Divinity: Immolation: Book Three (The Divinity Saga)

by Susan Reid

  The smell of pungent meat roasting on an open spit floated low, creeping and lingering across the ground like fog. In the mist of smoke, sashayed three incredibly shapely, bodacious silhouettes, all heading towards us.

  “No weapons.” I whispered to each of them, even though we could distinctly hear the whispers and the clicks of the bandits readying theirs.

  The three Psyrens stopped halfway, flanked by one of their vicious pet beasts, resembling a black, mutated lion. The way they exaggerated the sway of their hips was an obvious enticing invitation but one that should be preceded with caution.

  We advanced forward slowly to maintain a casual, less threatening presence. Ry and Mac continued to observe and listen, while I kept my sights straight ahead.

  The Psyren in the middle struck me as the take charge type for some reason. They all three carried very shapely curves, and were clothed in outfits that pretty much left only the color of their nipples to the imagination. They were smug, only because they believed that they had the attack advantage by having us inconspicuously surrounded.

  Really? I couldn’t help but find their efforts amusing. We aren’t masters of this realm for nothing.

  “To what do we owe this unexpected visit?” The one in the middle spoke with a seductive grin. Her completely neon green eyes, devoid of any pupils, were essentially molesting me as she spoke. She had a strange accent and it was nothing that I’d ever heard before. It was like a mix of human language, both Spanish and maybe French.

  A large scorpion with an almost humanoid face, came running up and over her shoulder from behind her. Its curled tail and stinger was poised almost erotically as it stroked her cheek with it.

  I found that a tad disturbing, personally.

  From the corner of my eye, the scarf around the one on her right began to move…no, slither was more like it. Light reflecting off of the shiny, metal scales of the snake that glided around her waist, across her torso, and in between her breasts, finally came to rest around her neck and licked at her skin with its forked tongue.

  Damn, the Psyrens were sexy, perverse, and dirty — and obviously not ashamed of it. Strangely enough, they weren’t anywhere near being my type but watching…well, that was a different story.

  “Vessels to buy or trade, perhaps?” She raised a sultry thin brow, as her eyes went from mine, to Ry’s, and then Mac.

  The snake charming Psyren, who literally wore an eye-patch for a skirt, and two band aids for a top, was definitely interested in Ry. Ry’s interest appeared mutual judging from the smirk on his face.

  “No, actually. Curious as to what you do have in stock though.” I played the game.

  “We show nothing unless you’re going to buy or…” The one the right was instantly suspicious of us.

  The one in the middle brought up her palm swiftly to shut her up. “Wait. I know you…” she smirked as she began to eye rape me again.

  “Cam`ael, right?” She grinned big, showcasing glittering rows of shiny, metallic teeth.

  That sight of them made me flinch nervously.

  “What brings you out this way anyway?” She then asked.

  “And you two?” The one on her left asked with a nod of her head.

  “Ryziel.” Snake Psyren lingered out with a sly grin.

  Ry raised his brows and held up a hand, “Please, ladies, no autographs.”

  She laughed, an eardrum stinging sound.

  “Everyone knows who you guys are. Macai, right?” She then pointed and directed to Mac.

  “You’re all very notorious around here.” The one in the middle commented then.

  “And you three are?” I asked to continue with the pleasant small talk. So far, so good.

  “What gives? You guys aren’t one for small talk. If you’ve come to steal vessels, it won’t be easy this time.” The hostile one on her right cut in again.

  “Shut up, Saje!” The one in the middle snapped.

  The air crackled around Saje, shocking the three of us for a brief moment. She appeared chagrined but she continued to scowl at us and pout silently.

  “She’s a little on edge, along with all the others around here. Some of your brethren recently tore through and stole what took months to gather.” She explained.

  “We aren’t all of the same company.” Mac replied.

  “Well, you can understand our apprehension though. I’m Grace.” She smiled.

  “Grace?” All three of us repeated in unison.

  Psyrens had names? They didn’t seem so bad off hand but this was just the surface, aside from the wicked looking teeth.

  She was affronted, hands on her bodacious hips.

  “Yeah. Grace. I happen to like that name. Something wrong with that?”

  “You look more like a vamped up Candy, Sasha, or Bambi.” Ry smirked.

  She smiled sarcastically. “And you look like more of a beefed-up Wednesday Addams, or Marilyn Manson.”

  Ry grimaced, “Marilyn Manson?! Bitch, I will kick…”

  The beast beside the Psyrens instantly leapt forward, growling in warning but all Ry had to do was bare his own fangs and growl back. The ugly attack beast pulled back with a whimper, hiding behind the Psyrens this time.

  “Calm down.” I stopped him quickly. Really? He was more upset about the Marilyn Manson comparison?

  Mac was too busy gaping and drooling over their physical assets to even care or take part in any of the conversation. He seemed mystified by the huge, black scorpion that tittered on Grace’s shoulder like a well-trained pet.

  “What’s with the sunglasses anyway? There’s never any sun here.” She then chuckled.

  Ry raised both brows, “Oh, you wanna see what’s up?” He brought a hand up to take the sunglasses off.

  I stopped him. This was going to get out of hand quickly. Ry is usually sarcastic and always joking around, I almost forgot about his temper though. He was a loyal friend who would go above and beyond to both defend and seek vengeance on others for you, but once you got on his bad side, you should never turn your back on him. Maybe I should have brought Nay or Rahab instead.

  Ry’s eyes were extremely hard for any being to look at, especially humans. They had this…freak out effect on others that could literally temporarily blind or drive them insane with fear, which was why he kept the sunglasses on or simply masked them in both realms.

  I made an attempt to soothe and start over for all of us. “It’s obvious we didn’t come with any malicious intent…”

  I’d better word this part carefully.

  “I’ve been curious about your stock.”

  “Same here.” Mac affirmed with a grin.

  Grace laughed, again, that shrill sound was enough to make me want to rip out her vocal cords with my bare hands.

  She held her arms out and turned slowly so that I could get a good look at her ass too. That wasn’t what I meant but I sure as hell did take a good, long look. Very nice.

  Facing us once again, and with a hand on her hip she said, “Words from fallen don’t hold water with me. Now you want to tell me why you all are really here?”

  “Simple. I no longer do business with Morning Star.”

  Grace narrowed her eyes, trying to read and study each one of us for ulterior motives.

  “And why is that?”

  “Is there somewhere else we can talk?” I asked, scanning the dark alleys and corners were the Bandits stood watching and waiting to attack.

  She pursed her full, red lips, looking at the other two, who exchanged some sort of silent communication with her in turn. Then she scanned the area all around us before finally snapping her fingers, “Follow me.” She said turning on her heel and sashaying back further into the city.

  XX: Starling

  I don’t know how long I just sat there, hand poised above the notebook, trying to figure out how to start my journals. I decided that it was something that I needed to do after all. If I happened to get shunned and kicked out of here, at least I’ve left some versi
on of my explanation behind. Like Sean said, if it wouldn’t be for me, maybe someone else would benefit from what I had to say about my experiences and thoughts—or learn what all not to do.

  It was hard for me to focus and concentrate though. I was heart-broken and torn. I didn’t want to have to choose but I know that I didn’t have a choice. There was no way I can have and maintain both loyalties. What if I weren’t pregnant? Would I be able to simply give up Cam? Tell him that we couldn’t see or be together anymore and hope I didn’t have to be put in the position of possibly killing him? I don’t know and I would never know. Where it stands right now, there’d be no way that I could ever dream of either hurting or killing Cam, or any of his friends—even if I were ordered to do so.

  I bit my lip with a deep sigh. What do I write? Tapping the pencil to the paper, I began to think about Joel. The one that Cam said was also a chosen one. I’d probably never get a chance to see him again. Certainly not here. Would it even matter since he wouldn’t know who I was anymore? Maybe some part of his memory would resurface like mine did and whatever our relationship was in the human realm, would continue here on a different level.

  What was I going to do? How was I going to do it? Whatever I decided, I had no time to waste. Slowly, I began to write.

  ~~~~****~~~~

  I was jarred awake by frantic knocking on my door. When had I fallen asleep? My heart raced and I rubbed my eyes, glimpsing down at the notebook. I had written over eleven pages of…I don’t know, everything, including a confession.

  The knocking came again even more insistent this time.

  “Starling!” I heard a muffled voice.

  Was that…Lira?

  I quickly shut my notebook, the chair falling backwards when I jumped out of it, and rushed to open the door.

  When I opened it, Lira was wide-eyed and crying, panting, and nearly breathless.

  “Lira? What’s wrong?” I was alarmed.

  She gasped to catch her breath and stepped back, urging me forward with her hands, “Come, hurry! Jamie told me to come get you!” She blurted out.

  “What? Why? Is she hurt?” I began to panic

  Lira shook her head and grabbed my hand, pulling me onward to come with her. What was going on?

  I let her lead me down the corridor, noting that the halls were nearly empty and everyone else inside was rushing towards the same direction that Lira was pulling me too.

  What was happening?

  A million thoughts bombarded my mind. What had Jamie done? Was she in trouble? Was it Cam?

  Lira led me through the maze of corridors, courtyards, and breezeways throughout the hall, giving up on holding onto my hand when I began to jog at a quick pace. Once outside, I left her behind to quickly join the crowd that began to form on the North lawn.

  Guards, elders, and many other warriors all stood crowded at the bordered edge, facing the thick line of trees where the neutral lands began.

  “What’s going on?” I asked Lira, once she caught up with me. My first thought was, were we being attacked? And if so, by who or what?

  The other warriors all stood around at attention as if there was something threatening looming. I couldn’t see anything from behind the crowd but then I did begin to pick up on someone softly…sobbing.

  “It’s Devlin…” Lira whispered.

  I stopped and gaped at her.

  “Who?”

  “She’s back.” Lira began to cry again.

  I tried to get a look, wondering why everyone was crowded around the lawn like this and anything but welcoming of her return.

  “Where is she?”

  Lira began to cry harder, “They won’t…they won’t…” her breath was hitching and she couldn’t get her words out.

  I tried to calm her down. They won’t what? Let her back in?

  That thought infuriated me. I had to see for myself.

  “Where’s Jamie?” I then asked Lira.

  “She’s up there somewhere, I think but I don’t see her!” Lira was almost hysterical.

  “Okay. Stay here. I’m gonna go find her.”

  I had to push and force my way through the crowd of warriors, which was annoying and difficult but not nearly as impossible as the wall of warrior guards that lined the very front.

  I stooped to peer in between the gaps, scanning the trees beyond for the source of the sobbing.

  What I saw made my heart deflate in my chest.

  A young, black girl was sitting on the ground with her knees drawn up to her chin. She was rail thin and in nothing but tattered clothing. She looked weak, tired, and now scared as she hugged her thin frame, a lost look in her sallow eyes. Her brandings were still silver, not as shiny as ours but they weren’t black, so that was a good sign, wasn’t it?

  Why weren’t they welcoming her back and helping her? She needs help! And then my sorrow turned into incredulous fury. None of the warriors, elders, or guards were making any damned effort to help her.

  What the hell?

  I forced my way through a small opening, only to have an arm shoot out and block my way.

  “Stay back!” The warrior guard gruffly shouted at me.

  “She needs help! Why aren’t any of you helping her? She’s scared!” I screamed at him.

  “She’s not to be trusted! There’s a dark presence in and around her!” he shot back.

  “She’s one of us!”

  “She was. Not anymore. Now stay back!” Another warrior added as he moved in to further block my path.

  I couldn’t believe this! She was terrified and alone. If that was Devlin, I was pissed that her impossible task of escape only led her back to this welcoming home. She looked emaciated and very weak on top of all that!

  “How do you know that?”

  “Look, little girl, go back into the hall and let us handle this, okay?” The guard said through clenched teeth. With his shield he nudged me backwards forcefully.

  I looked over at Devlin’s small form again. She had fallen over to her side, huddled into the fetal position, and her shoulders quivered as she held herself protectively. I didn’t know her, and I don’t know where she’s been or what happened to her but somehow she managed to make it all the way back here, alive. This wasn’t right.

  Tears began to well up in my eyes and then I launched myself forward and forced my way through with all my strength.

  “Hey!” I heard behind me as someone grabbed my arm and several others moved to stop me.

  Something ignited in me, charging up my adrenaline. I spun and cocked my arm back; making a firm fist and throwing everything I had straight into the face of the warrior who had my arm. He went stumbling backwards, his shield sliding out of his grip as he skidded along his back a few feet away from me. Shock and anger darkened his face as his lip began to bleed. The force of power behind my strike shocked me.

  Had I really punched him that hard? It felt effortless.

  “I’m sorry!” I quickly said to him, immediately turning to run out towards Devlin’s pathetic, crumpled form.

  I ignored the shouts of protest and anger from the other warriors and elders as I slowly began to approach her.

  She didn’t know me but it didn’t matter. We were fellow warriors.

  “Devlin?” I called out carefully as I cautiously scanned the forest and trees behind her for any sound or movement.

  She began to sob harder.

  “Starling! Don’t be an idiot, it’s an ambush!”

  “Get back here!”

  I ignored all of them.

  Her head slowly began to rise. Clean tear marks streaked her dirty face. Her eyes were swollen from crying and wild from the terrors she was probably trying to block out of her mind, only to be reminded of just how screwed she was when she finally made it back to the hall.

  “I’m Starling. I’m a new riser.”

  She shook her head as more tears fell, and then she turned away from me, almost as if she were shy or too embarrassed to have me see her this w
ay.

  “What are you doing, Starling?!” I recognized that voice.

  Spencer.

  I turned briefly, seeing Spencer with Kaia, Brynn, and Jamie— who stood with a hand cupped over her mouth, crying silently. Lira was still crying hard next to her, and then Lorelei, Scarlet, Crystal, Anthony, and Gabe all stepped from the crowd into view. They looked over at me as if I’d lost my mind but were torn in their own grief, unsure of what to think or do themselves.

  “Go get her!” Someone said.

  Both Spencer and Jamie ran over to where I knelt about two feet from Devlin.

  Jamie and Devlin had been close. That’s what Durien told me. If anyone could help her, Jamie could.

  “What do you think you’re doing? She can’t be trusted! Get away from her!” Spencer hissed.

  How could he even say that? Right in front of her?

  “How do you know? None of you have even bothered to examine her! She’s still Devlin, isn’t she Jamie?”

  Jamie began to cry harder, shaking her head. “I told you Starling…” She was too choked up to finish, looking down at her close friend in conflicted pain.

  I wanted to punch Spencer too, and I nearly did when he reached down to hoist me up by the arm as if I were a little child.

  Devlin’s head rose slowly, her eyes connecting with Jamie’s and that’s when Jamie lost it. She turned away, putting her face in her hands and crying harder.

  I jerked my arm out of his hold. I was beyond pissed now.

  Heat was racing through my veins and entire body in a fury, and spreading quickly beneath the surface of my skin. Everyone else simply looked on, shocked, horrified, and scolding. Lorelei, Crystal, and Scarlet were all crying now, and Anthony and Gabe were wide-eyed. The Elders were stoic and eyeing both Devlin and me carefully.

  I glanced over all of their faces in disgust. What they were doing, which was nothing for her, was beyond wrong. I thought better of us. This isn’t what we as warriors are supposed to represent in the face of a fellow warrior. She had been kidnapped, taken against her will, and then managed to both survive and make it back on her own, what was their deal!?