by C. S. Wilde
“Liam,” she tried, but he didn’t listen. Instead, he shot the werewolf a ferocious grin, the muscles on his shoulders and arms clenching.
Before this could turn into a disaster, the old man swiveled around and watched the werewolf with both hands clasped behind his back.
The wolf man immediately bowed to him. “Forgive me. It’s been a hard couple of days.”
The elder nodded. “Focus on the true enemy, child, not on those who bear no fault. We’ve had enough of that lately.” His tone was eerily similar to that of a Guardian speaking to a charge.
The old man turned and kept walking.
Ava and Liam exchanged a confused glance before following after him. She narrowed her eyes at the man, shooting her Guardian powers forward, hoping they could tell her something about the mysterious elder.
The only response Ava got was a warm tug that playfully tickled the back of her neck, a mischievous smile imprinted on it.
“He’s different,” she whispered to Liam.
“Different how?”
“I can’t feel him.” She frowned. “My Guardian instincts can go through any creature, sometimes even through the high angels, but he’s just a blank. I think he’s blocking me.”
If the old man had heard her, she couldn’t say.
He suddenly stopped before a big wooden door and turned to them. “Here lies the truth. Once you enter this room, you cannot go back. Will you come in?”
Liam and Ava looked at each other, then nodded. They didn’t have much of a choice anyway.
The old man opened the door to a gigantic library at least five stories high. A round glass ceiling showed the blue sky above, the walls piled with books and scrolls of all shapes and colors. And in the center of this cathedral of knowledge, atop a wooden table, sat a woman wearing a moss colored Victorian dress.
Ava saw red, and her fists closed so hard that her nails bit her palms. The light beast inside her snarled, pulsing beyond the rift in her essence, and it wanted blood. Vampire queen blood. She glanced down at her sword. It didn’t beat to the rhythm, remaining fast asleep within its sheath.
Had it turned into a normal weapon after freeing what it had intended to free?
Lilith ignored Ava’s anger as she smoked a slim cigarette propped in a golden cigarette holder. Her red curls graced her plump cleavage. “Well, well.” She tapped the tip of her cigar on a glass ashtray. “Took you long enough.”
“Behave, child,” the old man said as he walked toward Lilith, the irony of him calling an ancient vampire a child not going amiss.
The vampire queen shrugged. “They’re not ready.”
“It’s not about that anymore. The Legion has suffered severe casualties, especially after what you and Lothar did.” Ava sensed a bite in his tone.
“Sorry if we grew tired of being murdered,” Lilith snapped. She focused on Liam, her neon-blue eyes shifting to ruby red. “In any case, I can make him ready.”
A cold sting slashed through Ava’s chest, and the furious words left all on their own. “If you come near him, I’ll kill you.”
And she would. She really would. The harmless Guardian, daughter of the Goddess of Love and Life, she would end that godsdamned vampire right here, and she would enjoy it.
“It’s hard to glamour a Selfless, you know.” Lilith looked at her own red nails, snubbing the threat in Ava’s words. “We need to find their deepest desires to make it work, which isn’t easy. Their resilience is stronger than a human’s, and boy-toy here is mighty strong.” She licked her lips. “His key was you, angel girl, and I can use that key whenever I want.”
Ava blushed, then quickly glanced at Liam, but he refused to look at her, his face as red as hers might’ve been.
“I,” he croaked, then closed his eyes. “I couldn’t get out, I …”
The hurt in his voice clawed at Ava. She glared at the voluptuous woman and fury took over. Lilith had hurt Liam, defiled him, and Ava would make her pay.
“Gods forgive me,” she muttered as she stepped toward the vampire with a hand over the hilt of her sword.
“Enough!” the old man’s voice boomed.
Ava blinked, centering herself. The wrath which had blinded her dissipated, but only enough to allow common sense to take over.
Lilith rolled her eyes, her irises returning to blue. She made a face at the old man. “Darling, why do you have to be such a party pooper?”
Ava returned to Liam’s side and took his hand, pressing it against her heart. “Are you okay?”
He gave her a weak smile and brushed her chin with his thumb. “Yeah.” Then he straightened his stance and let her go, the soft care in his manner replaced by harsh indifference. He turned to the elder. “You promised me answers when Ava woke.”
“Indeed.” The old man frowned and paced in circles, as if he were thinking of a way to explain something incredibly complex to them. Finally, he stopped and let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m Seraph Jophiel, King of the first Heaven.” He glanced down at his own arms. “Or at least I used to be.”
The high-pitched laugh burst from Ava’s throat, and all too late she slammed a hand on her mouth. Still, laughter coursed through her body, and she took a deep breath to center herself.
“I’m sorry, that’s impossible.” She cleared her throat, controlling the remaining chuckles that threatened to slip out. “If a Seraph steps on Earth, he will shine like a thousand suns and engulf the world in light.”
The old man watched her with a hint of amusement. “Oh, really?”
Ava nodded. “Also, a Seraph has never stepped on Earth. It’s physically impossible because they live in another realm.”
“Hmm, such blind conviction.” He made a swirl with his hand. “And I suppose you’ve read this in the book of revelations?”
“Indeed.”
“Very well.” The elder raised an eyebrow at her. “Ah, you mentioned that I should burn with the light of a thousand suns. Does that sound familiar to you?”
Ava stepped back, her legs weakening as she remembered the light bursting from her core and destroying everything. “W-what do you mean?”
Jophiel raised his hands as if in surrender. “I don’t know yet. I have come to learn that the Gods keep too much from me, even though I rule the mightiest of their Heavens. It may not be fair, but I do not question them.” He nodded at her sword. “None of this changes the fact that you’re carrying my blade, young Ava.” Before she could utter a word, he raised his palm. “Do not worry; you may keep it.”
She glared down at her weapon. The sword of revelation. Nothing in the scriptures said it had once belonged to Seraph Jophiel, who probably still ruled the first Heaven while this charlatan used his name in vain.
The old man locked eyes with her, and Ava knew he had read her thoughts.
Heatwaves oozed from him, smashing against her in burning tsunamis that sent her a few steps back. She gritted her teeth as heat burned and swallowed her entirely.
“Ava?” Liam cried, his voice muffled by the thundering roars of light that pushed against her essence. “Ava!”
The sun flares pierced into her core, but soon they stopped hurting. Peace and understanding wrapped Ava at once, and a relieved smile bloomed on her face. Her breathing stopped, so did her heart, and perhaps time itself.
This must be what heavenly light felt like.
“Look further,” Jophiel’s voice boomed in her mind, and when she glared at him, she felt a mountain of firestorm rumbling beyond what he allowed her to see, the tip of his gargantuan power circling all of her essence. The sheer preview of his light made her legs buckle, but strong hands quickly wrapped around her.
Liam.
“Are you all right?” Concern, pure and true, gleamed in his emerald eyes.
“Can you feel it?” she mumbled, still catching her breath.
Liam frowned, his attention shifting from her to the man. “Feel what?”
“His human body can’t cope with my power,” Joph
iel explained. “I’ve protected him from it.”
Liam raised an eyebrow. “Gee, thanks.”
Nothing made sense. According to the holy books, there were three Heavens led by three Seraph kings. Jophiel was the wisest, a creature older than time itself, closer to the Gods than any other being in the Heavens or Earth. The books depicted him as having a long beard of snow, eyes of fire, his skin made of dirt and rain, and when he flapped his golden wings, he created hurricanes.
The elder before them might have white hair and dark skin, but he missed everything else.
“How?” Ava mumbled. “Why?”
“Because his Gods have forsaken him,” Lilith said with a wicked grin. “Just like they have forsaken us.”
“Lilith, the Gods did not abandon the In-Betweens,” Jophiel countered with annoyance. “They simply test you like they do all of us.”
She scoffed. “Must they be so cruel? They gave us immortality, but they also allowed the Devils to curse us with blood thirst, turning us into monsters.”
“That’s because the Gods hoped the In-Betweens would overcome the weaknesses gifted by the Devils, child!” Jophiel’s tone was sharp with exasperation.
“Time out,” Liam said, forming a T with his hands. “Let’s say this is true, that you are a Seraph. Why the fuck did you create this Legion of yours,” he motioned to the room around them, “and why are werewolves and vamps siding with you?”
Jophiel gave him a knowing grin as if he was proud that Liam had questioned him.
“Evil is rising, and the Order can’t beat it on its own.” He clasped his hands behind his back. “The notion that every angel is incorruptible and every In-Between evil is flawed. It’s not that easy, never has been, but the Order refuses to acknowledge this. It has spent millennia ignoring one simple truth: the Gods love all their children. Pride can be a dangerous sin.” Jophiel clicked his tongue, then turned toward the arched window. “Even a demon can reach redemption if he has good in him. Nothing is black and white.”
Ava observed the Seraph who wore a rock band’s T-shirt and faded jeans. Appearances could certainly be deceiving.
His back heaved with a chuckle. “I’m a Seraph, child, but I can still appreciate good music. As the King of the first Heaven, I watched most of what happened down here and caught a certain taste for human music.”
Well, the King of the first Heaven could definitely read minds; that was certain.
“Why did the Gods send you here?” Ava asked. “Why not send you directly to the Order? If you reveal your light to them—”
“The blind cannot see, Ava. I’m here to prove that most of the Order’s beliefs are wrong. It’s not an easy take-over, and it shouldn’t be a hostile one, either.”
She skipped a breath. Jophiel had spoken like a true Seraph and a worthy king.
“Nothing is simple when it comes to the Gods.” He kept watching the day outside, his back to them. “They didn’t explain how they wanted me to save the Order; they simply sent me here. And they trapped my essence in this body so I could step among you without destroying the entire place.” She caught frustration in his tone. “If they wanted a reckless takeover, they would have sent my younger brother, Uriel. Now, he has a temper.” He shrugged. Daylight created a halo that outlined Jophiel’s figure. “See, there’s only the Gods’ choices and how I interpret them. I could be angry, or I could do what I was sent here to do.”
“That’s mighty of you,” Liam said from behind, his arms crossed. Ava couldn’t decide whether his remark had been ironic. “How do the Gods communicate with you?”
“Hard to say. It’s light and feeling, mostly.” Jophiel turned to them. “I didn’t know how to complete my mission when I first arrived here, but now I do. It becomes clearer every day. That’s how the Gods work.”
Liam chuckled to himself. “What if the Gods are just full of shit?”
Jophiel shot him an amused grin. “What if they are?”
Ava never imagined she’d see her partner speechless, but there he was.
“The way I see it,” Jophiel continued. “The Order has to acknowledge its flawed ways before accepting the truth. Only by exposing what’s been rotting it from inside will I be successful in my mission. But I can’t do it alone.” He glanced left and observed Lilith the way a father would. The vampire either ignored him or didn’t care. “Besides, the In-Betweens need light and guidance. I believe that’s another reason why I was sent here.”
Lilith scoffed. “You try to help us, Jophiel, but so far you fail.”
His smile didn’t meet his eyes. “Then why are you still standing here, child?”
The vampire queen didn’t answer.
Liam rubbed the bridge of his nose. “All right, then. How do we solve this mess with the In-Betweens and the Order?”
“Always ready to do the Gods’ work.” Jophiel studied him. “So much has been taken from you, and yet here you stand.”
Liam’s shoulders clenched. “How do you know about what I lost, King of the first Heaven?” A taste of his fury swam down Ava’s essence.
“You used to pray for me, long before you became Liam.” Jophiel’s gaze seemed lost for a moment. “These attacks couldn’t have come at a worse time.” He glared at Lilith, and she shrunk slightly under his reproach. Even if she didn’t stare directly at him, it was clear she could sense his disappointment. “The Order isn’t ready for the Legion and the changes it will bring, especially after the massacres both sides have cast upon the other.” He pointed to Ava and Liam. “You however, are already a part of the Order. You must show them the way, and stop the rising evil from within.”
Ava’s mind spun, bile rising in the back of her throat. The information overload hit her with an unmerciful punch. Her Order, the Order she had dedicated her entire existence to, the principles she lived by, they were wrong. And she, a powerless, meek Guardian, would have to fix them.
It was too much. She needed to get out of here, to be alone. She bent over, grasping for air.
“I need to leave,” she said through rushed breaths.
Jophiel approached and took her hand. A jolt of peace flooded through Ava, and the need to vomit waned. Slowly, her breathing steadied.
“Your principles are pure,” he said in a soothing, Guardian-like tone. “You’re not what’s wrong with the Order. You’re its very best, Ava, and yes, you can save it.”
Tears stung her eyes, her lips quivering. “I-I need to go.”
He nodded and turned to Liam. “Jal is looking for you. Go to him. Ava will be fine.”
Liam looked at Jophiel and then at Ava, as if he doubted the Seraph’s word. Ava observed the elder, sensing there was a reason why he wished to send Liam away.
“I’ll be fine,” she said, her tone cracked and powerless. Like herself.
“I’ll show you where Jal is,” Lilith said with a chipper tune, resting her cigarette atop the ashtray on the table.
The rift inside Ava rumbled, and warmth spread beneath her skin. She didn’t glow, even though she felt as if she were burning. The power, the light, it was inside her, pulsing, ready.
Awake.
Lilith must’ve sensed it because she stepped back, her mouth shaping an ‘O.’ Her clear blue eyes glinted with fear, and Ava rejoiced.
“No funny business. I promise,” Lilith said, trying to feign nonchalance. But Ava was a Guardian, and she’d tasted the vampire’s fear.
It was delicious.
“Keep that promise if you know what’s good for you,” Ava snarled through gritted teeth, surprised at how fury had changed her manner, and yet pleased at the effect it had on Lilith.
The vampire queen nodded and quickly left the room.
Liam followed her without paying Ava much attention. The anger that had consumed her vanished, replaced by grey, cold anguish.
He didn’t look back. He simply left.
Jophiel laid a hand on her arm, a sympathetic look stamped on his face. “Come, child. The trials of your
path have only just begun.”
29
Liam
Lilith led Liam through lush greens peppered by purple and yellow flowers. The mansion formed a square around the garden, shielding it from the outside. The façade was freshly painted, but the architecture had to be at least two hundred years old, like an old French castle put through a renewal.
Scattered butterflies flew gently from one leaf to the next as Lilith led him through a stone pathway lined by thick bushes and exotic flowers.
Soon they walked out into an open field, passing an apple tree on the left which provided shade to a couple of priests. Then came a willow on the right, sheltering a group of young vamps.
Liam couldn’t recall the day being so sunny, the sky so perfectly blue. The tingling scent of fresh-watered plants whirled in the air. It almost felt like a dream.
Did Jophiel’s Heaven look like this? And if it did, would Liam ever belong there, or even here?
They moved toward a metal gazebo made by thin rococo decorations that swirled atop one another, the entire frame painted white. Almost like a giant bird cage.
Jal sat inside, at a round garden table that matched the gazebo in shape and color.
Before stepping in, Liam glanced back at the two skyscrapers that towered over the sides of the mansion. With the sun out of view, one of those towers should be casting a gigantic shadow over the garden, and yet the bright sunny day brought all colors of the place to life. In fact, Liam heard zero city noises. No car honks, engines whirring, or people talking.
Nothing.
Perhaps the Legion was shielded from the outside, or perhaps it existed in a parallel dimension—something straight out of the Doctor Who episodes he used to watch with Archie on Wednesday nights.
As soon as they entered the gazebo, Jal turned to the vampire queen. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite bloodsucker.”
Lilith rolled her eyes. “Good to see you too, demon.”
