by Thomas Grave
I don’t want another Angel, Amblin whined softly.
Shifting his eyes back and forth between Kei and Obsidian, the gears in his brain turned. Kei remained perfectly still while Obsidian rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet. There had to be a way out of this situation. He shifted his eyes up, then down. There was hope yet. Would it work?
“Amblin, according to all the records, can Vlad fly?”
Checking . . . no.
“Perfect.” Raphael flipped his sword around so the hilt faced up. “Channel fifty percent of my power into my blade.”
Fifty percent? With that much power, you could bring down this whole building!
“Exactly.”
From within his mind, he felt her energy soften into a smile. She understood what he had in mind.
Do it, Amblin said, the excitement in her voice evident.
Spinning the katana on its end, Raphael pointed the tip of the hilt skyward. White flame sparked to life and engulfed the entire blade.
The Shades each took a cautious step back.
Raphael widened his stance in anticipation of attack. He furrowed his brows at the Shades.
“You are lost souls,” Raphael said. “But you can still be so much more.”
Without waiting for their reply, he gathered his remaining energy and channeled it into his arms. Then he stabbed the ground with full strength. Even he was surprised by the noise that escaped his mouth—the sound of power.
The floor cracked open, and lines shot out all around the room like spider webs. White light shot up from the numerous cracks. Marble pillars broke apart. Chunks of the floor collapsed, one after another, crashing into the levels below. The back section of the room, where the Shades stood trying to maintain their balance, teetered, ready to plunge.
“Are you mad!” Obsidian shouted. “You’re going to bring the whole place down!” He flailed his arms, trying to hold his balance.
Kei shot Raphael a lethal smile. “Exactly.” He nodded once as the section they were standing on fell.
Raphael knew the Shades would be fine. They could fly out safely without being trampled by the building. As for Vlad . . .
At that moment, something burst through the disintegrating wall. Drywall dust exploded out, joining the rest of the debris from the collapsing room. Through the dust, Raphael made out something tall. It was at least twelve feet high. Covered in white powder and chunks of the wall, a black, heavily armored foot lunged forward. Scarlet lightning shot up from the shaky floor under the weight of the foot. Eyes like embers shone through the wall of dust.
Raphael brought his blade down once more. “This probably won’t put a dent on you. But at least it will slow you down. Till we meet again.”
The remains of the building tumbled to the ground.
Wednesday, 8:11 am (Purgatorium)
Caramel colored clouds swirled across the twilight horizon as Jared soared through the sky, the Revenant clutched in his powerful arms. The messenger bag with the snow globe flapped behind them. A loud air-raid siren, the same as the London Blitz, blared throughout the city. Below them, the ocean of shadowed buildings, resembling concrete and steel tombstones in a deserted graveyard, reaching toward the sky. A bass drum beat filled the streets, counterpointing the siren. One beat after another, the same as his heartbeat, if he still had one.
Behind them, the Transamerica Tower shook, rumbling that eventually gave way to a thunderous roar. As they flew over the decrepit city, the building behind them crumbled, collapsing in on itself, shaking the city. Dust and debris filled the streets below, flowing out from the center like an atomic shock wave. Pieces of the wreckage battered against Jared’s back, followed by a waste-filled wind erupting in full force. He curled his body around the Revenant to protect her. When the dust and wind began to settle he drifted down to land.
“Jared! What are you doing?” she yelled over the loud roar. Her hands gripped the front of his muscle-shirt, yanking.
“Just hang on,” he yelled back. “I’ll explain when we land.”
They landed on top of the Schaefer Tower, which Jared thought was likely the second tallest building in Baltimore. Flying was still new to him and he was forced to take a few balancing steps forward before setting her down.
“What is going on?” She pushed him away as soon as her feet touched the rooftop. “Look at you!” she cried, and her eyes took in the tight-fitting shirt, showing his ripped torso and biceps. The glowing white leaf tattoos snaked up his dark grey muscled arms. “You’re one of them? One of those . . . those Shades? The ones who wanted my Soul? What? How? This makes no sense! You’re supposed to Sebastian’s best friend!”
Lightning flashed above him, its shadow flickering across Jared’s face for a split second. Frustration creased his eyes. Thunder roared. Combing his fingers through his hair, he yelled, “Because, I know the truth!” He paused. “About everything! About you!”
She shook her head. “What? What does that even mean?”
“Just look,” he said quietly. He took the messenger bag off and offered it to her. She didn’t move. He sighed. “I can’t touch what’s inside because it’s from the Light, but you can.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Just look in the damn bag!”
Rolling her eyes, she yanked it out of his hands. She flipped the top half open and peered inside. “The snow globe? But I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with it.”
“It’s your memories. Your true memories. Concentrate on its center and let your mind do the rest.”
Her eyes shifted from the snow globe in the bag up to his face. “How do I know this isn’t some trick?”
“Because it doesn’t have to be. Get your memories and know the truth. Hurry.”
She reached into the bag and pulled out the snow globe. It pulsed in her hand almost like a heartbeat. The war siren and drums continued all around her, but Sara’s attention was solely fixed on the globe.
She squinted, trying to see through the haze that filled the glass. It was murky, like it had spent years sitting in an attic. Still, she stared. Something was there, deep inside, at the very center.
The haze cleared like fog dissipating in the sunlight. In the center of the snow globe sat a canoe. Sara blinked. It floated on a small body of water that was somehow separate from the water that filled the globe.
It flowed gently, always in one direction whether Sara moved the snow globe or not, as though the water was controlled by a force beyond her, beyond even the glass walls of the globe. Sara stared harder. In the canoe was a tiny man, perhaps a teenaged boy.
And he waved. At her.
Her eyes unfocused.
A rush came at her and she felt her stream of consciousness zoom with such speed she had to close her eyes. Then, all was still.
An eerie silence permeated her senses.
Then, a gentle breeze.
Cool air brushed lightly against her skin. Birds chirped.
Water lapped on a far shore.
She took in a deep breath and opened her eyes. Bright sun. A deep green tree line off in the distance, the shadow of a mountain beyond. And water, all around. She was seated in a small canoe that rested in a calm, crystal clear lake. She could smell spring, plants pushing their way up through moist soil mixed with the rot of composting leaves, the fresh smell of life. Nothing like the cold night she left behind in Baltimore.
Warmth from the sun’s rays kissed her skin. The bright light reflected on her arms, making her feel like she were glowing.
“Beautiful.”
The voice came from the other end of the canoe. A boy about her age sat casually, his elbows resting on his knees. His longish black hair blew in the breeze. He wore a white shirt, jeans, and black, silver-studded wrist bands on both arms. Empty jars were scattered at his feet on the floor of the canoe.
“The lake?” she asked.
“No.” His lips curved into a half-moon, “You.”
Cheesy, she t
hought, but she felt her face flush unconsciously. Her cheeks turned red and she couldn’t help the smile forming on her lips. It was silly. Lots of guys told Sara she was beautiful. Why did it mean so much more to her coming from this boy, this complete stranger? She let her eyes meet his. There was something about him, something awfully familiar.
He gave her a warm, lopsided smile. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’m sorry, but do I know you?”
His smile widened. “Yes.” He leaned forward. “More than you know.”
She blushed again and turned away. What is going on here?
She didn’t even know this guy’s name. She gazed down into the water, marveling at how remarkably clear it was. An open mouth bass brushed up next to the canoe before fading back into the water. This all seemed so familiar.
“I’ve been here before,” she said distantly.
“Yes,” he replied. “As a little girl, it was your favorite place to go. Horseback riding on the shore was your favorite hobby. You even had a favorite horse. His name was Gluey.”
“Gluey?”
“Your father called him that as a joke but you loved it. That was until—”
“I found out later what it meant,” she said softly. “I remember. I was so—”
“Horrified?”
All she could do was stare. “How do you know all this? Who are you?”
Sunlight glinted off his dark hair, causing it to shine, mesmerizing her. He didn’t answer. His face gave nothing away.
“Okay.”
Moments passed. Finally, he said, “I’m glad you got my message.” He paused. “I was wondering if we’d have the opportunity to talk.”
“Your message?”
“The snow globe.”
“You sent that?”
“From the Light, yes,”
“You’re from the Light.”
“Well, technically not from the Light. But I’ve been there. It’s nothing like this place.”
“Why this place?” she said, looking over the serene surface of the lake, the towering trees in the distance.
“You have a connection to this place. Or, I should say we have a connection here.”
She considered his words. “I feel something, like I’ve been here before . . . with you. Is that why you chose it?” She let her eyes meet his once more and her breath caught in her throat. Something about his eyes, the way he looked at her.
He shrugged. “I thought it would be appropriate. This is where it happened.”
There was caution in her tone. “Where what happened?”
When the boy turned away, Sara remembered some minor detail about him. He had a penchant for building snow globes.
He pursed his lips and shook his head. “I can’t tell you. Not yet.”
“Why won’t you answer me?” she asked gently.
He breathed in deeply, a pained expression on his face. She knew he wanted to tell her something, but he wouldn’t. Or couldn’t.
“Because,” he said, “it has to come to you on its own. That way, you’ll know it’s real.”
Know it’s real? “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand. Know what’s real?”
His eyes sunk to the canoe floor. He took one of the jars and twisted the cap off. He set both back down. He repeated the process once more with another jar, the clink of the metal lid and glass on the wood were the only sounds.
Sara sighed. She knew the answers were here, she could feel them. She just needed to find them. Somehow, she was going to get this boy to tell her.
At the tree line, a sharp noise made her jump. Black birds sang a chorus of ka-kaws from high in the canopy, the branches swaying back and forth. The whooshing sound of flapping wings hit her ears as a flock of blackbirds flew overhead.
Sara watched the birds, wondering what had spooked them, as they disappeared in the distance. Shifting her gaze to the lake, she saw her reflection. Only it wasn’t her reflection. The girl in the water wore a thin white sundress covered in colorful sunflowers. She was in the same position as Sara, sitting in the canoe staring back at her.
Sara’s brow pinched. “What the . . .”
The girl in the water reflected her facial expression.
“I know her . . .” Sara said, her voice trailing off.
The boy answered, “Yes.”
An image flashed in her mind of when she first woke up in Sebastian’s bed. Heavy confusion. Eyes slowly opening. Blurry image of a glass of water. Cold water. Fear caught in her throat. Bitter taste. Trying to breathe. Sara gasped as she snapped back to the boat.
“She’s—” The words would not come.
“You need to open your mind,” he assured her softly. “Focus on her if you want to remember.”
Sara bit her lip. She continued to stare at the reflection. Her reflection?
“Focus,” she heard him say.
Before she was aware of it, her eyes went dull, and images began to crowd her mind. Then, the boy who sat across from her, his warm eyes focused, spoke. His voice was soft, intense, and she felt the words penetrate deep inside her.
“I am going to marry you someday, my brave, beautiful . . .”
Another flash. She saw the girl in the reflection hurl herself forward toward the boy. This boy. She tried to stay low in the canoe, but the boat rocked violently. Too violently.
Sara gasped. Her eyes opened wide and she fixed her gaze on him. The vision ended. “What was that?”
“A memory.”
“Whose? Was that your memory?”
Another flash. Without warning, Sara found herself submerged beneath the lake’s surface. Pain spiked in her arms and legs from the chilled water. Barely able to see, she made out the figure of this boy in the water with her. He clawed at the water until he reached her, pulling her close.
Their eyes locked as he brought his lips to hers. Air filled her mouth and her eyes once again went wide. His last breath. He’d given it to her. Their bodies drifted apart as the stabbing pain in her chest nearly overwhelmed her. Sunlight rippled on the water above her, shining on his face. He was so beautiful. His body sank out of reach. His hair floated around his features, and his hand drifted up as if waving goodbye.
No, she said to herself. Not again.
Her hand shot down into the weakening light and grabbed his. If she was going to die, at least she was going to die with the love of her life. Her soul mate. She pulled herself to him, away from the light. They sank as a single being to the bottom of the lake.
From above, a bright light shone on them. They could breathe. The deep cold that enclosed her body became warmth. But there was more to this warmth; she felt loved. The love surrounded their bodies as they looked into a tunnel of light piercing the lake. They still floated, but now, somehow, they were no longer in the water. Instead, they were in a sea of light, gliding up as hands made of light took theirs and lifted them, raising them up . . .
She snapped out of her vision, finding herself back in the canoe. “I—I know who I am.”
“Who?”
The name wouldn’t come.
“Say it,” he begged, his eyes misting. “Who are you? What is your name?”
Her eyes rose to his.
“Makayla,” she whispered.
“My angel,” he breathed, a smile spreading over his face.
“Ethan.”
He rose to his knees and crawled to the center of the canoe. She did the same, and their bodies came together. His arms tightened across her back as their lips locked, igniting a burning love felt within her soul. The kiss sent shivers down her body, and she trembled to be held by someone she cared for so deeply. It was as if they were one being, two halves of the same beating heart.
Everything that had happened with Sebastian was long forgotten. Seals, Shades, Angels. Everything else was lost except this one moment. It was theirs to keep and cherish.
Her heart once again filled with warmth and love. It spread throughout her body. It pounded hard, like a shotgun blas
t, wild in her chest, almost ringing in her ears. Tears stung her eyes and she let them flow. She didn’t care. She was reunited with her love. Her soul mate. She felt his tears on her face, mingling with hers.
“Wait,” she whispered, breaking away from the kiss. She touched his face, allowing her fingers to explore the fine contours of his cheek. “This doesn’t make any sense. How am I here?”
He cupped her face in his hands and rested his forehead against hers. He breathed hard and closed his eyes, “Because, when the Horseman ripped down the Soul, it wasn’t the one he intended it to be.” He paused and whispered, “It was you, Makayla.”
Tilting her head ever so slightly, their eyes locked. “But, I look like Sara. And I have some of her memories. They—”
“Those are not yours. Those memories are his. That’s why you don’t have any other memories outside of what he remembers. You didn’t recognize Sara’s house when you went there because he had never been inside. You don’t remember anything of her childhood because he wasn’t there. And your fear of water? It’s because of . . .” He gestured at the lake.
“But then why do I look like her?”
He gazed deep into her eyes. “Because the physical form your soul took on came from him, from his memories. He wanted it to be Sara so bad that he was unaware of what he was doing. Physical bodies can look like anything really. It’s the Soul that matters.”
“But why? I don’t understand. How could this happen? Why me?”
“Makayla, there is more to this than you think. The reason the Seals chose you is because your essence was so close to Sara’s. The Seals poured a vial of her blood in the lake, right at the moment when we—well, when we went into the Light—that blood matched your essence perfectly and entered into your being. That’s why the Horseman thought she was you. That’s why he channeled your essence and brought you down and not her. It’s why the Seals brought us together in the first place. They couldn’t take any chances with you not being in the Light. They couldn’t have you die with any unresolved issues, without perfect happiness. They wanted to make sure your life was perfect before you died. To make sure you were in the Light.”
“Oh, Ethan,” she murmured, her body shuddering. “I got you killed.”
