“He’s lost, Inara, like a compass spinning out of control,” the man continues. “Be his magnet. Point him in the right direction.”
The wind suddenly rushes, swirling the leaves everywhere at once in the cemetery. At that moment, Ethan looks up and snags my gaze across the distance. The wind ruffles his dark hair and pushes against his black V-neck sweater, outlining his muscular frame underneath. My heart ramps as memories of last night flush my face. Ethan doesn’t take his eyes off me as he tugs on the paper to make sure it’s secure, then strides in my direction, his expression resolute and assured.
“He looks pretty non-lost and confident to me…” I turn, speaking to the man, but trail off. He’s gone.
Ethan stops on the other side of Freddie’s grave and glances down at the inscription on the tombstone. “Were you talking to your friend Freddie?”
I stand and brush the dirt off my jeans, then tug my backpack up on my shoulder. “No, I was talking to the man.”
Ethan’s eyebrows shoot up. “What man?”
“The man squatting beside me,” I say and gesture to the ground where he’d just been.
Ethan rubs the back of his head. “No one was there, Nara.”
I point to the space next to my feet once more. “He was there. Maybe Freddie’s tombstone blocked him from your view.”
He holds up his hands. “Okay, I believe you. What were you talking about?”
I grasp my backpack strap and shrug. “He said you don’t know where North is.”
Ethan scrunches his face. “Huh?”
I wave my hand. “Never mind. What are you doing here?”
He glances over his shoulder toward the tombstone where he left the note, then shoves his hands in his denim pockets. “Keeping a promise.”
If it has to do with a tombstone, I’m sure it’s a sad story. He doesn’t appear to want to talk about it, so I clear my throat and change the subject. “Well, since you’re here, I may as well tell you what I wanted to talk about.”
The wind is really starting to howl and Ethan squints against it. “Do you want to go sit in my car?”
I shake my head. “I can’t stay. I have to get back to help Mom prepare for a dinner she’s having.”
Ethan tenses slightly. “Okay. What did you need to tell me?”
I nod to the leafy area where I’ve just buried Freddie’s book. “I spoke to the lady who created Freddie’s book. I thought you should know something I learned from her. Did you know there are two types of demons?”
“I know some are much harder to kill than others. Why?”
“So you don’t know about Furiae or how they’re created?”
Ethan’s expression shutters slightly. “What are Furiae?”
“If a person has been possessed long enough by one of Lucifer’s demons—known as Inferi or Inferni for more than one—when he’s killed by a Corvus, then his soul becomes a lower demon called a Furia or Furiae for plural.”
“What?” Ethan pales slightly. “That can’t be true. Danielle would’ve told me.”
I shrug. “Maybe she doesn’t know everything.”
Ethan blows out a sharp breath, then shoves a hand through his hair. “How reliable do you think this woman’s information is?”
I fold my arms, feeling as if Ethan’s ready to reject what I’m saying. “Very reliable.” As I quickly fill him in on the Corvus’ origin story, Ethan’s expression turns somber. Once I’m done, I ask, “Did you know any of this?”
He slowly shakes his head. “Apparently what I knew just scratched the surface.”
“Madeline said she was told the Corvus’ origin as a reward for creating the book. She doesn’t know anything about the Order side of things, but she’s kept the Corvus’ secret and only shared it with me because of my connection through the necklace and book. She knows I’m supposed to be involved and hopes the book will eventually help me figure out how. She said the symbol on my necklace is in three parts because it takes all three arms to maintain balance in the Mortal world: Corvus, Order, and humans. She also mentioned that something happened thirty years ago, which was about the time she was commissioned to make the book and given specific instructions on what to include on it.”
“Who asked her to create it?”
I laugh and swing my hand toward the empty space beside me. “Well, I’m pretty sure it was the man who was just talking to me. He also happens to be the same man who gave my grandmother the necklace to keep for me, and who gave Freddie the book that Madeline created.”
“And he said I don’t know where North is?” Ethan shakes his head. “Who is he?”
“I don’t know. He was there before I looked up and saw you, and then he was gone when I turned back to speak to him. One thing I do know…the Order is part of this. I think we should try to talk to them.”
“No!” Ethan barks out, then shakes his head as if surprised by his own vehemence. “What I mean is…I just know that the Order and Corvus’ relationship didn’t end well.”
“What relationship was that? I still don’t know.”
“I think the Order acted in a kind of support role for the Corvus in the past.” He shrugs. “I just know Danielle says the Order is not good for Corvus.”
I throw my hands up. “But she also didn’t tell you about creating Furiae either, which means she might’ve left a few other important details out.”
“She would never do that.” Frustration stamps creases around his mouth. “Putting me at risk defeats the whole purpose of training me.”
“How would her not telling you put you at risk?”
“Because, beyond their vileness, another reason I take demons out is to make sure they can’t reveal that I’m Corvus to other demons. Usually people who survive a possession don’t remember anything that happened while they were possessed. If a Furia is possible, then this newly formed Furia might remember the Corvus who killed his human body and rat me out to other demons…or come after me himself. Danielle would’ve told me about that possibility.”
My eyes widen as his comment sinks in. “Oh, God, I just realized…can’t an Inferi you’ve killed come after you as soon as he makes his way back to our world?”
Ethan shakes his head. “That’s my point. No matter how long it takes them to make their way back through, the veil part is key. After demons cross the veil to enter back into our world, they have no memory of their existence here. If Furiae are created here and remain here, they never pass through the veil, so their memories are never wiped.”
“Have you killed every possessed person that you’ve run across?” I ask, my voice shaking.
Ethan presses his lips together. “I told you. The ones who died deserved it.”
“How do you know they deserve it?”
“I can sense if the human’s soul is evil through my sword.”
“You mean once you stab the person?”
He nods solemnly.
“Can you tell if the demon corrupted them or not?”
“Evil is evil, Nara.”
“What if what Madeline told me is true? If Furiae are being created by Corvus killing humans whose souls have been corrupted by Inferni, then yes it does matter. If you can’t tell how dark the soul is, wouldn’t it be best to kill the Inferi without killing the person? That way, the imbalance between Corvus and the Inferni won’t grow larger by accidentally creating a Furia and exposing your identity.”
Ethan pushes his hands deeper into his pockets and inhales in and out of his nose several times while his jaw muscle pops.
“Ethan?” When he looks at me, his eyes are pure black. “Are you okay?”
Expelling a harsh breath, he steps around Freddie’s grave to stand in front of me. “I’d hoped we could talk about us, but I should go find Danielle. I need to know if she’s aware of these Furiae.”
I nod. “That’s more important—”
Ethan presses his thumb to my lips, then lifts my chin up until I meet his dark gaze. “We’re just as importan
t, but I know you have to go, so we’ll talk later.”
I’m mesmerized by his closeness. All I can do is stand there as he slides his thumb slowly across my bottom lip, applying gentle pressure. The moment my lips separate, he presses his warm mouth to mine in a lingering, heated kiss, then turns and walks away, leaving me staring after him, my heart beating like a hummingbird’s.
On my way out of the cemetery, I stop and look at the tombstone where Ethan had left a note under a toy truck. The inscription says: For a loving wife and mother who left us too soon.
Curiosity gets the best of me, and I pick up the truck and read the note Ethan had left.
Marcus,
Your dad seems calmer now. Guess that required counseling helped. I know he misses you. I talked to the police and told them it was a misunderstanding on my part. They’ve agreed to drop the charges against your dad, and hopefully you’ll be able to come home from foster care soon. I know he regrets hurting you, and I don’t think he’ll do it again.
Ethan
P.S. If you ever want to hang out, you can sometimes find me at this place (see other side). And if I’m not there, it’s still a fun place to be. You’ll make lots of friends there.
I flip the paper over and smile. It’s a CVAS advertising flyer. Marcus? Why does that name sound familiar?
“Hey, that’s my truck.”
I turn to the boy standing behind me. He looks to be about seven, and is staring at me with suspicious chocolate brown eyes, his forehead crinkled in distrust.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I hold my hand out to give him the toy, but when he reaches for it, I tuck the paper into his palm along with the truck. “I believe this is for you. I’m Nara, a friend of Ethan’s.” And you must belong to the sleeping man who Ethan saved from a demon.
The boy’s tightly pressed lips flip into a bright smile. “This is from Ethan?”
I watch his face as he slowly reads the note. It’s hard not to choke up when he scrubs his short nails through his close-shaved hair and tears begin dripping down his brown cheeks.
I start to say something when he jerks his head up, eyes bright with happiness, and says, “I gotta go!” Then he turns and bolts from the cemetery.
“Bye,” I call after him, smiling. I’m so glad you can see that some people are worth saving, Ethan.
Chapter Eighteen
Nara
I’m running through the icy forest, desperately looking for Ethan, calling his name.
This time I run through a mowed down path and pop out in a clearing that looks familiar. Instead of ice, snow covers every pine surrounding the pond that takes up most of the open space. Moonlight sparkles off the snow, lighting up the idyllic scene.
Even though I’m cold, warmth seeps into my heart as I picture Ethan and I lying on a blanket kissing like we’d done that day by the pond before he left for a month. Back when my heart felt whole and happiness seemed to be my constant state of being.
Something disturbs the glass surface of the pond and ripples spill outward as Ethan slowly rises from the water.
“Ethan,” I call, but he doesn’t hear me. He’s turned at a slight angle away from me as he continues to slowly move higher in the water, his gaze focused straight ahead.
I shiver at the single-mindedness in his dark eyes, but the whapping sound of a lone bird’s wings draws my attention to the sky. A massive raven is heading toward us. He’s gliding now, his black eyes locked on Ethan.
My heart races and I return my attention to Ethan as he lifts his arms out of the water, resting his palms on the surface. Tilting his head back, he closes his eyes and basks in the moon’s glow. Everything about his pose reflects relaxed composure and full acceptance.
Does he know the bird is barreling right for him? It hasn’t made a sound.
As the raven draws close, I clench my hands and wince, preparing for its massive body to slam into him. Instead, the moment the raven hits, he melds into Ethan’s body, completely disappearing. The only indication Ethan felt the impact is the slight step back he takes in the water. His palms don’t disturb the water and his head remains tilted back.
Several seconds pass and I hold my breath, wondering what just happened.
When Ethan lifts his arms wide, the muscles in his shoulder, chest and abs flexing with his movements, my gaze shifts to the shadow the moon reflects in the water behind him. It isn’t a man’s body with arms spread wide, but a raven about to take flight.
Water drips from Ethan’s sleek arms and down his broad chest. The arch of his neck and set of his shoulders are proud, arrogant even as a cloud moves over the moon. He’s brutally beautiful in his darkness: gorgeous, majestic, powerful and untouchable. Chills race down my spine just looking at him. I’m so overwhelmed with emotions of both awe and worry, my legs buckle and my knees sink into the deep snow.
Danielle’s laughter suddenly echoes everywhere. She’s standing beside me, hands on her hips, smiling. “Ethan’s busy right now. Leave a message and he might return your call.”
When I shift my gaze back to the pond, Ethan’s gone and the moonlit water is smooth once more. Standing up, I jerk to my feet and step into her personal space. “What do you want, Danielle? Why are you here?”
The clearing goes dark for a second, then tendrils of light start to bleed through. I’m in my bedroom now and the sensation of being watched is so strong, I quickly sit up. Danielle’s standing beside my bed, staring at me.
I jerk back and look around my dim room. Am I still dreaming? Blinking my eyes, I repeat my question in a fast gush of air. “What do you want?”
“You need to cut Ethan loose,” she says, her voice sounding older, harsher. “All this”—she lifts her fingers in air quotes—“‘you need to remember’ bullshit is messing with his training, and I won’t have it.”
She advances close to my bed until the outside light glitters in her dark eyes. “He needs to focus, to fully accept his Corvus. He’ll never be as strong as he should be with you holding him back.”
My heart aches with each jabbing word. She’s saying everything I’ve thought but never voiced. I swallow the hot rush of guilt that lodges in my throat and sit up on my knees. “Ethan needs me. He needs the light or—”
“Or what?” she snaps.
My dreams flash through my mind. In them, at first Ethan disappears, then later he’s missing or…no, lost, just like that man from the cemetery said. I’m looking for him, hunting everywhere, behind every tree and in every shadow, but it’s so cold and dark that I’m never able to find him. In this last one, he didn’t even acknowledge my presence. I lean forward on my knees and speak with conviction. “Or he’ll be sucked into the darkness.”
“You will—” Danielle begins, then gasps. I jerk back a little as she pulls the chain from my T-shirt. Holding the medallion in her palm, outrage fills her face. “This is mine! Where did you get it?”
“Ethan gave it to me.” I straighten to my knees, the action giving me a height advantage. As the metal disk thumps against my chest, I lift my chin and stare her down. “I won’t abandon him. He needs me or he won’t be able to find his way. He’s growing darker every day.”
Danielle snorts. “You silly girl. His darkness is keeping him alive. How else do you expect him to fight demons? Like fights like. Your puny light only weakens him.”
Is my light creating cracks in the dam of darkness protecting Ethan? The hole in my chest burns as my certainty starts to splinter, but I know one thing is true. “I love him.”
“Are you really that selfish? This is bigger than you.” Danielle curls her hands into fists. “Break it off. He needs to fulfill his destiny.”
Sudden doubt grips my chest, but the fury swirling in my belly overrides it. “I’ll make sure he’s on the right path.”
She lets out the same kind of laughter I’ve been hearing in my dreams, and a glint of silver flashes as she rushes me. I fall back against my headboard as she slams her fist into the wood right beside my shoulder
, the jolt against the headboard rocking through me.
I’m frozen in place, my heart racing. Was that her fist or a sword drilling into the wood? I keep my eyes squeezed tight and try to shut out her spicy perfume as she leans in and hisses next to my ear. “End it!”
The two words echo in my head a couple of times before I work up the courage to challenge her. “Fuck. Off,” I say forcefully and open my eyes…to an empty bedroom.
Heart thudding, I quickly turn on my lamp to flood the room with light.
Is she really gone? I lean over and look under my bed to make sure she’s not hiding there. My gaze snags on the box my aunt had stopped by to drop off last night. Mom invited her to stay for dinner, and then right after, I left to meet Lainey at the club. There’s no way I’m going back to sleep for a while, so I slide the box out and lift the lid.
Emotions swell as I pull a gray fedora hat out of the tissue with shaky hands, excitement coursing through me. Drystan could help me find—then I sigh when I remember Aunt Sage had had it dry-cleaned, which would have washed away my dad’s essence. Regret fills my heart as I run my fingers along the black band and short brim. I can totally see my dad wearing it. I love it too. Paper tucked inside the hat scrapes against my fingers. I pull the note out.
Inara,
I knew you would enjoy this. You definitely got your “love of things from the past” from him.
Aunt Sage
Clutching the hat against my chest, I sniff back tears and glance over my shoulder to the headboard behind me. Nothing. Not a scratch. But it had felt so real.
A shudder ripples through me as I murmur, “It’s official. I’m losing my mind.”
Nara
Ding-dong.
Ethan’s adamant words of distrust against the Order clang in my head as I lower my hand from the doorbell, but I know Danielle’s behind his concerns, and right now, she’s my biggest one. I’d checked my phone this morning on the way out the door and saw Ethan had sent a text late last night saying he was sorry he missed me at the club but that we’d talk later.
Destiny, YA Paranormal Romance (Brightest Kind of Darkness Series, Book #3) Page 20
