by Reid, Susan
“You’re not staying, got it?” I stated firmly.
Hearing thunder rolling gently in the distance, with a flash of violet lightning, left me with short-term relief. Fallen rarely came out when it was raining, especially when it was raining in the neutral area and this side of the sanctified lands. I believe that was probably why Elohim was sending rain right about now. I smirked to myself with a brief glance upwards in gratitude.
I then swiftly flew in and grabbed Berith around her waist, taking her up to the hidden entrance of my home.
The sound of the rain beating steadily against the stone surface of the mountain above and all around, was calming. I love the rain because it was magnificent and cleansing. The rain on this side always came straight from Elohim. It was a gift that both fed and renewed the living.
“Sometimes I forget how powerful you are, Cam`ael. Thank you for saving me.” Berith whispered through the injured lips of the body she had taken.
I guessed that maybe her original eyes had been some shade of blue or green. However now, they were completely as black as onyx.
The hair was dirty blonde and dark at the roots. It was layered, and hanging to her shoulders now that it was damp, but clean.
I let her bathe, and conjured up a simple shirt and pant set, complete with shoes for her to wear. She looked like an escaped convict from a women’s correctional facility to me. I couldn’t do anything about the bruising and marks but Edanai could. The question was, would she?
Nope.
She would curse me out for even bringing her in here, let alone asking it of her.
I was leaning against a white stone and teak wood topped counter in the kitchen, with my arms folded. I observed Berith closely; while she sipped the herbal tea that I made for her, holding the steaming cup between both of her hands.
I didn’t reply.
She smiled, looking down into her cup for a moment and then back up at me.
“You have a beautiful place. It’s very clean, just as I always expected it would be.” She commented after looking around.
My face remained blank. I continued to look at her with scrutiny.
“One would never suspect your generosity, understandably.” She looked over at me again, “But I always have.”
“I wouldn’t call it generosity. Consider us even now. How long do you think this flesh will last, and where did you get it?”
“I didn’t. I know it won’t. Anyway, it was a Jane Doe unclaimed body. She was being prepped for cremation. I don’t know exactly where I was, but they were speaking German. She had to have been murdered. I can’t pick up any memories about who she was. It’s as if it all went with her spirit, and I suppose that’s a good thing. I have no true power in it— but at least…” She paused and stared down into her cup again. “I’m going to try and survive long enough to see Morning Star destroyed. I’ll do whatever I have to do in the meantime. You told me, before all of this happened, that we all have choices. My choice was to risk myself in telling you anything in the first place, and I’ve suffered the punishment for it.”
She smiled to herself. “Now I am making another choice—I choose to stand with you and those in your legion.” She whispered, staring off into space for a second. Her black eyes then found mine, as if to gauge my reaction and await my reply.
There was a moment of silence between us. It was more me taking in the genuine sincerity of her statement.
I eyed her. “Would you have chosen this if you were still your former self?” I wondered with a single raised brow.
She gave a short laugh and shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know. Maybe if you and I had lain down together, just once.” She smirked.
“I just think…that the universe is a lonely place, when you have nothing and no one to belong to.” She then whispered. She looked away from me when she said it, as if she were ashamed to have me look at her right now.
That was the most profound thing I’d ever heard Berith say in her entire existence.
I didn’t know what to think. I finally inhaled an impatient breath. “What makes you so sure that you will see his destruction? From what you speak of, he’s most sure to win this invasion.”
She paused for a second with a shake of her head. “I will say this Cam`ael, he wouldn’t want me dead if what I knew wasn’t worth anything to anyone.” She raised a pale, brow and looked at me.
I knew exactly what she meant.
My only concern and question was, what did she plan to do with the information in her vulnerable and weak form?
She was looking off into space again. “He knows you have been plotting against him for quite some time now. You know what they say, keep your enemies close. I’m sure you already know of his long time, deep-seeded hatred of you. He’s been…experimenting with magic; hybrid humans, demons, and divine warriors, to ensure that he will have an undefeatable army of opposition against both the divine warriors…as well as you and your legion. He knows you all mean to help them. His first test creation is Xyn, the demon of crows you encountered. He’s been hunting other fallen, and literally obliterating them where they stand. He’s powerful because each crow makes up his form, and within each one of them, is the essence of his children, and they can regenerate. An army of those like him are no match for you.”
The long term, deep-seeded hatred was mutual. Even I had no comment or words for that revelation. I apparently had no idea just how much Morning Star has been amassing, and why he’s really been kidnapping so many divine warriors. More importantly, why he was still so adamant about claiming Starling, which he would never do as long as I existed.
“It will be even more of a challenge for you, now that he knows your two major weaknesses.” Berith then added.
I narrowed my eyes at her.
She smiled.
“Love and—that girl. I meant what I told you before. I assume she made it over before he could claim her mortal body and soul. It’s good that you were able to ensure that. I’ve been keeping an eye out for her too, for you. Have you seen her yet?”
I shifted my stance. “No, and you don’t need to do that. Light is the best weapon against Xyn. He isn’t as powerful or as indestructible as you describe.”
“And who among you and your legion wields light?” She raised her brows.
“I do.” I stated.
“You…alone. How will you go against an army of them? Though they were not easily defeated, the divine warriors that I have witnessed in battle with him have only been able to weaken or injure him temporarily.” She informed.
“I was given the gift of light for a reason. This is the reason. Whatever fate stands in front of me as a result, was one meant for me by Elohim. I believe that and I accept it. The same should go for you as well—should you survive to see what it is you desire to see.” I told her.
Deep down, I wondered if my destiny would also include being with Starling again, given I survived.
She paused in thought. My words seemed to silence her this time. She finished her tea. I moved to a chair and sat down across from her at the table.
Damn, her flesh was indeed a mess. Purple and black bruises marked her face, eyes and arms. Old gashes lined her neck, collarbone and chest, and what looked like teeth or bite marks, formed deep red and blue welts in the pale, bluish tinted skin of her hands. She would be classified as a zombie to humans, if they saw her walking around like this in the human realm. Settling into another dimension may be her best bet. Maybe one of the sky arks could pick her up and take her there.
Though I too had favors from some of the light elementals around this side of the spirit realm, I knew that they would never go for helping or healing a certified, true, Morning Star bred demon.
“Why didn’t you wait for me like I told you to?” I changed the subject.
“I was going to but they were already on my trail. I didn’t want them the do anything to the guardians, even though I knew they would have fought to protect the neutral lands. That would have
caused all sorts of havoc, and invite many others into the fight. So, I fled and escaped into the first portal that I spied.” She kept her eyes averted from mine as she took another sip of tea.
“Who brought you up here?” I then asked.
She snorted a chuckle. “Believe it or not, the pet of a Psyren, who was returning a favor from long ago.” She mused.
Psyrens rode around on chimeric beasts, with heads of lions and the bodies of long, armor-scaled, finned serpents. They mostly kept to the Western regions, in the barren deserts that neighbored the Darklands.
She laughed this time, “It’s funny, it was afraid to bring me anywhere close to your dwelling. It was very hesitant and nervous, and once I dismounted, it took off like a rocket. I began to climb the rest of the way up. I figured that I had put enough distance between them and me, considering that even those assholes wouldn’t have dared to get too close either. However, I guess I was wrong. Sucked for them though.” She smirked at me.
It was hard to envision Berith ever being the blonde-haired, gorgeous, Goddess-like demoness that I’ve always despised, not long ago. Despite her obvious appearance, she seemed frail and almost—human to me now.
XII: Starling:
When the bells tolled, I had no problems waking up to them this time. I guess being immortal takes away your ability to dream, because I don’t remember having any since I’ve been here.
That was depressing.
I slowly roused and turned over, pushing my tangled curls away from my face and squinting my eyes over at Jamie’s bed. She was already gone. Her bed was made and empty. For a roommate, she may be a bitch, but at least she was quiet one.
There was a sudden, soft knock at the door. I stretched slowly and then scooted out of bed. I walked over to my chest of drawers to inspect what was left of the stargazer lily. It was definitely dying. The petals had become nothing more than shriveled brown crisps. The coloring was faded and drab. It was a sad sight to see, but for some reason, I still didn’t want to throw it away. I sighed and went to open the door.
It was Durien, to my surprise. I guess I had expected it to be Spencer, since we were supposed to meet with Sean this morning.
He was smiling. “Rise and shine.”
“You’re up and about early.” I replied, stepping back to let him come in. He remained just inside the doorway.
“I’m always up this early. The earlier you get up, the more you get done. Anyway, your clothes are ready. I’ll walk with you there if you want.” He then said after a quick glance behind him.
I was shocked but excited. “That was really fast. How did you know I was having clothes made?” I asked him.
“Hey, this is the spirit realm girl, everything is done quickly. Besides, with you, it was an expedited request. Diana mentioned it to me, and I… ah, wanted to talk to you too before breakfast, so…” He shrugged a shoulder in vague gesture.
I raised a brow, mocking his trailing words. “So…what’s the big secret? I mean, are you actually going to finish where you left off the last time we talked?”
“I’ll let you change and get freshened up first. I’ll wait here for you.” He said as he walked across the corridor and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms and ankles.
I took my time, finally stepping out of my room with my toiletries in hand. I spied Jamie talking to Spencer at the furthest end of the corridor to the right, just as I closed the door behind me. Durien followed my gaze.
“That girl is all over his jock.” Durien commented.
“Spencer? Does she know that he’s…extremely friendly?” I joked.
He laughed. “She knows, she just doesn’t care. She has some sort of fixation with supernatural beings. Many of the girls do and he knows it. I mean, the female Earthbound Seraphs are no different.” Durien pursed his lips and shook his head.
“A fixation huh? Interesting.” I commented.
I noted how many other girls stopped to admire and wave hello to him, and he returned their flirtatious smiles. Given the way Jamie stood close to him, her infatuation was evident. Somehow, his gaze managed to zone in on mine and our eyes met. He gave a heart throbbing smirk, and I shook my head. Jamie followed his gaze, narrowing her eyes at me before I turned away.
Damn, he was such a hot flirt. I finally turned to head towards the bathing rooms.
~~~***~~~
Feeling refreshed, clean, and with my hair up in a high ponytail, I half expected Spencer to be waiting alongside Durien for me, but he wasn’t. Half of me was disappointed, and the other half could care less. If Jamie wanted him that badly...he was all hers. What could come of any kind of relationship between supernatural beings and immortal humans anyway?
We were here to fight against darkness for the future of humanity, not fool around and fall in love with each other and getting mixed up in complicated relationships—right? Had I been in a relationship before I died? I kind of felt as if I was, but regardless, it was obviously nothing more than a barely distant feeling and memory to me now anyway.
I smelled damp earth and water, it was sharp and crisp when I inhaled. I could hear the soft, distant sound of pittering with my new sensitive hearing. It was a relaxing, peaceful rhythm.
Should I tell Durien about the random flashes of memories that I’ve been having, despite the fact that we weren’t supposed to be having them? Maybe he’d had his own too.
“It’s raining.” I commented.
He nodded affirmation, “Rains come every seven daybreaks. It lasts long enough to feed the plants, animals, crops and flowers.”
“With the exception of coming like clockwork, it’s just like in the mortal world.” I surmised.
Durien nodded in agreement. “Pretty much. Anyway, in the day it’s not necessary, but at night, you’ll need to wear your cloak. That’s why they wanted to get yours made quickly. Having all your other training gear and clothes made at the same time was an added bonus, lucky you.” Durien explained as we walked to the tailors’ quarters.
“It’s a little too warm to be wearing a cloak all of the time. Won’t it get in the way while training?” I asked.
“Nah, it’s a special lightweight material.”
“Have any more chosen risen since I did?” I asked him.
“I’m sure there have been all over the world. It’s a constant thing. Here though, you were the last one…so far. Some say that when the final one is chosen, that’s when the dark ones will make their move, hence the end of the world. Others think that it will happen when any being in the spirit realm breaks one of the most sacred of universal rules, but I don’t know. Ever since the last few wars in the human realm, there’s been a pretty big rift left open, allowing demons and fallen to venture through constantly. For centuries, sky arks have been commanded to gather samples of plant life, animals and humans for preservation.” Durien began.
“Whoa, wait…sky arks?” I asked with intrigue.
He smiled crookedly, “People have always called them UFO’s or spaceships. Governments all over the human world have known about them for a long time. Trust me. What they don’t know, is the outcome of why they’re doing what they’re doing. You’ll rarely see them while in the spirit realm if at all, but there are hundreds of thousands of them out there.” He nodded upwards, referring to some distant dimension far away from us.
I could only look at him in stunned surprise.
I paused to take in that information.
“You’re gonna come to know everything in this realm, including all the dimensions that surround us. The dimension of souls, now that’s a huge place, but you’ll never be able to visit there. It’s closed to living flesh. Those that have died are sent there, where they wait to be reborn into another new body or life form. All in all, no one really knows when Morning Star will strike. We just better be ready.”
It was a discomforting thought, but one that fueled my own warrior instinct. There was no way that I was going to let any of the dark ones, or the fallen, kill or ta
ke any other human being, chosen or not, as long as I exist and breathe.
This world will never be his or theirs.
All of my clothes were wickedly kick-ass, in both look and material, especially my training attire; right down to my custom made boots. I chose both all black, and all dark gray colors. Combined with my aura, white would only make me look like Casper, especially at night.
The clothes were made to fit my body, so they were extremely comfortable. The inside of the material contained what the tailor called; ‘sanctified’ chain mail. Though it was lightweight, it was extremely effective protection against some magic, and most weapons of darkness. I wasn’t sure that I’d ever get used to having to wear the cloak though. It was long, hanging down to my calves, with an attached hood. It made me feel like some medieval druid or mysterious Robin Hood like character.
Durien’s eyes nearly fell out of his head when I emerged from behind the screen in my field wear. I got the same reaction from many others, as we walked back down the corridor to my room, so I could put my new wardrobe away. I was sure that it wasn’t just the outfit—they were gawking and whispering about my brandings too.
Durien mentioned something about having to go check something out after we ate, but he was vague about it over breakfast. He also didn’t say anything else about finishing that conversation he mentioned earlier…again. I was really getting pissed off about it now.
I entered the library, opening the large doors slowly, and seeing Sean sitting at head of the long, wooden table. Spencer was leaning against a half wall divider; separating this side from the raised level beyond. He too, was donned in his field gear, which melded perfectly to the curves and ripples of muscles in his chest and arms, like the sexy angelic warrior that he was. They had both been talking before I entered, and once I stepped inside, their conversation ceased abruptly. They both turned to face me.
