by Elle Scott
Behind Tessa, Reece covered his hand over his mouth, eyes glistening over with tears. He back-stepped toward the kitchen. “I’m just… you all look hungry… I’m going to cook us some lunch.”
Sadie didn’t have the heart to tell him they’d already eaten.
“Ugh, I need some air.” Sebastian peered at Sadie. “You wanna go for a walk?”
Leila
Leila looked through the shimmering light that separated the Veil from the human world. On the other side, Makoto held her lion with both hands as Tessa’s dread-locked friend struggled to keep a good grip on Ren’s leopard. She hoped they were strong enough to hold them.
“They’ll be okay,” Ren said, as if reading her thoughts. “The worst my leopard will do is kill a few deer.”
Leila didn’t know what her lion would do, but she liked his confidence. “You’ve been at it a while, huh? You’re leopard’s not so wild?”
“Nah, he just doesn’t like the taste of human flesh,” Ren stated, walking ahead.
Leila chortled. Oh, the things she was learning about him. Slowly but surely, the enigma was fading and beneath all the pensive stoicism was someone she actually liked.
Sighing, Leila took one last look at the world they were leaving behind. As Tessa’s cat friend grabbed a chain in each hand to help hold onto the big cats, she pulled herself away and rushed to catch up with Ren. They headed toward the light that she and Riley had found only a few days earlier. How much had changed since then.
They entered the sanctum and headed straight for the temple doors. Before they’d reached the steps, the door clunked open, and an Elder in a hooded cloak stepped through. The heavy door closed behind the elder and they waited a moment before removing their hood.
It was Samuel again, and Leila was relieved it was someone she was familiar with—however familiar one could get with an Elder. Samuel stared at Ren, his top lip quivering into a smile. “Greetings, my children.”
Ren grimaced and fixed the collar on his leather jacket, even though it was perfect before. He licked his lips and said, “I have strayed. I am sorry.”
“Hush,” Elder replied, tapping the side of Ren’s shoulder. “All is well.”
“Is it though?” Leila thought out loud. She tugged up her sleeve, to make sure there were still four rungs on her mark.
Elder let his eyes drift to her. He frowned. “We warned you of the Fallen. We warned you and Will… Riley, not to separate.”
“I…I…” Leila stuttered, taken aback by his disapproval. “I was manipulated. Blindsided by her lies.”
The words felt like poison in her mouth. She felt like such a fool. She cast her eyes back to her mark; one rung, two, three, four. If she just stayed with Riley, maybe he wouldn’t be missing.
Samuel must have seen the guilt in her eyes. He reached for Leila’s hand. “Don’t blame yourself, child. The Fallen are great at deception and that one, in particular, has had a lot of practice.”
Leila nodded. She knew his words were meant to soothe her but it didn’t help. If only she had known about Kiko’s past, she wouldn’t have let Riley go it alone. She peered up at Samuel, and as a rush of resentment washed over her, she spoke before she had a chance to think, “Why didn’t you just tell me it was her?”
Ren gawked at her as if appalled she would dare question an Elder. He hissed, “They do not speak her name.”
She returned his glare. “You could have told me.”
“I don’t want her dead.” Tears welled in Ren’s eyes. He turned to Samuel. “I had hoped I could quell her instincts and control her urges. I helped her. Or so I thought.”
Samuel nodded. “We know.”
He helped her? Ren truly thought he helped Kiko? Leila felt rage well inside her. “How did that work with Cap? Or Sadie?”
Ren bowed his head. “I thought she’d healed her pain. But I guess she lied even to me. When she first came to Cedar Falls, I knew then that she hadn’t changed. But I was a coward. By the time I realized how much she’d gone back to the way she was, she’d already found her Imprint. I wasn’t strong enough to stop her. Not alone.”
Seeing Ren so vulnerable and remorseful pinched at Leila. All anger whittled away. He wanted to stop Kiko but he was afraid, she could see that now.
Samuel cleared his throat. He spun around, cloak catching the wind like wings. “Let us walk.”
As Samuel walked off, Leila hurried to follow, Ren right at her side. As they stormed up the hill, she grabbed Ren’s elbow and pulled him close. “You said you killed her Imprint. How did you stop him?”
“We used their own power against them. That’s why we’re here, to see if we can replicate it.” He stopped beside Samuel at the crest of the hill. “Do you think we can?”
Samuel lifted his fingers to his lips, running them across his mouth. Peering out to the ocean view, the skin at the side of his eyes wrinkled. He stated, “Your mom has a lovely garden at home.”
Leila side-eyed Ren. “Okay then. But what about how we stop Kiko and save Riley?”
Samuel raised his brows, an amused smirk on his face. He glanced at Ren briefly before looking back to the waves as they crashed against the rocky shore.
“Oh!” Ren said. “Leila, what plants does she have?”
For a moment, Leila thought they’d both gone crazy. “I don’t know. Vervain mostly.”
“Does she have rosemary?” Ren asked. After a moment, he added, “It’s pale green with blue flower buds.”
Leila tried to visualize her mom’s overgrown patch. “Does it grow up like spikes?”
“Yes,” Ren replied, eyes bursting wide.
Leila had no idea what it meant or what it was for but going by Ren’s relieved yet enthusiastic expression, it was a good thing. She nodded eagerly. “I’m certain she has that.”
Ren turned to Samuel. “What do you need on this side?”
Samuel gazed out to the view before him. Smiling to no-one in particular, he said, “The same as last time.”
“Will Leila and Riley’s blood suffice?” Ren asked.
Leila balked. She opened her mouth to object, but then she remembered where she was—in a physical reality no human could see. The shock passed as quick as it came. Why not their blood? Of course their blood.
Samuel seemed to ignore Ren, turning back to the direction they came from. He took one step, and as he passed he gave one slight nod. Then, as if he was simply enjoying an afternoon stroll, he continued down the hill.
“I think that’s a yes,” Leila whispered.
“Oh, it’s definitely a yes.” Ren winked and started down the hill.
Leila sped to catch up. As they came to the temple entrance, and Samuel stood in the open doorway, Leila caught a glimpse inside. Or at least, she tried. Bright light streamed through the gap and Leila squinted, willing her eyes to adjust. A silhouette of a body rushed in behind Samuel, their purple eyes shining directly at Leila.
Samuel slammed the door and stared at Leila. She felt his dark eyes pulse through her, punishing her. She dropped her gaze to the ground.
“Okay. Thanks for your help,” Ren said, quickly. He grabbed Leila’s hand and dragged her down the steps to the path. “I really gotta teach you how to respect the Elders.”
“Sorry,” Leila whispered, cringing at herself.
“Oh son!” Samuel called out. “When this is all done, it’s your time.”
They both stopped in their tracks and gazed over their shoulders. Samuel flashed a smile before ducking into the temple.
Wondering what the hell that meant, Leila asked, “Was that a threat?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think so. Honestly, I’ve no clue with him,” Ren replied, walking again.
“Do you ever speak to the others inside the temple?”
Ren groaned and gave her a pained expression. “No. And we’re not allowed to ask.”
“All right, all right,” Leila said, raising her hands in surrender. As they followed the curve of the p
ath, Leila asked, “I didn’t really catch the gist of most of what happened. I’m assuming we have a plan?”
“Yes.” Ren quickened his pace. “You asked me how we got rid of her last Imprint.”
“Mmm?”
“We created a rift between the human world and the Veil. The only way we could create it was with vervain extract, the blood of the Imprints, and an Imprint surge.”
Leila couldn’t find any words. Instead, she nodded and tugged her sleeve up past her mark to check.
Ren peered across, eying her mark. Once he’d counted four, he continued, “And then, we pushed him through. He threw his arm toward the dark forest. “It was sent there to exile.”
Leila remembered seeing Cap’s cougar there. “Right.”
“His human body wasn’t supposed to die, though.”
Shivers ran through Leila. “He wasn’t?”
“I think it was because he was in his human form. We pushed him through, and Samuel managed to grab his Guardian into the Veil. The act killed his mortal body but kept his Guardian alive inside the Veil. I don’t want to do that again. They’ll have to be at least half-shifted to survive.”
They’ll? “You’re sending Kiko through the rift, right? Not Kale?”
Ren winced. “The problem we had before was only sending one. Leaving Kiko behind allowed her to become set on revenge.”
“Kale won’t. I know him. He’s kind and thoughtful and—”
Ren stopped walking. “So was Kiko. You’ve seen her, right? She knows how to be those things because she was those things. That didn’t stop her from hurting others in the process.”
A sharp pang squeezed inside Leila’s chest. Tears streamed down her cheeks unchecked. The thought of Kale being something other than himself ripped her in two.
“Please Ren,” she begged. “I’ll help him.”
Ren lifted his hand and dabbed at her chin, stopping a tear from falling. “You’re hopeful… like I was. I followed her for years thinking that I could save her broken soul.”
“He’s not her. I promise.”
Ren nodded but she knew it was to appease her. “We’ll see,” he said, pointing at the shimmering light in front of them. “But we’d better get back.”
Leila stepped through the light and into the shadow world. Before her, the door between the worlds shimmered, and beyond it she could see Makoto, holding a chain with one hand. His head was turned away from her lion as it tore its teeth through the flesh of a deer.
“Eww,” she gasped, wiping the last of her tears away.
At the sound of her voice, her lion lifted its head as though it could feel her near. She moved closer and stepping through the veil, she aligned with the lion. The tang of blood filled her throat. Coughing, she returned to human form.
“That’s disgusting,” she said, smacking her tongue to her mouth.
Makoto turned around. “It was getting restless, so we went for a walk. What did Samuel say?”
“A lot of nothing.” Leila unlatched the neck brace. A few yards away, Leila saw Ren running toward them. “But I think he knows what to do.”
Ren threw his chain on the ground and puffed. “Mak, do you have your gold chain?”
Makoto dipped his finger under his collar and pulled out a chain with an arrowhead. “Locater spell? We need rosemary.”
“Ohh,” Leila said, finally catching on. “My mom has it in her garden.”
“Your mom? Is she a Guardian, too?” Makoto asked.
“Nah. She’s been studying a few things, though.”
Makoto’s jaw clenched. “But she knows about you and your friends?”
Leila nodded slowly, staring at the veins popping on his neck.
Makoto thwacked Ren’s shoulder with the back of his hand. “Do you follow any rules?” Without waiting for an answer, he walked off, muttering, “Civilians every-damn-where knowing every-damn-thing.”
Sadie
Sadie followed Sebastian along a steep forest track for what felt like hours. It was more like twenty minutes, but her body ached regardless. She slowed her pace, trying to catch her breath.
“Just a few more yards!” Sebastian called, still facing ahead.
Sadie forced her legs to move. She closed the gap between them and stood beside Sebastian, looking out. If she wasn’t already gasping for breath, the view would have made the same effect.
They stood on the edge of a hill that overlooked Cannon beach and Haystack Rock. The Pacific Ocean swept before them as far as the eye could see. Even the gathering clouds couldn’t make it any less beautiful.
“Wow,” Sadie puffed.
Sebastian spun around. “Are you all right?”
Sadie waved her hand in dismissal. “All good. Hard walk.”
Without taking his eyes off her, Sebastian weaved his arm around her elbow. “Use me to rest on.”
She clasped his arm and leaned into him, gazing out at the view below. Spots of white scattered her vision as heat pulsed through her veins. Closing her eyes, she said, “I thought the fever had gone.”
“My fever came and went until the mark appeared. It was stupid to think you were better. I shouldn’t have brought you up here.”
“No, it’s fine.” Sadie opened her eyes and tried to take in the scenery, but her swaying made it hard to focus. She rested her head on his shoulder to stabilize herself. “I’m glad you did. It’s something nice to see on my last day as a human.”
Sebastian tugged his arm from Sadie’s grasp and threw it around her, holding her tight. “Dammit Sadie, don’t say things like that.”
She turned to face him. They were so close she was sure she could hear his heartbeat and Sadie made a note of how he wasn’t quite as tall as Damien. Before she had a chance to brush the thought away, she was taken back to the moment with Damien by the lake, right before he kissed her.
Their proximity was where the similarities ended though. She felt different with Sebastian, held in his arms. When she was this close to Damien she was frustrated and annoyed. He wasn’t being himself, he wasn’t seeing the real her. But as Sebastian peered down at her, his caring eyes sent shivers down her spine. He saw her, the real her. And she saw him, too.
“I know it’s weird,” she said, stepping back. Sebastian held his hands out for her to hold. She took them and continued, “I’m glad that this has happened to me.”
“Why?” Sebastian frowned.
Sadie shrugged. “Because it means you’re here with me now.”
Sebastian’s expression changed. He smiled. Genuine and wide.
It was almost too much for her. Sadie moved her gaze back to the ocean. “Told you it was weird.”
His hand brushed her cheek and her heart skipped a beat. She willed her eyes to remain on the waves as Sebastian moved himself back in front of her. Still touching her face, he stepped back and leaned down so their faces were level. With nowhere else to look, she dared to set her eyes on his.
As his eyes flitted between hers, he said, “Well, I don’t want anything bad for you, but I’m glad you’re here with me, too. It makes everything a little… easier.”
Sebastian gazed at her like she was the rarest gem in the world. As much as her brain screamed at her to break away, she couldn’t—his stare fed an unknown craving. She let her eyes drift to his mouth, and she watched them lift into a lopsided smirk.
“You know, tomorrow night will be the first time I’ve missed the Falls Party for the whole year,” Sebastian said.
Sadie chortled, “Mr. Popular not able to socialize with his team. Whatever shall they do without you?”
“They’ll manage,” Sebastian’s smile dropped. He moved in, a change in the air around them. “I’d rather be with you.”
She knew then that he was about kiss her. There was no part of her that wanted to deny him. She closed her eyes as his hand smoothed over her neck, his soft skin soothing her itch. Almost as soon as his fingers reached the marked area, he jerked his hand away.
Sadie
reached for him, clutching his wrist. Worried that he thought he’d hurt her, she said, “I’m okay.”
Sebastian flinched at her touch. His eyes fixated on her shoulder and in an instant, they flashed neon-blue. As fangs grew between his lips, he took a few steps back.
Sadie’s hand hovered in the space between them. “Are you okay?”
Darkness flooded his eyes, cobalt behind the neon. As though ashamed, Sebastian looked away. “You’d better go.”
“Why?” Sadie asked, reaching for him.
He grabbed her wrist. His eyes darted to her lips and then fell down, lingering on her neck. He curled his top lip, showing the sharp tips of his fangs.
Sadie’s stomach retched. The way he looked at her, hungrily and threatening, reminded her of Cap, right before he tried to kill her.
Sebastian dropped her hand. He stepped closer—his face inches away, downcast eyes blazing through her body. He growled, “Go, Sadie. Now. Before I hurt you.”
A chill shuddered from her skull to her toes. She stumbled back. And as much as she wanted to escape the sight of him like this, she couldn’t turn, she couldn’t run, she could only stare back in silence.
“Get away from me!” He roared.
As if knowing she couldn’t, or wouldn’t go, Sebastian made the move. The dirt crunched under his feet as he turned a half-circle and ran. The last sight she had was him shifting into his wolf, leaping deeper into the forest.
Sadie hunched over, breaths coming in thick and fast. She clutched her knees for support, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Was this what he was talking about, a buried instinct? It was almost as though he couldn’t control himself.
Is that what a Fallen was? Sadie thought. Someone who couldn’t control themselves?
It didn’t add up to her. Leila believed in redemption and so did Sadie. The whole time Sebastian had been trying to protect her and that moment, right then, he was doing the same.
In the depths of her heart, she believed he wouldn’t hurt her. Just like he’d never hurt Imogen. It dawned on her then. Sebastian wasn’t a Fallen in the sense that most Fallens were. He’d told her that he’d felt a rush of darkness cover him when he turned, but the moment he saw his sister, it calmed him as though her innocence gave him his humanity back—or at least reminded him of it.
