth to ask Finlay what they were talking about, but one glare from Finlay changed Ash’s mind. He kept his mouth shut again. He hoped that Annalise didn’t walk in the room. He didn’t want her to see him getting escorted away. It pained him that they wouldn’t have a proper goodbye, but it was best she didn’t remember him as weak.

  After a few minutes, Sune turned back around. Ash tried to read his face, but it was emotionless.

  “We believe you- well the majority of us do.”

  Ash let out a sigh of relief, knowing that the battle was now half over.

  “Thank you, Official Sune,” he said with a bow of his head.

  Sune put a hand on Ash’s shoulder, and lowered his head in regret. “Still, I am sorry to tell you Ash, the other Officials and I have decided that your sabbatical has ended.”

  Ash let all his hopes dissolve. He should have known. A keeper for life, that was what he had always been taught.

  “We cannot offer you a place back among the keepers,” Sune told Ash. “We realize your loyalties lie somewhere else. So we want to offer you a truce. In exchange for the sparing of your life, you will give us another life when the time comes.”

  Finlay smirked and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Depends. What type of life truce are you offering Ash?”

  Ash moved closer to stand next to Finlay and nodded for an answer. There was no way he would turn down whatever they were asking of him. If they wanted him to catch someone or bring in a traitor, he would do it. It would be like old times again. Just him and Arie. They had worked together many times in the past as keeper and hunter.

  Sune didn’t seem to like the pressure of being put on the spot. Ash assumed it was because Sune had thought Ash wouldn’t ask questions and normally, yes, Ash would have taken the truce no questions asked.

  “When the time comes, a favor will be called upon for you to bring us a life. A child with the keeper qualities to become one of us.”

  Finlay laughed, dropping slightly to put his hands on his knees and catch his breath. He rose up slowly and smacked Ash on the back. “Oh friend, this one is all you.” He walked over to the chair and sat down, the smile never leaving his face.

  Ash scrunched his face. “Like my child?” He had always wondered what families the keepers had come from. Is this how he came to be at the conservatory? Did Sune make a bargain with his own mother or father for their child? Did they put up a fight? The answer was pretty simple. Ash was never going to have any children, he didn’t like them. He wanted to be with Annalise, who wasn’t human and if he couldn’t have her he would die alone.

  “What’s the catch?” he as
ked Sune.

  “The keepers are essential to protecting the planet. We need to train more soldiers to replace the ones who grow old or die. If you make this life truce, you are bound to keep it; if and when we call upon the favor we will come to you and ask you to bring us a child of our choosing. This truce is not limited to your own kin, though your bloodline will be strong and proud.”

  Ash snorted, he forgot to mention short-tempered, erratic, disobedient, and moody.

  “Sure. Whatever,” he said with a shake of his head.

  What could this life truce hurt? He wasn’t having a family, and he didn’t have any brothers or sisters who would have children.

  “Excellent.” Sune held out his hand and Ash gripped it firmly. He had never made a truce before, but knew that they were to be taken very seriously. Sune pulled out his keeper blade and started to make a small cut on Ash’s forearm. Sune etched the outline of the keeper symbol on the skin. Ash winced as he felt the blood start to appear. Sune pulled a glass bottle from his cloak and caught a few drops of blood inside it. He watched as Sune did the same to his own arm. The alchemist magic that spelled the keeper blades would bind the truce, not allowing either one of them to break it. Sune turned to Finlay and held his hand out again.