by Susan Reid
“I can prove it!” I suddenly blurted, looking at Devlin, and then Spencer and Jamie.
“What are you talking about? This isn’t a drill, Starling. This could be disastrous and dangerous. You have no…”
“I’ll prove that she still belongs at the hall and that she’s still one of us! If I can prove it, will you get them to help her?” I asked him.
He looked at me as if I’d gone insane and pursed his lips, shaking his head. Then he looked at Devlin and I could tell that he was contemplating it but he was too code abiding to take the chance.
“How?”
Jamie turned to face me with a questioning look of hope in her eyes. Every time she looked at Devlin, fresh tears began to stream down her face and she had to look away again.
“You guys need to get back over here now for your own safety!” Someone called out to us.
I turned to look at Devlin again, and a brief image of that girl China, thrashing on the ground in what looked like uncontrollable pain, suddenly made me gasp softly.
I didn’t even think, I did what I only knew how do to since I’ve been here. Sean’s words began to echo in my head; ‘You can’t hurt or destroy your own likeness.’
Light could not harm or destroy light.
If she was still one of us then there was only one way to find out.
Without thinking anymore about it and giving myself time to doubt what I was going to do, I lurched forward and grabbed Devlin into a bear hug, wrapping my arms tightly around her. She felt like a literal bag of bones to me, light and too thin.
Many other voices were shouting at me now, calling me insane, and screaming at me to stop what I was doing but I didn’t listen.
I pinched my eyes shut, focusing and seeing nothing but a wall of wildly burning, white fire inside my mind’s eye, and then forcing all of my energy, strength, anger, purpose, and sympathy into one enormous detonation of emotion.
A powerful whoosh erupted from me, engulfing the both of us in a conflagration of white flames. Devlin’s body went rigid, and she began to scream and buck wildly in my hold. She was incredibly strong, and when I heard an inhuman howling beneath her shrieking screams, I began to panic. Something powerful was trying to escape from her, pressing against my flesh with extreme force as if trying to penetrate and burrow itself into me instead. A stinging sensation began spread along my skin, making me wince as my fire instantly combatted its every attempt.
There had been a dark entity in her after all. She was being used as a vessel to transport it and it was both furious and in severe pain. It tried to fight against me but my fire was too strong for it, consuming and obliterating it swiftly. It screeched in rage as Devlin writhed, her back bent in an almost impossible and painful looking arch, and then she began to tremble as if she were having an exaggerated seizure.
I grit my teeth, forcing more essence and energy into feeding my flames—and then I began to feel…light- headed.
The dark being began to pool out of her ear, no longer fighting and resisting as strongly as it had been initially. It was ugly and vile, twisting and spitting in hostile anger while still trying to attack me. It failed miserably as each part of what was left of its oily black tendrils burned into oblivion. I continued to concentrate on its destruction, refusing to let go of Devlin no matter what.
And then, she stopped moving. Though her breathing was low and raspy, she was still breathing, which was good. Sweat drenched her clothes and her dirty face was slick with tears, sweat, and spittle that dribbled from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes were half closed as she panted softly. Her body felt really light and limp in my arms, it was like holding a bone filled pillow. She was slumped over on her side and I cradled her head consolingly while stroking her dirt-caked, wild and askew hair.
“You’re alright now.” I whispered to her. I hoped.
Spencer and Jamie looked on in silent, stunned fascination.
I’d done it. I proved to them that she was still one of us. They could help her now.
“She needs a succor!” I called out, scanning the blank faces that looked on questioningly but silent.
The guards looked to the elders for permission but they remained silent and stern, unaffected by what I had just done.
What’s wrong with them? She’s fine now. Whatever dark thing she had in her was gone.
“I said she needs a succor!” I screamed at them in more of a demanding tone than a pleading one this time.
“She can’t be trusted, Starling, regardless of what you think you did. Now come on.” Spencer soothed.
“You’re just gonna leave her here? Look at her! She needs help!” I shouted angrily at him.
My flames were still going strong, creating a thin, see- through veil between us and them. I began to feel faint as if I were being drained and it confused me. What’s wrong with me now? I wondered.
I felt a light, fluttering sensation in my lower belly that made me gasp softly. I had to abruptly stop myself from reflexively bringing a hand to my abdomen in front of so many watchful eyes.
My unborn children were reacting to something. Possibly to what just happened, no doubt, and I hoped that whatever it was didn’t affect or impact them negatively. How was I even feeling anything this early? Because this wasn’t a normal or natural pregnancy by any means, that’s why. Cam was a supernatural being and I was an immortal human. Both of different allegiances. I was of light and he was of dark. But that was just it. To me, he wasn’t. In my eyes, he was the very opposite of darkness.
Jamie knelt beside us, and I could tell that she wanted to comfort her long lost friend too but she didn’t know how or if she should.
“Return to sanctified land at once! You are all attracting other dark beings. She’s brought them with her. They’ve used her as a decoy!” An elder ordered.
Whether others were coming or not didn’t matter to me. I wasn’t going to leave Devlin out here like an abandoned animal. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and hearing. Everyone was staring but no one was moving to help.
After a few desolate moments of me being angry and disbelieving, someone finally did.
“Stop, do not go over there!” Someone called out but whoever it was didn’t listen.
Scarlet was running towards us and she wasted no time kneeling beside Devlin’s near lifeless form. She began to rub her hands and fingertips together while closing her eyes, and then reciting verses that I couldn’t understand, softly.
Once she opened her eyes and began to work, tears were glistening on her eyelashes as she proceeded to examine Devlin’s skin and eyes.
Scarlet was a succor, and though still under apprenticeship, she was offering to help anyway. I smiled gratefully, gently shifting to ease Devlin down gently onto her back so that Scarlet could go to work on her.
My fire was dying down but I still felt like passing out. It was weird. I tried to stand, only to falter and fall back down on my hands and knees, weak and dizzy. What was wrong with me?
Immediately, I felt a hand at the small of my back and my arm to steady and keep from falling over completely.
“Starling, are you alright? What’s wrong?”
I looked up into Lorelei’s face, her pretty bright blue eyes were red and wet with tears. Anthony was beside her, offering a hand to me too. Gabe came around to my other side for support, and Lira held my hand.
Crystal took to helping Scarlet by holding Devlin’s hand for comfort with her head bowed in prayer.
“I’m…okay. Just a little dizzy, that’s all.”
“If you all do not return to sanctified land now, I will take your actions of disobedience as a choice. You have been warned. There is no gray, you must choose dark or light. It is clear that she has been past the point of affliction, should you choose to continue to assist her, you are making the choice of dark and in turn, shall all be shunned. Is this your decision?”
What? Was he joking? She was alright now and he was threatening our very destinies and essentiall
y punishing us for helping her?
My god, even the fallen had more sense of loyalty and honor among their kind! During the fight after the club, they had all jumped in to help each other, teaming up to destroy their enemies without hesitation or question. And when Cam’s friends thought that I was a threat and that he was in danger, they immediately came to his aid. They had even put their very lives on the line for us as humans and warriors too, with the expectation of nothing else in return except to be despised, hunted, and killed by us.
I was heartbroken, this couldn’t be what the warriors represented. Divine backing wouldn’t tolerate this level of coldness. I know it can’t be what the mantra had been founded upon but the elders seemed unwavering and completely serious.
I exchanged a weary look with everyone else.
“You guys had better go back now while you still can. Thanks.” I whispered with a weak smile. My heart was breaking because deep down inside, this had been coming. It was inevitable for me, so I was fine with making my choice now— as sad and devastating as it felt. I was already shunned before having even started.
I appreciated that all of my friends remembered what was more important and risked themselves to do it, but if anyone should be shunned, it should only be me—for more reasons than putting a warrior guard flat on his ass and going against their wishes. I was going to be shunned anyway, so I’d be damned if they were all volunteering to be too for my sake.
“She’s right.” Spencer added, “Think about the bigger picture and the risks. You helped her, now she’s on her own, so let’s go while you guys still can.”
I didn’t even look over at him.
“No way. I’m not going anywhere.” Lorelei said defiantly.
Spencer furrowed his brows in confusion.
“Me either.” Anthony replied soon thereafter.
No one else moved.
“Jamie.” Spencer said, taking a step to head back to the hall grounds and assuming that she’d automatically follow him.
She didn’t move.
Instead she walked over to where Scarlet and Crystal remained on either side of Devlin, and knelt down above Devlin, lifting her head gently into her lap and holding her hand.
“You guys don’t understand what you’re doing. Once you make this decision, there’s no coming back.” Spencer shook his head.
“Sometimes it isn’t a matter of choice but I understand exactly what it means.” I whispered.
Spencer was perplexed, studying me with curiosity.
“I’m staying with them too.” Lira piped in.
I sighed. Lira didn’t have brandings or a weapon. She was too vulnerable out here and way too valuable at the hall.
“No. Lira, you can’t. You have to…”
“I’m not staying at the hall without you guys or Devlin now that she’s back! I don’t care what you say!” her lip quivered as she worked to bite back another burst of tears.
Spencer lingered, staring at all of us incredulous and speechless. Then, he sighed and shook his head, and then turned to jog back to the hall.
“You guys need to go back while you still have the chance. I’m the one that’s made this decision.”
“Okay, well, we’re all making our own decisions now.” Lorelei affirmed.
“You should have thought about that before deciding to risk yourself to help yet another fellow warrior.” Anthony winked at me with a smile.
I had no idea what to do next. Aon? Where was she when I could use her guidance too?
I didn’t want to be responsible for everyone’s defection. They were voluntarily accepting shunning on my account. I felt sick inside.
“Kaia, what are you doing?” Spencer suddenly exclaimed.
When I looked over in that direction, I saw Kaia running out towards us.
She paused at his words and then turned around to regard Spencer, sadly shaking her head at him. Then she slowly panned the crowd beyond him. “I’m sorry, Spencer. I’ve been compelled to join them and I can’t explain it. I’m sorry to all of you but in this instance, you are the ones who are wrong.” She then said.
That shocked the hell out of me and we all exchanged the same, shocked and questioning glances among each other. I was completely stunned but quickly pulled away from Kaia’s unpredictable words and actions—by something else. It was something that made my skin literally shiver and crawl. Apparently, everyone else was hearing it too and they all jumped to immediate alarm and action. Brandings began to glow, readying for battle.
We remained quiet, listening and searching the hidden shadows deep in the forest at the same time. I could hear trees creaking as if moving, and rocks thumping as they hit the ground.
Tree limbs, heavy with leaves, began to crowd over us almost protectively. Then a gust of pungent wind blew through the trees, making the branches tremble. All the small creatures had long since fled into hiding. It was a definite unnatural breeze and we could all distinctly hear a low sighing with words muffled inside of the wind.
“Uh, yeah, might not be a good idea to stay out here. Anyone have a portal gem to their home on them?” Gabe said.
“Hang on, I think I do.” Lorelei began to dig into her cloak.
It came again, closer, and this time my blood turned to chill but my body began to grow warm once again, which made me feel even more faint this time. I was completely sapped. I didn’t have the energy to bring forth any more fire.
“I have two left.” Lorelei offered.
Everyone willed their weapons and were ready. No one on the property of the hall moved but they certainly were watching us with attentively wide eyes.
As if doing nothing wasn’t enough, now they were simply going to stand there and watch us possibly get slaughtered?
I was disgusted.
Lorelei cracked a gem…and nothing happened.
“What the hell?” her eyes widened as she turned to look at the row of elders on the hall grounds.
Why hadn’t it opened the portal? I wondered in panic. Everyone wondered the same thing.
“I wish I still had the ability to create a portal. I don’t anymore.” Kaia said sadly.
Had they all been right? Was this an ambush? Nothing emerged or moved but the presence of darkness was beyond palpable and quickly moving in from all sides at once.
“I can’t tell exactly what it is, who, or how many.” Jamie furrowed her brows.
That wasn’t good.
“And they aren’t going to help us either.” Lorelei frowned with anger at the warriors and guards who were making no moves or effort to offer assistance.
“No, but they sure as hell plan on watching.” I affirmed loudly while glaring at them all.
Scarlet and Crystal stood guard over Devlin, who was still barely conscious on the ground. Gabe went to stand in front of all of them with his weapons drawn. His were large, razor sharp, circular blades with the grips in the center. Jamie stood in front of Lira, and Anthony and Kaia both took protective stances in front of me and Lorelei with their weapons primed.
Kaia’s weapon was unique. It was a long staff, tipped with a bizarrely shaped, double-sided axe head that curved wickedly in the shape of a crescent moon. It emitted a silvery white glow with tiny inscriptions carved into the blade edge. More than likely it was glorified just like Spencers weapon.
We were all searching the darker parts of the forest further back, awaiting movement or an attack from some direction. Damn! I can smell and feel something but none of us could see anything.
A faint, unearthly, devious voice began to chant, “Eenie, meenie, minie moe—grab the one with the strongest… Glow!”
I was jerked off of my feet so hard and so fast, I barely managed a gasp of surprise, let alone had any idea that a flesh-like, ropy, living vine had managed to wrap itself around my ankles. I slammed into the ground, hard and face-first, clumsily trying to either anchor myself to the ground by grabbing onto something, or using both blades to stab into the ground for purchase.
Someone screamed out my name.
XXI: Cam`ael
A whorehouse was exactly what I was expecting, however what we actually came across, was ingenious. We were all astounded.
“Damn, no need to wonder anymore about how they’re able to acquire so many auras and souls.” Ry whispered as we gawked at the expensive, well-decorated mansion.
Aside from the spacious foyer and open lounging rooms, there were several grand rooms that were set up with giant, decorative hookah, which served for more than simple smoking sessions. I was certain that there were elements other than tobacco and nicotine in them. I could smell it and it was potent.
The disco room was currently hosting quite a few mortal human guests, all dancing and totally oblivious to the fact that both their souls and their bodies would soon be trapped, sold, and used here forever.
“Interesting. Hang on a sec, I wanna check something. Be right back.” Mac mentioned as he ghosted out.
He was probably wondering the same thing that I was thinking just now too.
Class was not something anyone of us associated with Psyrens but this place completely destroyed that pretense altogether. This establishment was immaculate, well-designed, and well-kept.
“See anything you like, just let me know. We’ll hook you up.” Grace winked over her shoulder. “Except for you, Cam`ael. Here, you’re off limits.” She made sure to reiterate to her two partners in crime.
I’ve been around long enough to know what that meant. Please Elohim, don’t tell me that I may have to do what I think I have to do in order to gain her trust.
I don’t think Starling would appreciate it and I would never do anything to hurt her. Not even this.
Draea continued to watch us suspiciously as Grace led us up a gorgeous, curving staircase that split off into a ‘T’ at the landing. It was made completely of both smoky glass, and black marble stone, inlaid with pure gold.
Now, either selling souls, vessels, and auras, as well as hooking was extremely good money, or they’ve earned some incredibly fancy perks from many of those capable of strong magick, like Morning Star.
