Into The Light (The Fallen Shadows)

by Rebecca R. Cohen

  She felt nervous as he approached her unsure of what would be said or how she would react. A piece of her wanted to rise off the bed and embrace him, but she wasn’t ready to accept her feelings yet. As Molli had said she was stubborn and was too proud to give in so easily.

  Rather than take a seat beside her, Ash stood at the foot of the bed wrapping his hand around the bedpost with the angelic engravings carved into them. The same bedposts that frightened Katharine the first two nights she slept in the bed.

  The wooden carvings were of battling angels bringing the Descended back to Purgatory. The angels wore arrows across their back and chests with one arrow shooting from their bows directly at the Descended that had been lunging toward them. The first two nights in the Anchorage, Katharine would wake in the middle of the night and see the dark eyes of the Descended looking back at her and that would be the end of her sleep for the night.

  “How are you doing?” Ash asked humbly.

  “I’m okay…considering,” Katharine replied.

  “Katharine you need to know how sorry I am for what I…” Katharine waved her hand signaling him to stop talking. She didn’t want to hear an apology or an excuse.

  “It’s okay. I understand why you did what you did,” Katharine said without a thought. It was the last thing she expected to say to him. “You were only doing what Molli asked of you. And as far as the other day goes, I was pretty good at pushing you away so I don’t blame you for your behavior,” Katharine heard what she was saying and meant every word of it but she couldn’t understand why.

  She had been holding a grudge against him for the last few days and somehow with him standing there beside her she found a way to understand and see that everything he had done, both bad and good, he had done for her.

  “The last thing I wanted was to give you another reason to doubt me,” Ash swung himself off the pole and onto the bed beside Katharine. “But you can’t keep pushing me away, I am only trying to protect you.”

  His skin glistened in the celestial sunlight igniting the shine on his perfectly molded lips. Katharine followed every word he spoke watching his lips move with the motion of the words he formed. He had such a way with words. Everything he said, whether he believed it or not, was incredibly convincing and Katharine was helpless to his charms.

  “I have to know; Molli said she was reunited with her mother, is that true or was she just saying that so I would feel less guilt about her death?”

  “Yes, she was.”

  “So what they say in Church is true then, you really get to see everyone you’ve ever loved and lost when you enter Heaven?” Katharine grew excited and hopeful. It made her feel better about the task placed in front of her and that if she died she’d get to see all the family and friends she’d ever lost. Including Aunt Mary. It brought a smile to her face.

  “I wish it worked that way but that simply wouldn’t be possible.” Ash lowered his tone to a tempo that was reminiscent of the one the doctors used when they informed Katharine’s family that Aunt Mary had passed away. “Mortals can only be reunited with one of their loved ones who have already passed on and come here. They must choose who their forever person will be. It’s a terrible choice but it is the only way to keep an order to this realm.”

  What if someone lost both of his or her parents, or both of their children? How does one make such an impossible decision? Katharine was lucky that she only lost her Aunt Mary, before Molli, and since Molli already had her mom the decision would be easy for Katharine. But as much as the decision would be simple for her she didn’t want to have to make it. She wanted to survive the war and find a way to go back to her old life once everything was all said and done.

  It was foolish but she still believed that once all the Descended were returned to Purgatory she would be able to go to Harvard like she’d always planned. This was what she held onto and would continue to hold close until the war had finally ended.

  “It’s my birthday.” Katharine said breaking the silence that had engulfed the room for nearly ten minutes.

  “I know,” Ash took Katharine’s hands cupped within his. Her hands looked so small beneath his. She could almost see the strength hidden within them. His were the hands that had been protecting her from unnecessary pain, the hands that saved her life and the hands she wanted to hold.

  Their eyes met and locked in on one another. Katharine was preparing herself for the coveted first kiss, that moment that Ash’s lips had been making her wonder about for weeks now. As she leaned in toward him words came out of his mouth ruining any sense of romance that had previously filled the room.

  “Has Chance been preparing you for this? The transition process isn’t easy.”

  “He has been very good with my training. He said meditation was key.”

  “Meditation is key?” Ash pierced his lips doubtfully. “I’m not so sure you’ll be able to meditate during the ascension process. “Did he explain when it would happen and how?”

  “Yes. He said it would happen at noon,” Katharine’s voice trailed off as she prepared herself to ask a question that could potentially bring up ill memories for Ash. “I know Chance said you weren’t allowed to be, but is there any way you can be there tonight? I’d really like to see a friendly face.”

  Katharine knew it was a lot to ask considering Chance did not want Ash anywhere near her until the abilities and transition had been completed. However, Ash had been so willing to bend the rules for her before, surely something as important as her abilities surfacing would be reason enough for him to risk getting a lecture from Chance.

  Ash lowered his head and patted Katharine’s hand gently. His face revealed the pain that was buried beneath his tough exterior. Her words were sincere and pleading and provided a request that he wanted nothing more than to oblige.

  “Chance has forbidden me from being anywhere near you when it happens. He’s even called in Calypso, Solace, Elijah and Atlas, his fellow elders, to ensure that I keep my distance.”

  Katharine forcefully removed her hands from within his and leaned back into a straight-seated position. He wasn’t going to even try. He had brought her into a world she never wanted to be a part of, he had lied to her about the loss of her best friend and now he would not stand by her side when she needed him most. She just wanted him to be that guy she had come to know, the one who seemed to care more about her than anything else.

  “I need to finish getting dressed now,” Katharine was bitter and short. Ash smiled playfully a look Katharine resented. “What is your problem?”

  “You’re disappointed,” Ash said his voice full of pleasure. “You wanted me with you. You’re disappointed that I am not fighting to be with you.”

  There it was again that confident cocky smirk that seemed to be Ash’s favorite look. He had worn it more times than Katharine cared to count. He enjoyed watching her squirm as she tried to fight off her attraction for him. She did not appreciate his overzealous tone.

  “I could care less if you’re there or not. I just thought it would be nice considering this entire thing is your fault,” Katharine jumped of the bed and stood by the doorway. “If you’re going to mock me you can leave. I have a lot more important things to think about than feeding into your ego.”

  Katharine pointed forcefully at the doorway inviting Ash to leave. He committed to the smile upon his face. He raised himself off the bed and headed for the door with confidence.

  “I don’t understand why you’re smiling I am kicking you out of my room. I know you don’t get out much being a warrior of Heaven and all but when a girl kicks you out of her room it isn’t exactly a sign that you’re about to get lucky,” Katharine said with conviction and irritation.

  “I knew it, you’re in love with me. It’s okay you can admit it,” Ash teased as he stood a few inches from her.

  Katharine shoved him but he barely moved. He swayed backward slightly and returned closer to her than he had been. Their eyes locked almost as if they had been mag
netically pulled toward one another helplessly. Ash leaned forward slowly placed his lips upon her cheek a few inches away from her lips. Had she turned her head even an inch they would have landed on her lips.

  His touch seemed so familiar even though they’d never been that close before. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in. She sunk into his arms feeling the safety and strength within them. She could no longer fight the feelings growing inside her. Her walls came crumbling down as he held her close to him and the rest of the world faded away. She could feel his heartbeat; it was steady with a few rapid pulses every few seconds.

  If not for the bellowing sound of another soul entering Heaven Katharine believed they could have stayed there until Chance came back to get her for the transition. Ash pulled away first keeping his arms wrapped around Katharine’s back.

  “Happy Birthday Katharine,” Ash said releasing her from his embrace. He winked playfully before disappearing down the corridor leaving Katharine weak and vulnerable to the feelings she had long been denying.

  10

  ANGEL BLADE

  Ash stood outside Katharine’s sleeping quarters staring at the rose-colored door. He examined its intricate designs and the symbolic carvings lining the edges of the rectangular doorframe. Each symbol, like those sitting in the east garden, represented all of the religions of each realm. As he stared at the door he thought about the girl inside. The way she looked when he first met her, how innocent and alive she was sitting in the library back in Meadowbrook.

  She had the whole world in front of her and she welcomed the future with open arms, but a mortal one. He had taken her mortal future and ripped it out from under her the way a doctor would rip of a Band-Aid without any care or affection. He wondered how she could feel anything but hatred toward him.

  “I’ve heard that a watched door never opens,” Hartley said as he grazed past. Ash ignored the rude comment and turned to walk in the opposite direction. He was heading for his sleeping quarters to prepare himself for Katharine’s ascension. He knew that attending the ascension was against Chance’s orders but not being there for Katharine wasn’t an option either. “Going to get ready for the Tracker’s ascension?”

  Ash stopped halfway as Hartley’s words pierced through him. “Excuse me?” he said, spinning around to look at Hartley as he spoke.

  “You think I’m an idiot?” Hartley said, raising his voice to an aggressive growl. “I know how your mind works when it comes to these Trackers.”

  Ash rushed to where Hartley stood, his hair flying in his face as he quickened his pace. He could feel the hard ground knocking on the bottom of his feet. He feared that Katharine could hear Hartley’s raised voice and worried she would find out the truth about Agnon before he had a chance to explain himself. She already knew too much about his past, things he wished she didn’t; he couldn’t imagine how she would react if she knew he was responsible for the death of one of his own.

  “Would you keep your voice down?” Ash said, as he placed his face within a few inches of Hartley’s.

  “Why do you care about them so much?” Hartley moved himself closer to Ash showing him that he felt he was the dominant one of the two. “It isn’t your job to care about them, it is your job to follow them and make sure they take you to the Descended. Case closed.” Hartley had always been very good at keeping his emotions about the Trackers at bay. He had been assigned a few Trackers and always did the job successfully however, like most of them, the Trackers were killed in battle. Ash simply believed that none of the other Guides allowed their Trackers to get close enough to care about them. “You have always been weak.”

  Hartley stood in front of him, taunting him, antagonizing him and waiting for that moment when Ash would lunge. He longed for that moment; he had an excuse to fight Ash. For that moment he could feel his fist land across Ash’s face if only for a second. Ash grew tired of being tormented by Hartley for his indiscretions against the Guides. He became the butt of every joke and it was tiresome.

  The boys were in one another’s faces, staring intently and so close they could each feel the other one’s hot breath blowing gusts of wind back and forth between them. Both had their fists clenched so tightly their skin began to bleed. It was only a matter of time before someone took the first swing.

  “What is going on here?” Davon shouted starting toward them swiftly. He wore a white silk robe with silver jewels lining the hems of the sleeves and the bottom of the fabric, all tied together with a golden pin. He had just come from the refurbishment room.

  The refurbishment room was where the Guides would go after battle or a mission to another realm. It was meant to cleanse them of other worldly matter that could potentially affect the rest of the garrison. Guides would be placed inside a steel tube with a golden enclosing. The golden enclosing would spray them with water from Heaven’s fountain, the purest water in all the realms.

  This was meant to cleanse them and wash away any sins they came across while on their missions or in battle. Ash never partook in the refurbishing process; a direct descendent of God almighty was immune to most other worldly sins, disease and anything else that had the potential to bring about chaos to the garrison. The one thing that not even God’s direct descents were immune to was the angel blade.

  Hartley, still glaring intently at Ash, backed away a few feet with his hands raised in the air. “Nothing, everything is fine.”

  Davon looked to Ash for a confirming response that what he had just witnessed wasn’t the start of a Guide-on-Guide fight.

  “It’s true. We were just discussing how ridiculous you look in that robe,” Ash replied flipping the extra fabric that hung off of one of the sleeves of the robe. “You kind of look like that mortal who is always surrounded by women…what’s his name?” Davon stood silent and not amused by the other boy’s quips.

  “Hartley I think it best you be on your way now. I am sure there is something more important you should be doing than fighting with your comrades,” Davon said firmly. Hartley stood for a few more seconds staring at Ash. The fight was far from over but he would remove himself from the situation in order to avoid a confrontation with Davon. That was one confrontation he knew he’d never win. “Go!” Davon pointed down the hallway that was dimly light.

  The only light came from the flaming torches that hung on the wall. The light flickered as the flames danced upon their perches. The boys watched Hartley disappear into the blackness where the torches were no longer lit. His silhouette hung like a lantern hanging from the tops of trees.

  “So how was your cleanse?” Ash asked amusingly.

  Davon shot around to face him. “Why must you always fight with him Ash? You know he’s still angry about losing Agnon.” He was using a tone that reminded Ash of one of the many lectures his father gave him about becoming a true member of higher garrison. It was a tone he despised and one that would often go straight through him as if he were hollow.

  “I have apologized to him more times than I can count, I can only do so much,” Ash replied defensively.

  Davon closed his eyes and shook his head like a disappointed parent at a child’s poor behavior or bad grades. “It is not about an apology Ash. It is about doing what is right and making up for past mistakes.” He placed his hand atop Ash’s shoulder and squeezed gently.

  Past mistakes, a phrase Ash had heard many times in reference to his love for Angelina. To him, she was no mistake. She had become his salvation and his hope. In her eyes he saw a future, one far greater than falling under the shadow of his kin. He would never refer to her as a mistake, no matter what the cost.

  “Shouldn’t you be going to change into something a little less revealing?” Ash said shaking Davon’s hand off his shoulder.

  “Yes I suppose I’d better. I have some important business that needs attending to,” Davon said taking off quickly in the opposite direction toward his sleeping quarters.

  There was something in the way he said, business, that peaked Ash�
�s curiosity and the way he hurried off as if he were afraid Ash would follow him. He was being suspicious and suddenly it hit him, Ash knew exactly what Davon was rushing off to do. He’s going to approach Chance about the blade.

  Davon changed quickly into a cream white shirt and white satin pants. He slipped his feet into gold-laced shoes that conformed to the outline of his foot to provide extra comfort. The shoes felt the way the clouds felt beneath his feet, soft and vibrant. It was a feeling he missed.

  In the old days, after returning from a mission, Davon would seek refuge among the clouds.

  He sat quietly atop them for hours looking down on mankind, watching them destroy one another for fame and fortune. He often wondered why the elders fought so hard to keep humanity safe when they so easily slaughtered their own.

  The clouds sat floating in the sky just below the edge of the south and north garrisons. Davon would slide down the green snake-like vines that hung from the bottom of the garrisons and fell beneath the clouds. With all the chaos of the fight, sitting on the clouds was the one time Davon felt absolute peace.

  Once dressed Davon made his way through the hallway toward the Grand Room where he knew Chance would be preparing for the ascension. He rushed to get to the Grand Room before the ascension was set to begin. What he had in mind couldn’t wait until the war between angel and Descended was over.

  The Grand Room was the largest room in the Anchorage with golden crested double doors that opened inward and revealed two rows of four columns that led from the front to the back of the room. Each column hoisted an angelic cherub atop a flat platform. The cherub’s were pale with red curly hair and cream colored diapers, each one with a silver blade strapped to their backs. The windows of the Grand Room stretched from the floor to the ceiling and welcomed in the celestial sun as the satin red curtains draped back over the edges of the windows. The ceilings soared into the air nearly 15 feet giving the room an even larger outline.