Reign of Angels 2

by L. G. Castillo

  A line of buses, big and small, lined the front of the terminal. Families poured out of the vehicles and made their way toward the building.

  “Thank god,” Nacho said under his breath.

  As we approached the terminal, there were even more people. Hundreds bunched around the terminal glass doors, patiently waiting to enter.

  When Nacho pulled over and opened the door, Tristan was the first to jump out, and he quickly disappeared into the crowd.

  “He’s eager to meet up with Remi,” Calder said, looking apologetic. “I have to hurry too. Can you…will you…?” His eyes flicked to Jo, who was trying to move past Dorian to get to Javi and Neto.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll watch her.”

  He looked at Jo one last time and dashed out of the bus.

  “Karenna, over here!” Lucy stood on top of the SUV’s hood, waving.

  “Come on.” I grabbed Javi and Neto’s hands, taking them with me, knowing Jo would follow.

  “We can’t leave yet, Josette. We still need to get our bags from the back,” Dorian’s silky voice lectured over the noise of the crowd.

  “But the boys...wait! Karenna!” Jo cried.

  “We should all stay together. There’s no need to rush, Karenna,” Dorian scolded.

  “We’ll be right outside,” I snapped. I’d had enough of him.

  Taking my cue, Nacho clapped a hand on Dorian’s shoulder. “Dude, we’re here. No one’s going anywhere right now.”

  I smiled at Nacho. He gave a simple nod then turned to help the others gather their belongings.

  When we finally made it off the bus, Lucy jumped off the hood, reached into the SUV for her skateboard, and skipped to us. “We’re going on a cruise! Can you believe it?”

  “Cool! But Neto can’t swim,” Javi said.

  “I can’t swim!” Neto sobbed.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll teach ya.” Lucy patted his head. “Zach says it’ll take a few days to get to where we’re going. But the ship has electricity and video games, and we can cook food and everything.” Her eyes danced with excitement.

  “How did they manage to do that?” How was that even possible? I thought the EMP the warrior angels had attacked us with had rendered anything electrical useless.

  “Don’t know. He left before I could ask. They’re going to hook up with some guy named Remi. He said they’ll meet us in the terminal. It’s through there.” She pointed to a large white canopy, sitting adjacent to the terminal building.

  “Well, I’ll be,” Hunter drawled as he stepped out of the bus. “So this is the City of Angels. I wonder if any movie stars are still ’round.” He chuckled, winking at Lucy.

  She frowned. “Come on, Javi, Neto. Let’s get your backpacks.”

  I shook my head. This was so unlike Lucy. She liked everyone. Hunter was only being friendly.

  As we made our way through the canopy, lugging our bags and supplies, familiar faces appeared. Guardians, once part of the Revolutionz security, greeted the crowd with smiles. Some of them helped people with their belongings. For a moment, I felt a sense of relief. We’d made it. We were finally safe.

  Then I saw the others.

  They stood on the outskirts of the crowd. Their wings were spread wide, creating a barrier, as if preventing anyone from trying to escape. Their arms were folded across massive chests, flawless features unmoving like Greek statues. Cold. Inhuman. Yet, they looked familiar…

  They all had the same sword tattoo on their forearms, the same buzz cut, the same expression of disdain like…

  Ian.

  Ian, the Revolutionz security guard had made it clear the first time I met Tristan that I was not welcome. He seemed to be in a position of authority now as he walked the perimeter of gathering survivors. The angels watched him, waiting for his command.

  As if sensing my presence, Ian turned in my direction. Icy, pale blue eyes met mine.

  “Stay close, Lucy.” I reached into my backpack, feeling for the dagger in case I needed it. These angels were Powers, the warrior angels Tristan had mentioned. They had volunteered to join the Watchers, angels dedicated to protecting humans, and were supposed to be on our side, but it was easy to see they didn’t like being around humans.

  “I want to look for Blaze and Zac.”

  “I’m sure we’ll see them soon. Where’s Aunt Marmie and Jo?” I turned to make sure Jo was behind me. I didn’t trust Dorian for a second, despite his complaints we should stick together.

  “I’m here,” Jo said, touching my back.

  I jumped. “Oh my god. You scared me. Where’s Dorian?”

  She gestured to the left of her. Dorian stood with Javi a couple of feet behind her. Nacho had Neto on his shoulders. Hunter’s cowboy hat peeked out from behind Nacho.

  “Aunt Marmie is with Hunter,” she said. “She has him carrying one of her giant bags.”

  “Only one? Hunter must be some smooth talker if she agreed to leave the others behind…oh, wow,” I gasped when we stepped inside the terminal, stunned at the mass of bodies. The crowd was even larger inside.

  “I wonder if they’re other Gibbors like you,” Jo whispered.

  “Hunter said the Gibbor knew the war was coming. I guess some of them would’ve made their way here.”

  I wasn’t sure if I wanted to see any more Gibbor. The Gibbor families on the bus weren’t exactly welcoming toward Lucy and me.

  I squeezed Lucy’s hand as we inched our way forward. Everyone seemed to move in groups. Some groups were more obvious, as they all wore the same color clothing. One group had donned t-shirts emblazoned with the words “Sweet Home Alabama.”

  I was so busy taking it all in, I hadn’t seen the woman who’d stepped abruptly in front of me.

  “Watch where you’re going!” she snapped when I bumped into her.

  I blinked, taken off guard by her appearance. She didn’t look like the countless others with their tired faces and wrinkled and dusty clothes. Everything about her screamed wealth and elitism: the Hermes Birkin bag dangling off her arm, the diamond rings decorating manicured hands, sleek strawberry blond hair pulled back into a chignon, and a full face of makeup applied with masterful precision. The woman exuded an air of entitlement, demanding an immediate response to being rudely bumped into.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t see you.”

  Even though her cashmere silk sweater and wool-silk slacks were spotless, she brushed them off vigorously.

  Several people suddenly appeared, encircling her, voicing their concern.

  “What happened, Mrs. Carmichael?”

  “Some people are so inconsiderate.”

  “We really should’ve been given a private entrance.”

  “Are you hurt, Mrs. Carmichael?”

  They were young, attractive, and like the woman, noticeably wealthy. They were an elite clique with their pristine designer clothes and rolling Gucci carry-on luggage.

  “Are you all right, Mother?” A young man with similar hair coloring pushed his way through the group.

  “I will be when we board. This is unbearable, James. They’re steering us through this place like cattle.” She took a handkerchief from her purse and held it over her nose.

  “I know it’s been a hardship,” he crooned, comforting her.

  “First, riding in that bus and then making us wait in that deserted hotel for days without room service. They could have at least cleared out the penthouse at the Waldorf for us.”

  Carmichael’s clique murmured in agreement.

  “I know, Mother. It was appalling, but we’re almost at the ship.”

  “It’s bad enough we had to travel with the other ones.” She waved her hanky to the right of her.

  I balked. She had no right to treat anyone like that. I was about to tell her off when I saw the woman she had pointed to and the two little girls with her.

  “Hali?”

  Hali turned. Her tired face burst into a wide smile when she saw me. “Karenna! You made it. Excuse me, let me
through.”

  “Thank you,” I said, hugging her when she reached me. “I don’t know why you gave me the dag—”

  Hali jerked back, clutching my arms as she shook her head. “Don’t mention it. Really, it was just something I thought you’d find useful. So, did you find your sister?”

  “I…uh, yes.” I gazed at her, puzzled at why she was acting so jumpy. “This is my sister, Lucy.”

  “Hey,” Lucy said.

  Hali let out a breath of relief and dropped her hands. “It’s nice to meet you, Lucy. These are my girls, Nisha and Hazel.”

  The wealthy woman sighed loudly, waving her ridiculous handkerchief again. “James, please do something about these…these…”

  “Yes, Mother,” James replied before turning to me. “Look, it’s crowded enough in here, please keep the line—Dorian? Hey, it’s Dorian!”

  James and the others of Carmichael’s clique called out with excitement as they spotted Dorian, calling him over.

  Dorian hesitated, throwing a glance at Jo. Then, for the first time since we’d left Texas, he willingly left Jo’s side. They welcomed him warmly, enveloping him in their circle of privilege. He didn’t bother calling Jo over to introduce her to his surprising group of friends. It was like she didn’t exist.

  Jo raised a perfectly arched eyebrow and shrugged. She was just as bewildered.

  I rolled my eyes. Of all the survivors, of course Dorian would know them.

  “It looks like Dorian has found his people,” Hunter chuckled. “Lucky for me. Now I can have the pleasure of assisting both of you lovely ladies. Let me help you with those backpacks, Jo, Karenna.”

  “We’re not delicate flowers, you know. We’re perfectly capable of carrying our bags,” Jo said, sounding like her old self again.

  “I know you can, but my momma would hunt me down from her grave if I didn’t make the offer.”

  “You look like you got your hands full,” I said, pointing to the guitar case, duffle, and bag with Aunt Marmie’s name stitched on it.

  He laughed. “You’re right. Wanna carry my bag?”

  As we moved through the terminal entrance, Dorian kept close to his high-brow buddies, not once attempting to pull Jo over next to him. It was like she didn’t exist.

  “Who are they?” I asked Jo.

  “Don’t know and don’t care. I feel like it’s been forever since we’ve talked.” She weaved her arm into mine.

  We finally made it to the terminal entrance. As the glass doors slid open and we walked through, my jaw dropped at the massive crowd inside.

  “Wow, this sure is a sight,” Hunter drawled as he arched his neck taking in the vaulted ceilings inside the terminal. A wall of windows enclosing an upper balcony above the check-in desks were broken, letting in a cool breeze.

  “How many people are they bringing?” Jo asked.

  “Zac said the ship they have is meant to hold five thousand people,” Lucy said. “I guess they expected more people.”

  My chest grew heavy. Although this was the largest crowd I’d seen since the apocalypse started, it was small compared to what the angels had expected to save.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please,” a loud voice boomed.

  Remi stood on the balcony above, his majestic wings spread wide. Feathers from his wings flitted as the gentle breeze drifted through broken wall-length windows. He waited patiently for the crowd to quiet. Tristan, Val, and Zac stood on either side of him.

  I waved at Tristan. There was a flicker of recognition, but then he quickly looked away, keeping his eyes straight ahead.

  “What happened with Tristan? I thought you two were friends?” Jo asked.

  “So did I,” I whispered.

  A hush swept over the crowd as Ian and the other Powers entered the terminal. Their stoic faces stared ahead as they made their way to the front, ignoring the people who stood in their path. The crowd pressed against each other, making a wide path for them. Terrified parents grabbed their children, who were attempting to touch their wings.

  Ian stopped in front of us, standing too close for comfort. Nacho took one look at him and grunted under his breath. I bit my lip, fighting back a laugh. He knew a jerk when he saw one. Still, Nacho moved away from the arrogant angel, making sure Javi and Neto were out of reach.

  “I know it’s been a long journey, and we have a long way to go still,” Remi continued. “The ship is equipped with electricity, so you’ll find some basic human comforts as we embark on the last leg of our journey. But please know we are still in danger. We have worked to protect you to the best of our ability, but we are limited. We have recently discovered we can be detected when an angel takes flight. As such, flying is forbidden.”

  He paused, looking solemnly at all the angels in the terminal. When his eyes drifted behind the crowd, I turned. Calder stood with the other Guardians in the back.

  “All angels will keep their wings closed to prevent temptation. Angels!” At Remi’s command, a loud snap reverberated throughout the terminal as they enclosed their wings in unison.

  “We also ask that you follow a few rules for your safety. Val, if you please.”

  Clearing her throat, Val stepped forward, taking Remi’s place. “Thank you, Remi. There’s plenty of room on the ship, but for everyone’s safety, we’ve assigned cabins to each of you. The Guardians will provide you with this information as you check in and receive a keycard. You’ll take the escalator up to board on the ship. Obviously, the electricity in the terminal isn’t working, so if you need assistance, the Guardians will—”

  She suddenly stopped. Her amber eyes widened for a moment and then narrowed as she looked down directly at Hali.

  “You…you,” Val’s voice shook as the tendons along her slender throat visibly tightened and her eyes narrowed in accusation.

  “She found out,” Hali said in a choked whispered. She clutched my hand, squeezing it. “I beg you, please watch after my girls.”

  5

  Karenna

  “I…can’t…believe it,” Val spoke in a low and frightening tone.

  The crowd tensed with hushed fascination. Her angelic face turned from pink to red and then an alarming purple hue.

  “Oh, dear. Val’s been so sweet to me. Whatever could have happened?” Aunt Marmie asked nervously.

  “I don’t know,” I whispered.

  “She looks madder than a three-legged cat trying to bury her business in frozen mud. Is she talkin’ to you?” Hunter muttered.

  “No. She’s looking at Hali.” I hadn’t seen Val look this angry since Hoover Dam and that had been fake, a part of the Revelationz’s performance to attract people to their show. This Val, glaring at Hali with nostrils flaring, was filled with unadulterated fury.

  My eyes flicked to Tristan, questioning. My stomach plummeted as I watched his face grow pale. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Even Zac looked alarmed, his brows slanted down close together and his mouth slightly open as he breathed heavily.

  Hali kissed her girls’ foreheads and pushed them toward me. “Take them.”

  “Hali, don’t,” I said, baffled by what was happening.

  “I’ve got them,” Lucy said, taking a hold of the crying girls and making her way to stand near Nacho.

  “I can’t be seeing this!” Val leaped off the ledge. The crowd scrambled out of her way as she landed and charged straight at Hali. Even some of the Powers stepped aside.

  “Tell me you are not here. Tell me!”

  “I’ll take care of this,” Hunter said, moving Hali and me behind him. He held up his hand, marching forward to meet Val. “Look here, little missy. You’re scaring all of these nice folk. Now, I don’t know what’s—”

  With a flick of her hand, Val sent Hunter stumbling back.

  Then realization hit me. It was the dagger. Memories of us sitting by the campfire in Arizona flashed through my mind, and I remembered Calder explaining the dagger was created using the Dark Ways. Val, Tristan, and
Zac had all heard him speculating Hali was Eljo. That explained why she’d looked so terrified when I tried to give it back.

  “Val, please. Let’s talk this out,” I pleaded. They were wrong about Hali. She couldn’t be Eljo. She’d given me the dagger for protection.

  Hali stood deathly still, mumbling under her breath. Val walked past her, ignoring Hali completely. Hali let out a muted sob.

  Val finally stopped next to Ian. That’s when I noticed a boy standing next to him.

  “Tell me you are not here,” she growled, eyes blazing at the boy.

  “I’m not here,” the boy said with a sly grin. He looked around Lucy’s age, but something about his light brown eyes made him appear younger. He had the same platinum hair and heart-shaped face as Val.

  I wonder…

  “I can’t believe it! Are you insane? This isn’t an academy boot camp. This is real. This is war. A real war.” Val then turned to Ian, jabbing a finger into his chest. “And you! Did you do this? Did you bring him here?”

  Ian’s pale blue eyes narrowed. “Yes, and I’m proud he chose to fight with us. He is a true follower.”

  Val pulled back her shoulders and lifted her chin. The circlet on her forehead, the mark of angelic royalty, was barely visible beneath her bangs. “What did you call me?”

  “Oh dear,” Aunt Marmie’s frightened voice whispered from behind me.

  Hunter scrambled to his feet and waved his hands, motioning us to step away. “Better skedaddle. She’s gonna blow.”

  Shocked faces remained still, waiting for Val’s next move. Tristan and Zac threw nervous glances at Remi. Remi held up his hand, signaling them to stay back. The Powers remained stoic and kept their distance.

  Then I saw Dorian and his friends, all wearing the same amused expression on their faces. There was nothing funny about this.

  When I glanced at Hunter, I blinked in surprise. I swore I saw his lip twitch.

  “Take my brother back home, Power,” Val demanded.

  “No way. I’m staying with you,” the boy said.