Grim snapped his head around to where me and Molly were. A light similar to the one Fear had used to split Grim and Killian surrounded me. And I realized my horror as my body was lifted. We were too late… My hands were forced and bound above me by a force that couldn’t be seen. My body felt like it was breaking as it was forced to arch in the middle, leaving me in an awkward position.
I could no longer see anything beyond the light that bound me and soon… I felt the spell pulling at me—trying to reach my power. Something that was mine. But I couldn’t do anything…
My last few thoughts were crystal clear before my mind was taken in with the spell. I hoped—prayed Fear was wrong and my powers weren’t enough to let him merge with Grim. It won’t work, it won’t work, I chanted over and over. I was praying not for my life or Killian’s because I was afraid it was already too late for us. The one I was hoping to save was Grim. For if Fear’s planned worked… I couldn’t even allow myself to think like that. To think of Grim becoming a monster.
My eyes turned white and so did my mind… the power began to leave my body.
I was in darkness, but I had been here before. I looked down and saw that I was still wearing Grim’s cloak to hide my naked flesh underneath. I crumbled to my knees and brought the cloak to my face and inhaled. It smelled of Grim—Killian. Powerful, enchanting… the scent of the one I loved that could never be whole and now, I couldn’t be saved… Ryan couldn’t be saved. I cried into the cloak.
Was this me dying? I must be… so, this was what it felt like to die? But this wasn’t really death, was it? This was something much worse. What if I was stuck in this darkness forever… always alone. No, I belonged to Fear. When would he come for me? Would he even have any use of me if he already had the power?
He would still torture me. Which had to be okay… because I deserved this much, right? Ryan died and became something terrible because of me. Killian and Grim were broken because of me… now Killian was… Grim was…
I screamed in the darkness. Then she appeared again wearing the same white dress. Her face was still concealed by the darkness. I no longer cried and stood up. “Why are you here?” I sounded angry and I was. She never told me anything.
“Figured it out yet, Melanie Rose?” she asked calmly.
My anger amplified. “No, everything’s over. We lost and I’m to blame.”
“So, you give up before you even know the truth about yourself?” Her tone was clipped. She crossed her arms. “Killian’s life fades to nothing. Grim fights alone, but even an entity will crumble when he thinks a part of himself is dead! And the person he treasures above all else is being drained of her power… her life. What does he have to hold on to? He will fall in despair and within that weakness, he will be forced to merge. Killian: Dead. You: Dead. Grim: No longer himself.”
“No!” The word ripped from my chest. I couldn’t let that happen, not when the thought alone was breaking me into pieces.
“Only you can save you all.”
“How?”
“Think of Humpty Dumpty… he has to be put back together again and only you can do that,” she answered. I wasn’t feeling very encouraged… the king’s horsemen and men couldn’t put him back together again, could they? So, how could I help Grim and Killian?
“How do I do that?”
“Who are you?” And wasn’t that what she always asked.
“Melanie freaking Rose!” I snapped. “Stop asking.”
A bright light shined between us, beautiful and golden, until it engulfed us both. I couldn’t open my eyes until the light was gone. Then it made me remember Prince Cadence’s words.
“Light,” I whispered, echoing my thoughts out loud. “I’m light,” I told her.
“Do you know now?” she asked and when I looked up, her face was completely visible and suddenly everything became clear.
I simply looked at her.
Me: My power. My reflection. The me that was kept hidden.
“I know what to do.”
Myself nodded and smiled.
Chapter Twenty-One
I opened my eyes to see Grim on his knees before Fear. His essence was non-existent. His blue light that flowed around him was completely snuffed out. He no longer cared. He didn’t realize the fight wasn’t over. I jerked my wrists against the invisible barrier that had me bound. My light was still leaving my body, but I was determined to stop it. I started fighting back—golden lights started pouring out of my entire body, fighting against the light that bound me. Whatever Fear had done to me, I watched it crumble and break around me. Molly’s eyes were wide with shock. My feet hit the ground as I glared at Fear.
Grim turned toward me and just like that, his essence pooled back to life around him and through his sockets and bones. “Melanie.” His voice was full of hope.
“What the hell is this?” Fear looked completely thrown off, confused.
“Since you don’t know or realize.” I walked forward, cooling my expression. “I wanted to let you know I’m not the Vessel.”
He shook his head, looking at me like the words I spat out were ludicrous. “You are,” he assured me, but he was wrong.
So wrong.
They all had been wrong.
I grinned and tilted my head. “No,” I paused. “I’m not.” I stopped walking.
He didn’t seem afraid, on the contrary, he looked annoyed. “Molly!” He flicked his wrist at me. “Restrain her, I need that power!” he ordered. Grim opened his hand and his sword—the one he gave to Killian and the other that lay beside him—went back together and formed his scythe. He moved it around in his hand before he swung at Fear, but not before Fear jumped away.
Molly ran at me, but I extended my palm out and she stopped. It was good that she knew to be hesitant. The light flew from my fingers and palm to hit her. The light wrapped around her and bound her arms and legs. The only thing she could do was fall to the ground and try to wiggle free.
“A human shouldn’t be capable of what you’re doing,” Fear studied me, suddenly wary. He no longer focused on Grim. His eyes fell over me with rage yet interest.
“I will tell you.” There was a fire in my chest. I knew what I needed to do—or more like it was a sixth sense telling me. I brought my hand up and stuck it inside my chest—it went in like I was made of water. I started pulling it back out and in my hand was a golden rod that moved out of my chest. Once it was completely out of me, Fear’s mouth fell open.
It was a golden scythe. My scythe. Identical to Grim’s, only smaller. It shined bright with its golden color. “I’m Light,” I told him and lifted my scythe in the air. “Grim’s Light.” And I said the words with pride.
Grim’s cloak I wore began to change colors. The black turned to gold. The hood moved on its own and placed itself onto my head, covering most of my face and hair. It wasn’t just the cloak that was glowing, my whole body was. My hair was more like a light instead of color, golden and bright. I knew without a doubt how I must look: regal and powerful.
I flashed my teeth before moving at an insane rate toward Fear. He moved into position as I went after him. I let the scythe slip further down my hand as I moved gracefully; something I could never do before. I placed both hands on the scythe—and it hummed against them as I lifted it over my head. I jumped.
Fear barely blocked my attack—he was still thrown off by everything that happened. I landed back on my feet, and Grim stepped in my place. They collided over and over in a matter of seconds. “What are you doing? Attack her!” I realized Fear was yelling at the charred demon. The charred demon was staring at me—he looked bewildered. Something was confusing him. I took it as my chance.
I ran in his direction, pointing my scythe at him. The light flew from the tip and hit him in the chest. He roared, but it slowly became a scream as he shifted back into the Ryan that I knew and loved. He fell on his chest, unconscious, but I still restrained him with the same power I used on Molly.
I turned back to Grim.
He was back at full strength so I could focus on Killian. I needed to make sure he was okay, but he was lying in a puddle of his own blood. “Killian!”
“I’ll kill you!” Fear screamed, stepping in front of me. I jumped back as Grim blocked the attack from hitting me. I moved to the side and went after Fear. He already knew to block my attack, but I swung my body around and kicked him hard. He staggered backward. My mind was telling me to hurry. Killian’s life was on the line. He lay at death’s doors.
But Fear must have sensed that as well because his eyes roamed to Killian. He faded, but we knew where he was headed. Grim was already standing over Killian when Fear attacked. He pushed him back. “Killian, get up!” I was desperate. His eyes fluttered, there was life rising and falling in his chest. That was all I needed to see.
My impatience with Fear grew. I needed him gone. I had my own Humpty Dumpty to put back together. I gritted my teeth, and I went after him. “Grim!” He looked at me, but I was already throwing my scythe in the air. Somehow, he knew, the same way I did because he tossed his in the air with mine. They sought out Fear. He panicked and jumped, avoiding mine, but he had no time to avoid Grim’s. It struck him in the chest. Grim was already in front of him, pushing the blade in deeper.
Fear roared in agony as Grim dug the scythe into his flesh deeper, but there was anger in his eyes. “You can’t,” he tested Grim. Grim ignored him and that was when I saw the fear fall over his face. “You dare!”
“Your death is upon you,” Grim went into Reaper mode as he spoke. “Soon, but not tonight.” He pulled the scythe out. And that was the cruelest thing, that we had no choice but to let him live. Blood oozed from Fear’s chest. He tipped his top lip up into a snarl before he faded and reappeared next to Molly. He broke the bind I had over her. She stood quickly. He turned toward Ryan next, but I stepped in to block his way. “No,” I warned him, guarding Ryan who lay unconscious behind me. And then Grim was in front of me, blocking him as well. Fear snarled but it quickly became a smile.
“I worry not. The boy will come to me on his own.” And with words that left me afraid, he faded with Molly.
As soon as he left, I hurried to Killian. I fell on my knees and picked up his head to place it in my lap. I smacked his face. “Killian!” Nothing. I pressed my hand into his chest. He was alive. His chest moved with his breathing and his heartbeat but barely. “Killian, you have to get up!” Grim was a statue next to me, too afraid to move. I saw movement underneath his eyelids. “You don’t have much time, hurry and get up so we can finish the merge,” I ordered him. His eyes finally fluttered opened.
I was covered in his blood and so was he. His eyes even had blood in them. “It’s too late,” he muttered, coughing as he spoke. “Missed… our chance.”
I took a deep breath, telling myself to stay calm despite the panic I was feeling. “You’re wrong,” I said gently. “I can put you guys together again.”
He looked at me. “So..rry.” His eyes closed back. I smacked him on the shoulder. I held tears back.
“Don’t you dare,” I warned him. “Not after all of this. You need to freaking stop getting hurt like this, it’s starting to piss me off!” Instead of crying, I fueled my anger.
“Love, I think yelling at him isn’t going to work.” Grim placed his hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him. He had never called me that before, only Killian had.
Now I couldn’t hold the tears anymore. “Please, I haven’t even had a chance to tell you anything!” I was sobbing loud and ugly. “Killian, if you care for me at all—if you want to be with me then you have to get up and do the merge,” I told him again.
He reopened his eyes and looked to Grim. Grim extended his hand down to him. “Time to stop milking it… Besides, if you die, I’ll never be whole.”
I wiped my eyes and smiled when Killian started to lift his head. “I was only resting,” he grunted in pain. It took him a minute to raise up. He winced in the process and bit his lip to fight the pain.
“Yeah, yeah,” Grim muttered. He finally took Grim’s hand and helped him to his feet. My scythe started to brighten on the ground next to me before it flew in the air above them. Grim’s scythe wiggled in his hand until he finally let it go so that it could join mine. They latched together in the air—becoming one.
Darkness spread from our scythes and fell over Killian and Grim. I stepped back as the darkness engulfed them. The wind was crazy. I held my breath and waited. I couldn’t see anything so I had no idea what was happening in the darkness until it slowly faded…
Killian was alone, smiling. And I knew what that meant. They were one again. I ran to him. The cloak I wore turned back to normal as I collided with his chest. He laughed—deep and husky as he scooped me up in his arms. His laugh vibrated against my cheek as I melted into his chest. Our scythes disappeared in the air as he spun me around. He had me laughing.
I felt happy and alive. He planted my feet back on the rooftop and grinned, cupping my cheeks with his palm. “What are you?” He looked star-struck as he gazed into my eyes, and there was something beyond precious about him when he didn’t hold himself back in front of me.
I placed my hands over his while they were still on my face and leaned up. “I’m yours.” And I was slightly embarrassed when I said it so I stole his lips to hide it. I poured my heart and soul into that one kiss. So did he. He brought me to life with every small touch, like fireworks along my skin every time he touched me. His caress was gentle, sweet against my mouth. We finally parted our lips and I was still smiling. “My very existence was made for you—to be with you. I am Light, your light.”
Only his face wasn’t full of happiness like mine. “That’s not possible.” His voice was a whisper.
My smile faded. “Is it,” I assured him. “You’re my eternity, and I am yours.”
He moved away from me, even turning around. I touched his back, afraid. “I’m telling you that’s not possible.”
“It’s the truth,” I told him. “You saw it yourself.” I tugged at his arm.
He turned back around, grief covered his handsome face. “I didn’t have to see what I’ve already known from the moment I first saw you. I have always been taken in by you, Melanie Rose. Light or not. Fate, destiny, or none—I would have still fallen in love with you.” His confession had a sweet warmth spreading throughout my chest. I moved into him. When he hugged me, I wrapped my arms around him.
But I wasn’t an idiot. I knew something was wrong. “I love you.” He placed a kiss on the top of my head and squeezed me tighter, inhaling, taking every part of me in.
I let go of him and met his haunted expression. “Melanie, I see your death in the future. I’ve seen it since the first time I saw you. That’s why I know there is no eternity for us.” My thoughts of forever. My life with Grim completely shattered. I felt my lip tremble and eyes water but forced myself not to cry.
“I see.” So much emotion in two words.
“You live as a human… and you die as one.” I hated the truth he kept telling me.
“Then you won’t love me despite that?”
He grabbed my hands, took them to his mouth, and kissed them. He met my eyes. “I will love you no matter what,” he promised.
I blinked and the tears finally spilled. That was enough. “Even though I can’t give you an eternity?”
He pulled me closer—but we were as close as close could get. “You gave me something I never dreamed I would experience. Love. You will be my eternity regardless,” he whispered softly. “I will cherish you over and over again, whether it be by spirit or body.”
His words send a shiver of pure unmasked love over my skin. “Then, ’til death do us part?”
“And my eternity after.” He smashed his mouth down over mine. In that moment, I was lost to him, and maybe it will always be that way.
And that was perfectly okay.
In his arms, I would hide from my troubles because once our kiss ended, reality would come rushing back.
I couldn’t be this happy when Ryan was unconscious, bound by my own power. I would protect him from Fear.
No, I would save him, and I would save myself.
… and Killian would protect us all.
Chapter Twenty-Two
__Angel Sanctuary__
Faye rested her head on the side of the seeing glass as she watched the happenings of the human world. She closed her eyes and sighed. Guilt was a horrible thing for an angel to feel—actually, they never experienced that emotion because they didn’t do things they weren’t supposed to like Faye had.
Gabriel’s footsteps were silent, but she knew he was behind her. She lifted her head up and turned around. “Do you understand what it is you’ve done now?” His words were meant to scold her, remind her of the mistake she had made. One mistake that she had thought had been a no biggie when she had done it. But it was a big deal.
Faye had altered the fate of three people nine years ago. Now one was dead and the other two met before they were supposed to. How did it happen?
Fear had mistaken Melanie Rose for something that didn’t even exist. The Vessel was a lie created by angels one night to lead demons on a desperate search for something that never even existed. Of course, most demons lost interest over time and a lot of them even forgot about it… or maybe they were smart enough to know it never existed in the first place, but some were too eager, too desperate for power.
Fear was one of them. And because he was an entity—immortal and already more powerful than any demon, that made him dangerous. But he was chasing after something that didn’t exist.
Until he found something else.
Something so much more valuable.
And Faye had been gazing into the seeing glass—like she had just been doing—when Fear found Melanie and marked her. She was outraged at first—she raised from her chair and ran to the door then she stopped. And that was when Faye made the wrong choice.
'Til Grim's Light (A Grim Awakening Book 2) Page 22
