Stellar (The Halo Series Book 3)

by Melody Robinette

  Cowards, Soren thought as he snuck through a door leading inside the airship.

  It didn’t take him long to find the pair of dark rulers, sitting in the control room of the ship. The door to the control room was unguarded and propped open, making it easy for Soren to slip inside and lurk in the shadowy corner of the room, his weapon itching to be used.

  Lilith and Caducus sat watching through the massive window from atop two high seats. Samuel was notably missing. Soren wondered if something had happened to him when Aurora and Gray knocked out the first round of demons and sunk their airships. The thought of his mom nearly made him act brashly, abandoning his hiding place in the shadows and charging at them with his sword held high.

  But he didn’t, of course. Now wasn’t the time for acting irrationally.

  “This could take quite a while,” Lilith spoke nonchalantly, leaning back against her chair. “Lucifer’s demons are plentiful.”

  “Yes, if you could have stopped your lover’s little plan, that would have been rather helpful, Dear Lilith. Though, my demons aren’t a concern, however, I’d prefer not to lose all my Horns. Hell’s demons will make wiping out the Halos—particularly the ones high above the city—more difficult.”

  “I had not planned on joining you at that time.” Lilith’s voice was tight and biting now, the laziness in her words gone. “I was merely interested in meeting the man the creatures of Darkness worshiped so.”

  Something akin to tension—all varieties—crackled through the air like electricity. Soren could taste it like metal on his tongue as he breathed in. There was a similar feeling when Aurora and Gray had been near one another. Which made him wonder…

  Lilith’s next words answered Soren’s lingering question.

  “Do you think it wise for us to reconnect? You know what happened last time… I have often thought Stellars are not meant to be in close proximity.”

  “It will not be like last time. I believe you have learned your lesson. Being Stellars only makes us more powerful. Not less.”

  “If that is so…” Lilith’s eyes flicked sharply to Caducus, her voice growing darker. “You might consider speaking more tenderly to me. I have had quite enough of my male partners acting as though I am beneath them. Especially you. You, Adam, who knows it was I who was created first. Had the Light not punished me for denying you children, women would be the stronger sex.”

  Caducus’s face grew scarlet, and he slid from his chair, circling Lilith. She sat straighter, claw-like hands gripping the armrests.

  Soren pressed further into the darkness of the corner, hoping the dark angel couldn’t see him. But his blazing eyes were locked on his Stellar.

  “You have just admitted it was you who denied the legacies owed to me,” the king of the Fallen hissed. “Don’t act as though it is anyone’s fault but your own that men took the role women were initially meant to have.”

  “Then, perhaps, it is time I reclaimed my rightful position. Above you.”

  Lilith’s hand shot out, wrapping securely around Caducus’s windpipe.

  AURORA

  Awe lit Gray’s face as he watched the wake of their Stellar connection tear through the battle, leaving the angels and Halos stunned.

  Aurora glanced at the fleeing demons only a moment before turning back to Gray, her face softening as she placed a hand on his cheek. It felt like they’d been apart for years. Before she’d known death, she’d feared their physical connection would leave as their souls parted from their bodies.

  But she'd been worried for no reason.

  Unable to stand not kissing him another second, Aurora pulled Gray to her, giving in to all the desires she’d fought against for so long when the troubles of the world weighed on her human shoulders.

  Now she was an angel. And she had nothing to be afraid of anymore.

  As she thought this, a screeching sound tore through the air above them. Gray reacted more quickly than Aurora, pulling her out of the way of the massive object crashing towards them. The two Stellars tumbled sideways, just out of the way of the demon airship, which splintered apart on contact with the metal stage. Glass shattered out from the windows as the vessel came to rest at the edge of the platform.

  Something in Aurora’s core awakened. It felt strange to not have a heart but to feel it pumping wildly all the same.

  “Soren,” she whispered.

  Leaving Gray’s side, she crossed the short distance to the ship, climbing up the side. Her son was in there. She could feel it. Gray was on her heels, following in her pursuit of what she could only describe as a gut instinct. A mother’s instinct.

  It was less difficult than it would have been as a human to scale the ship and climb inside the fractured window. The scene before her was dark, but her eyes adjusted quickly, as if she had built-in night vision. Three figures lay on the ground, brought down by the impact of the ship. Aurora recognized all three.

  Soren. Lilith. And her father.

  Quicker than the flick of a camera shutter, Caducus was on his feet, standing over Soren with a greedy look in his eyes.

  He lifted Soren by the scruff of his shirt. “I underestimated you, young man.”

  Soren's little face was dazed, blinking up at the man who had somehow had a part in his creation. Then his head lolled slightly, eyes growing wider as he took in Aurora and Gray, frozen just outside the window.

  “Stellars,” he whispered. Aurora was sure if she weren’t an angel she would not have been able to hear him. “Lilith and Caducus.”

  Comprehension washed over Aurora as she took in Lilith's crumpled form, stirring only slightly on the ground. Then her eyes landed on Lionheart mere feet away, the sword she wasn’t meant to wield.

  But her angel blood wasn’t of the purest variety. Perhaps that would be enough to do what needed to be done.

  “I should have taken care of you like I took care of your mother,” Caducus growled, raising a hand.

  Aurora sent Gray a meaningful look. Then they sprung inside with the speed of two jungle cats. With Gray’s hand clasped in hers, Aurora pounced on the sword, biting back the screams as the hilt seared the skin on her hand, golden blood pouring from the wounds. With all the strength her new heavenly body held, Aurora brought the sword down into Lilith’s heart.

  Though it made no sense at all, Aurora could have sworn Lilith smiled as the blade went in.

  Then the world around them crumbled.

  A chain of events ensued as the sword met Lilith’s chest. Caducus realized much too late that his daughter had returned to finish the job she’d been created by him to do.

  Destroy him.

  The blade penetrated Lilith’s chest, and Caducus collapsed, pulling Soren to the ground with him.

  Then the ship disintegrated into ash, the metal platform crumbling with it, blowing away into oblivion. All surviving demons transformed to dust carried away by the wind.

  Aurora and Gray’s eyes met as they realized what they’d just done.

  They had won.

  The Light had won.

  Fifty

  SOREN

  Voices woke him.

  Everything hurt.

  CHORD

  Chord and Sevastion sat in a pair of armchairs across from Verity in the corner of the sickroom.

  After the final battle, and a lot of cleaning up, the Halos had been transported—by boat, of course—to Portland, Oregon of all places.

  Verity hadn’t explained, but she had given them a letter with an address on it. The address of an exceptionally large, incredibly old mansion complete with grounds and a high iron fence. She’d called it a “Harbour.” Chord had nearly fainted when he found out it had been gifted to them by the angels.

  And, now, he was about to faint again when he found out why.

  “Orphans?" Chord shot Verity a flabbergasted look. "Halo orphans?”

  The hippie angel seemed out of place now that the world had started turning again. All the humans’ souls had been unlocked and r
eturned to their bodies. Though they were still trying to piece together what had happened with the “sleeping virus,” which had mysteriously disappeared.

  The angels hadn’t bothered clearing their memories of this.

  “Not Halos, precisely,” Verity answered. “We call them Anchors. Children of Halos. Affixing the Light to humanity...and vice versa.”

  “How many are there?” Sev asked, looking much paler than usual. “And what ages?”

  “There are many.” The angel looked regretfully at the sickroom filled with empty beds, save for one. “The rest shall arrive soon. We aren’t leaving them all with you, of course. You will only receive children of the Power Halos. And, because Soren knows you, we thought children around his age would fit best here. Ages seven to ten. So far, we’ve tracked down six of them.”

  “Six kids?” Chord said in a tight voice. He felt like his tie was choking him. “You want us to take care of six kids?”

  “Maybe more,” Verity added with a smile. “And it isn’t just to take care of them. We ask that you also train them.”

  “For what?” Chord spoke again. Sev had been struck speechless it seemed. “The battle is over.”

  Verity shook her head forlornly. “Caducus and his army may have been banished to Neverworld, but the battle here is not over. It is never over. Another dark force shall rise, and the descendants of the Halos will be our soldiers. Plus, after what you and Sevastion discovered about curing the beasts, and your demon compendium...we figured you two would be among the best teachers our Anchors could have.”

  Chord felt exhausted.

  The idea of taking care of six pre-teens terrified him. Being a father had appealed to him as a future endeavor, sure. But not now. And not to grown ass kids he didn’t even know.

  But then he thought of Aurora and looked over to Soren, still in his angel-induced coma to heal his internal wounds. He was lucky to be alive. After all, the demon blood in his veins had been severely affected by Aurora and Gray’s Stellar shockwave. Aurora. His heart twisted. Soren looked just like her.

  Cursing under his breath, Chord spoke before he regretted his decision, “All right. We’ll do it.” Sev looked taken aback, and Chord added, “Sorry, I meant I will do it… I won’t speak for both of us. Although, I’d really like to not run this place all on my own. The children may kill me.”

  Running his long fingers over his face and resting them beneath his chin, Sev stared off into the distance for a long while. Then he let out a lingering breath, leaning back. “The library here is rather well stocked.”

  Chord and Verity looked to him for more of an answer, but he merely folded his hands together.

  Unable to help himself, Chord blurted, “Does that mean you will do it? You’ll help run this place? Train the kids?”

  “Anchors,” Sev corrected.

  “Jesus, Sevastion. All I’m looking for here is a—”

  “Yes, I’ll do it,” Sev cut in. “Of course I will. Can’t leave you here alone to torment a mansion full of children.”

  “Anchors, you mean.”

  AURORA

  The Harbour—a dark mansion one might find if they traveled back to Victorian London—towered above Aurora as she slowly approached. She still hadn’t gotten used to being able to move between dimensions like this.

  Becoming a Guardian had taken up all her time as of late, though the manipulation of time was also something she hadn’t exactly gotten used to. She knew now what Michael had meant when he said there were so many things humans couldn’t comprehend. Things that just were and the angels had grown accustomed to without understanding why or how. Like time passing differently from the mortal world, or traveling from one spiritual plane to the next.

  But, as was custom for her in her human life, she preferred not to ask questions.

  As she lifted the doorknocker on the Harbour, though, a myriad of questions about her son welled up in her. The familiar face of Michael, who she still struggled to see as her equal now, appeared from behind the door.

  “Aurora.” He smiled warmly. “Please, come in.”

  “Where’s Soren?” she asked without preamble.

  “He is still resting.”

  “Can I see him?”

  “Of course. But, first, I’d like you to meet with me a moment. Gray arrived not long before you.”

  The mention of her Stellar made her stomach flip. She should have known the tugging feeling in her gut was actually the nearness of her Stellar. They hadn't been allowed around each other since the battle. They were meant to complete their Guardian tests separately. The Head Guardian, Emanuel, worried their Stellar powers would affect their ability to perform.

  Aurora seemed to have impressed him with her solo capabilities. Angels could still be proud, it seemed, because when she finally earned her wings all on her own, Aurora had practically flashed Emanuel a contemptuous smile.

  But being apart from Gray had nearly tortured her to the point of madness.

  “Fine." Aurora followed Michael inside the mansion.

  Initially, she’d thought the Harbour resembled a Victorian residence, but quickly realized it was more a hodgepodge of several eras. Elements of Victorian, Gothic, Baroque, and Modern could be found in the marble floor, the lace drapes on the stained-glass windows, and the solid steel door leading into a sitting room fit for guests aboard the Titanic.

  “The former occupants each made some minor changes to the decorations,” Michael explained as he took in Aurora’s quirked brow.

  “I can see that.”

  But then her eyes landed on the figure rising from a high-backed armchair.

  Gray.

  Even in the presence of Michael, Aurora felt her cheeks flush, and she forced herself to repress the urge to do things that weren’t entirely appropriate in polite company. She wondered if it was the Fallen Angel part of her blood that made her relieved to discover that her carnal, sexual desires had remained intact. Judging by the way Gray’s back straightened and eyes combed up and down her...his had too.

  Ignoring everything she wanted to do to him, Aurora settled for sitting in the armchair next to his, taking the hand he’d offered her. For now, it would suffice.

  Michael smiled warmly at the both of them. “Congratulations to both of you on receiving your Guardian wings.”

  Aurora and Gray murmured their thanks, waiting for the real reason they’d been asked to return to the mortal world in this amalgam of a mansion.

  “That is actually what I wanted to speak to you about,” Michael continued. Aurora and Gray’s hands tightened slightly. “The Light has asked me to assign the two of you to be mentors to other Stellars.”

  Exchanging a quick glance with Aurora, Gray spoke first. “I thought we were the only Stellar Halos.”

  “You were.”

  “Then…” Aurora trailed off.

  “There are Stellars all over the world who will never meet. Not without help. The Light feels it is essential this happen. For the benefit of not only the two soul mates but also the world as a whole. There’s something powerful in a Stellar couple, not even the angels can explain or understand.”

  “So…you want us to be a couple of cupids or something?” Aurora said. “Matchmakers to the Stellars of the world?”

  “Not quite matchmakers. They will feel their connection when they meet. It is inevitable, as the two of you well know.” Neither Gray nor Aurora could deny this. “Of course, you do not have to accept this proposition,” Michael added.

  “But the Light wants this?” Aurora asked. “He told you to speak with us?”

  Michael dipped his head in affirmation.

  Aurora wasn’t sure how she felt about this assignment. Part of her wanted to refuse, to say she’d planned to be Soren’s Guardian and that’s all she cared to be. But then the image of her father—Caducus—floated into her mind. He had denied the wishes of the Light, and look where he ended up.

  In the frozen hell known as Neverworld.

&nb
sp; “Would I still be able to see Soren?” she asked.

  Michael’s face shifted only just enough for Aurora to notice. “Occasionally, yes. You will find mortals grow rather fast—much faster than you realize.”

  Aurora glanced at Gray, whose eyes were already on her. She knew he wouldn’t agree until she did.

  “Who will take care of him?” Aurora said in a quiet voice. “Soren, I mean.”

  “Chord and Sevastion have just agreed to run the Harbour here in Portland. Soren will train with them and other kids like him. He will be among peers.”

  Except he wouldn’t be, Aurora thought bitterly. Not really. His blood would never be as pure as the others. After all, his father had been a Horn.

  “Okay,” Aurora said after a long moment, feeling Gray’s hand tighten on hers. “Okay.”

  Michael accepted her answer with a smile. “And Gray?”

  “As always, Aurora’s answer is my answer.”

  “Very well.” Michael stood, and Aurora and Gray mimicked his stance. “I will inform the Light of your decision.”

  “How soon will we begin?” Aurora asked.

  “As soon as possible.” Michael reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a folded piece of thick parchment. "This is your first assignment.”

  SOREN

  Soren kept his eyes closed as he listened to the adults talk.

  He didn’t want them to fuss over him. He had a strange feeling he’d been out for a long time.

  Clearly, the battle was over.

  Clearly, the humans’ souls had been unlocked, and the world had gone back to turning with no knowledge of the evils lurking in the shadows.

  And, clearly…he was back to being an orphan.

  The voices stopped, and his dreams took advantage of the silence, returning with full force.

  “Soren.”

  His eyes fluttered open to see his mother smiling down at him.

  Great, he thought. Dreams that felt like reality were the worst. But, at the sight of Aurora hovering above him, he couldn’t help but indulge.