Tala Prophecy: The Complete Series

by Tia Silverthorne Bach

  Before stepping into the hallway, Reagan readjusted the sword on her back. It had become a nervous habit as much as anything. Never aware of the time, she rushed to the library with her mom and sister close behind. Aunt Sarah was there, setting up. She had a map of the United States spread on the big table, with several state maps next to it. A knife, one Reagan recognized too well thanks to the palm cutting when they contacted Cecilia, sat next to a stone bowl. Jessica walked in within a few minutes.

  “As soon as Madeleine gets here, we’ll begin,” Aunt Sarah said.

  “Here!” Madeleine said as she scooted in next to Reagan.

  “Jessica, please give me your hand.” Aunt Sarah made a small cut on the tip of Jessica’s finger and then squeezed several drops of blood into the bowl. Instructions came next. “Everyone, please join hands around the table.”

  One by one, each person took the hand of the person next to them.

  “Now, say after me: Blood of the daughter, help us find the father, before he begins his slaughter,” Aunt Sarah said.

  Everyone chanted as she placed a bit of blood onto the US map. It danced around, stopping on Colorado. Turning the bowl over, she poured the rest of the blood onto the Colorado map. It sat still.

  “Keep chanting,” Aunt Sarah suggested.

  A minute passed, but the blood didn’t budge.

  “Can we help?” Ariana asked.

  Zarya and Nina stepped up to the table as well.

  “Join hands and chant with us,” Mom said.

  When they did, the blood began to move, slowly. It stopped in the southwest tip of Colorado, near Arizona.

  “We have our location,” Aunt Sarah announced. “Let Papa know.” She looked toward Madeleine, who nodded, dropped the hand next to her, and left.

  As prepared as Reagan thought she’d been for the moment, her heart raced. Whispers surrounded her, but she couldn’t focus on anything except the pounding in her chest. She focused her breathing, but it spun back out of control when Papa and Rowan entered the room.

  “Nice job, ladies. The final piece of the puzzle. I’ve sent the location to Lucent.” Papa continued by telling everyone they would shift and travel together. “Sarah, do you think you, Susie, and Jessica can keep a shield on us? I don’t want to worry about freaking out any humans or drawing any kind of unwanted attention.”

  “We’ve got this,” Jessica said.

  He put his hand on her shoulder. “Excellent.”

  With the intensity of the morning, Reagan hadn’t shared the vision she and Winona had seen. Reagan pulled Madeleine aside and told her the details. Neither of them really knew what to make of it, but Reagan trusted it would become clear when it mattered. Nana had never steered them wrong.

  Backpacks were dispersed with supplies and weapons. Mom managed a kiss before Reagan took off with the others. She didn’t look back, not wanting the image in her head of her mom waving goodbye.

  They raced through the woods, a light snow just beginning to fall, and Reagan tried to keep her mind clear and focused, with every sense on high alert. Anything could happen. Even if they caught Rafe unaware, nothing about the day would be easy or predictable. With sunset, and Lucent’s help, hours away, she worried they’d left too early.

  Something set her nerves on edge, an uneasy feeling. Before she could reach out to Rowan to check in, a series of howls bombarded her ears. No one on her team would bring attention to their location, so it had to be something else.

  “Demon wolves!” Papa yelled.

  She raced ahead, sensing something following her. “Winona, stick with me. We don’t want to get separated.” From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of her sister.

  Two humans, or what appeared to be humans, suddenly came into Reagan’s line of vision, and she and Winona scrambled to turn the other direction, their feet losing traction in the newly fallen snow. Reagan slipped and barreled into a tree. She twisted her head to take in as much of the scene as she could and finally saw Winona lying on her side nearby.

  Madeleine and Rowan came into the area as Reagan regained her footing. A few demon wolves had joined the humans. On closer inspection, she realized they were the men from Mom’s vision.

  “Rafe’s sons. They must be,” Madeleine communicated.

  Kicking herself for missing the obvious, Reagan tried to focus on the details retrieved from her mother. “Be on guard. Another will come.” She didn’t want to be cryptic but passing along too many details would take up valuable time.

  Reagan wondered where the rest of the team was.

  “Well, hello. Father said you’d be coming. We thought there’d be more of you.” Two demon wolves stepped into view and stood at each side of the brothers like pets. “It’s almost sad how easy this is going to be.”

  “Now, now.” A voice said. Reagan knew what the man would look like before he appeared. “Don’t play with them. I’m sure more are coming. I sense it. How sad that they thought they could block me. Although, I will say it took me a bit longer than I liked to break through.”

  “Otaktay,” Ariana said, stepping into view to the warlock’s right. She was joined by Zarya to his left and Nina straight ahead.

  “Ah, my reputation precedes me.”

  It felt like a chess match, and Reagan wasn’t sure the best next move. Nana’s words came back to her.

  Pure flame.

  “Shift,” Reagan communicated.

  Madeleine jerked her head toward Reagan. “Are you kidding?”

  “Trust me. Shift.”

  Although they hadn’t tried it before, Reagan reached out to Ariana, focusing on her face and pushing thoughts in her direction. “Can you hear me?”

  She didn’t respond, but she nodded. Wanting to make sure, Reagan suggested, “Move two steps to your right.”

  As she made the movements, so did Zarya and Nina. Reagan breathed out. Then, it dawned on her. If they could hear her, could Otaktay?

  “Smart girl, that one,” he said, pointing to her.

  Refusing to let him get in her head or thwart her plan, she shifted. Winona, Madeleine, and Rowan followed. Without moving her head and drawing attention, she darted her eyes around, looking for Papa. Nothing.

  “A group of women.” He laughed. “I beg your pardon, young man, mostly ladies. Humanity’s hope rests in these young ladies’ hands. I’ve never doubted the power of feminine wiles, but…”

  Like a scene from a movie, Reagan wondered why the bad guy always had to talk so much, throwing insults and chewing scenery. She stepped forward, closing the gap between her and the warlock, completely ignoring Rafe’s sons. Otaktay wasn’t the only one who could stall.

  “If Rafe didn’t fear us, why did he send his most powerful resource as his front line?” Hoping to send a signal to Winona, a reminder of what Nana had said, Reagan put her hand behind her back, producing a small flame from her palm.

  Otaktay put his palm out in front of him, facing Reagan and repeating what she’d just done. “Such silly parlor tricks, young one. A little fire. Is that the best you’ve got?” A pulse came from the center of his opposite hand, sending Reagan flying several feet back.

  Although she landed on her feet, she couldn’t keep her balance and ended falling forward. Meeting his gaze again from a crouched position, she brushed some snow off. Winona came over and brushed up against Reagan. When they touched, she heard her sister’s communication. “I told them all about the vision while you distracted him.”

  Giving a quick nod, Reagan said, “Thank you.”

  “That’s the best part about war with women. Everything is so polite,” Otaktay said.

  “I guess I didn’t fully understand your majesty. We underestimated you.” Can it be that simple? she asked herself. Reagan wasn’t even sure where the thought had come from, but she trusted it, even though she’d never called forth an angel before. Could uttering the word majesty bring forth one of the remaining angels? She had to trust her gut.

  “We’re sick
of these games. Let’s put an end to them now,” one of Rafe’s clones screamed. His body went flying back, much like Reagan’s had.

  “I don’t take orders from Rafe’s brats!” Otaktay shouted. “I give them.”

  Above them, the wind began to move, and the faintest scent of lavender snuck past Reagan’s nose. Bolstered by the possibilities, she began to move forward again. “Have you ever met an angel?”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “Why would I consort with angels? They fear me. Quite the pansies, never getting involved. The Devil puts so much more trust in his minions than the big guy does.”

  A flash of light appeared in front of him, giving Reagan the opportunity she needed. She grabbed the angel sword and yelled, “Join!” Winona and Madeleine, newly shifted back to human form, stood next to Reagan, and Zarya, Nina, and Ariana stepped into formation.

  Winds grew around them as the light grew in intensity, creating a curtain between the ladies and Otaktay. Shouting above the increasing noise, Reagan no longer tried to hide her actions. “Pure flame. We have to make it hot!”

  Within seconds, the sword began to glow bright orange. As they moved forward, it changed to a pale yellow and then a bright blue. As if they’d entered the eye of the storm, everything became quiet as the angel’s presence became clearer. Otaktay’s eyes widened as she laid her hand on the blade of the sword, sending a piercing, pale blue, almost white, light shooting from its tip. Rafe’s sons jumped in front of the warlock and transformed, their teeth bared.

  Reagan controlled the beam as best she could, slicing through the air, trying to push the wolves back. Instead, it slashed through their chests. They fell to the ground, yelping. Anger flashed in Otaktay’s eyes, and he put both hands up, palms facing outward. When he did, Reagan screamed, thrusting forward with everything she had, feeling the power ebb. She focused its energy into Otaktay’s chest, but his body appeared to absorb the flame, unaffected by it.

  Lunging closer to her target, Reagan felt a surge of power as the angel of majesty joined his power with the women. She bolted forward and stuck the blade into Otaktay’s chest. He barely flinched, placing both his hands on the blade; he screamed and let go. His eyes grew huge. Knowing she had one shot, she ripped it to the right and swung high, aiming for his neck. With flames engulfing him, the heat and brightness made her turn away just as the flame encompassing her sword turned back to orange. She heard a thump and threw her gaze to the side just as his head rolled away, consumed in fire. Knowing she had to set the body aflame, too, she aimed the sword again and accomplished the final blow.

  Feeling sick to her stomach, the area around her spun, and she was afraid she would faint. Arms wrapped around her, and she looked up in time to see massive wings embrace all of them, encasing them in white feathers. A stream of energy pulsed through her body, growing in intensity. As her vision cleared, the angel’s wings pulled back. More beautiful than the others and larger, the angel of majesty backed up. With long, flowing, white-blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, the angel could’ve graced any runway show.

  “Thank you for coming,” Reagan said.

  “All you had to do was call,” she said as she faded from sight.

  As the winds settled, Reagan surveyed the area. Before her were the bodies of the two wolves and Otaktay.

  “Are you okay?” Rowan asked.

  Around them, the others shifted. Rowan threw bags in their direction, and then turned back to Reagan.

  She nodded as others threw on clothes. “Oddly, even better than before. Stronger.”

  Papa and about twenty other team members, some Reagan hadn’t seen in weeks, bolted onto the scene. She raced into his arms, catching him off guard and nearly sending both of them to the ground.

  “I didn’t see you, so I didn’t know what happened. I knew you were ahead of us, but…”

  “We hit a wall of demon wolves. I didn’t realize you guys were behind us until I circled back around just in time to see… Well, I’m not exactly sure what I saw,” he said.

  “I was here the whole time, and I’m still not sure,” Rowan added.

  “So Rafe knows we’re coming from this direction thanks to Otaktay. God only knows what else he has waiting for us along the way. Do we have time to change course and still get to him?” Madeleine asked.

  Yanking a map out of his bag, making Reagan wonder what else he had in there, he drew lines with his finger, following several paths before he tapped on one section. “I’ve got it. It’ll still get us there right about sunset, which is perfect.” He rolled the map up and tucked it back in his bag. “On this route, I think it’s best if we stay in human form.”

  Reagan and Madeleine turned to go back to the ladies.

  “Do you feel stronger?” Madeleine asked. When Reagan nodded, Madeleine continued. “How did she know to come?”

  “Believe it or not, I just asked.”

  “Feel free to call the rest of your friends when we get to Rafe. We’ll need them. But I must admit, I’ve never felt power like that.” She said the last words as they reached the ladies.

  Sharing the new plan, Reagan then checked in to ascertain how each felt. Each admitted to feeling a surge just when they needed it.

  Ariana admitted it took her breath away.

  “I never thought we could take care of Otaktay like that. Honestly, I wanted to fall to my knees right then,” Winona said.

  Thinking back, Reagan tried to pinpoint the moment where she knew what to do. But it’d just come to her: the sword, the flame, summoning the angel. Her hands shook, and she pulled her fingertips into her palms, letting the nails dig in, in an attempt to steady the movement. Not sure what caused it, she focused on putting one foot in front of the other. She didn’t want anyone to see her off balance, much like when her heart raced earlier.

  Facing Rafe would be much more intense. She’d been told to fear Otaktay, but she’d never heard his name until a week prior. Unlike Rafe. He’d been her every nightmare for almost a year. Thanks to his actions, she’d suffered the worst pain of her young life.

  A hand on her shoulder brought her back to the moment.

  “Is everything okay?” Winona asked.

  Although Reagan appreciated the concern, she wanted everybody to stop asking her that. “I just need to get out of my own head.”

  “I know what you mean.”

  “Roll out!” Papa yelled.

  Before becoming a wolf, Reagan hated to run. Every year on Memorial Day weekend, her friends would gather a team to run the Bolder Boulder, a 10K race through the streets of Boulder. She’d participate. After all, who didn’t want to run through the unique town? Somewhere along the route there’d be a slip and slide, people handing out donuts, runners in crazy outfits, and a final lap through Folsom Field at the University of Colorado. Aspen would coordinate their outfits, which usually involved a tutu, and Serena hosted the after-party.

  Leading up to the event, they’d form run groups and train. Reagan enjoyed the social part of it, but she never reached that runner’s high so many people talked about. But racing through the woods, at one with nature as she pushed past overgrown brush or tree limbs and navigated uneven ground, allowed her to forget everything else and focus. Of course, it helped that it was effortless, no heavy breathing or tired, achy joints afterward.

  For the next hour, she felt every footfall and change in terrain. It gave her mind some focus and allowed her to forget the destination, at least most of the time. She felt Nana’s presence, as if she were there. If Reagan could be granted one power, it would be to fast forward to the moment of victory, to skip the building nausea in her stomach. Each time it started to crawl up her throat and threaten to spill out, she pushed it down. Conversation would’ve been a nice distraction, but nobody spoke, and Reagan wondered if they all felt a similar queasiness.

  Every half hour to an hour, they’d run into a demon wolf or two, but they hadn’t had any trouble taking them out. Had Rafe put all his stock in Otaktay, o
nly having a few backup players in the game after? Or, did changing the course offer them a safer passage? Her mind started to consider the possibilities and remember every supernatural book or movie she’d ever seen. Would every imaginable creature come into play in their upcoming battle between good and evil? Maybe a centaur or a dragon. As terrifying as the image of a huge, fire-breathing, dinosaur-like creature was, she couldn’t help but want to see one.

  She shook her head, hoping to clear her thoughts. Her mind had become a powerful thing—after all, it had summoned an angel and called forth pure flame—and she didn’t want to invite any unwanted trouble.

  Lost in her own head, she almost ran into the back of Rowan as the group slowed down. Normally, she kept an intense connection with her team, but she’d been too distracted by her internal tirades.

  Everyone came to a stop.

  “Let’s take a short break. We don’t have much farther to go now, and I don’t want to arrive too far ahead of Lucent. I’m not sure how far they have to travel, and sunset is still a good two hours or so away.”

  Nervous energy filled her, so she kept moving around. She knew she should be happy for the brief reprieve, but her body tingled with the need to face Rafe. Waiting for it, thinking about it, caused too many unsettling feelings.

  “We are with you.”

  Nana. Reagan wondered if her grandmother’s voice would always be there, even after the final battle. Living without it had become unimaginable. Her words shot a calming feeling through Reagan. Some much-needed relief. Her body hummed with adrenaline, and it made her uneasy. A couple of her friends had experimented with drugs, and if she didn’t know any better, she’d think someone had slipped her some speed. But Nana’s words soothed the nerves and shakiness.

  Reagan jerked her head toward a scream as a demon wolf flew through the air at her. She stepped left just in time to avoid a collision and bent her knees for stability. In one fluid motion, she circled her arm over her head, grabbed the hilt of the sword, unsheathed it, joined the other hand, and completed the three-hundred-sixty-degree turn with the blade embedded in the beast. Still in a crouched position, she withdrew the blade and panned her eyes over the area around her. Several of her teammates surrounded her, watching. She stood, wiped the sword across her sweatpants, leaving a streak of blood, and secured the weapon to her back once again.