by Jenna Kay
“Gracen, look out behind you!” he shouts.
I turn around to see Pig Face charging me. An image of being directly behind him crosses behind my eyes and the next second that's where I stand, only this time I'm ready to fight. Jumping on his back, letting the Eagle have full control, I place my hands on each side of his grotesque head and give it a hard jerk, breaking his neck. He stops moving and his body slowly dissolves into a glitter of dust, his spear falling next to my feet on the ground. I pick it up just in time to jab it into the Minotaur's chest, piercing his heart. He, too, vanishes into dust, his spear also falling to the ground. Picking it up a burst of pride flows through my veins. I'm now armed with two spears and can teleport.
Too bad I didn't notice Alistor approaching me from the side.
When his body plummets into mine I fly in the air with a discombobulated feeling. Hitting the ground, I roll to a stop, my body a big mass of hurt. Alistor tromps over to me, standing over my pain-absorbed body. My hands are now weapon free, the blow knocking the spears out of my hands. My head is full of cotton wool. Not the best of odds when battling an extra large demon.
Alistor leans down and sneers while the crowd continues to go wild.
“Who's going to die tonight?” he jeers as he raises his ax, preparing to deliver a death blow. I use my newfound teleporting skills and vanish before he can take off my head.
I appear directly in front of the golden alter, my focus on the angered Alistor. I'm so focalized on the impending danger that I almost don't hear the psst being thrown my direction. To my shock Alexander tosses me my beloved Katana. With my sharp reflexes I'm able to catch it, ready to defend myself as Alistor swings his large ax. For a brief second I wonder how it came into his possession, but Alistor snaps me out of my speculative reverie.
The two of us engage in battle. He tries to take off my head, I deflect his swing with a swing of my own. We go around like this for a couple of minutes before I start to get bored. Alistor may be big and scary, but he's slow and to be honest, not a good fighter. I start trying out my teleporting skills, and that frustrates the hulking giant. One moment he thinks he has me, the next I'm all the way across the arena. At one point I'm actually laughing, reveling in the fact that I can enrage this demon. The crowd is going wild, even going as far as throwing rocks to distract me, but their tactics don't work.
Eventually he begins to tire, giving me an opening to take him out. The one time he expects me to teleport I jump kick him in the chest, knocking him flat on his back. He drops his ax and reaches desperately for it, but I kick it out of his reach. In one swift movement I take off his head, his body glowing red before exploding into dust.
The crowds cheers die out, the whole place becoming silent. I glance over at Mom. She forces a smile, though it doesn't reach her eyes, which are full with tears. Tink, Reagan, and Jack continue to stare at me in wonder, along with Mark. No doubt he's never in his life witnessed a fight like the one he'd just seen. Phoenix stands to his feet and I can't help but run over to him. I wrap my arms around him, careful not to squeeze too tightly.
“Gracen,” he whispers in my ear, folding his chained arms around me the best he can.
Our tender moment doesn't last long, because Alexander's voice hollers, “Gracen! You will join us!”
I turn around and ready myself for attack, but what I see halts my words and my steps. Alexander has Ash in his arms with a knife to his throat. Ash is still out cold, though Alexander has no problem holding him up. Nausea thrashes in my stomach as dread washes over me from head to toe.
In my head I think that Alexander could never kill his own son, but taking in the scene, seeing the crazed look in his eyes, I know for an absolute fact that he would. He wouldn't think twice about it. It's because of that realism that I step away from Phoenix...
And drop my sword.
“Gracen, no!” Phoenix exclaims, grabbing my hand. “Don't do this.”
I reach up and caress his bruised face with my fingers. “I can't let him kill Ash.” He takes my hand in both of his and kisses my fingertips. A single tear drops from one of his black orbs.
“I love you,” he whispers against my fingers. His emotions are rolling off of him in turbulent flutters, the main one I concentrate on most being his intense affection for me.
I smile sadly. “I love you, too.”
Turning away from him, I start walking over to where my father and brother stand. The smile on Alexander's face makes my stomach clench. Botis is watching my every move, along with the rest of the stadium. Ash, thankfully, is not awake to see this, and it hurt like hell to turn away from Phoenix and everyone else I care about, and Mark...
I'm not sure how he'll be able to live a normal life after all this.
Stopping a few feet in front of Alexander I begin to say, “Okay, father. You win. I'll go with you.”
“That's wonderful to hear,” he remarks, looking down at Ash. “Though I still have to do something with this little maggot.” He begins to slash his throat but my scream stops him.
“Wait! You said you wouldn't kill him!”
He snorts. “I never said that, and anyway, now that I have you I don't need him. He's weak, Gracen, and he must be put out of his misery.” Once again he starts to slide the blade against Ash's neck. I close my eyes, not able to watch my brother die.
But then another shocking surprise occurs.
“NO!”
I pivot on one foot to look behind me. Phoenix is walking over to us, limping the whole way. He stops next to me, keeping his gaze on Alexander. His jaws are clenched and his nerves are on edge, ready to fall over if pushed.
“Please don't kill Ash,” Phoenix implores. “Kill me instead.”
Dread wavers over me, my mind a huge spinning wheel.
“What are you doing?” I question him, willing him to look at me, and when he does my heart freezes mid-beat.
“Forgive me, Gracen,” he says gently, his lips twisting into a frown. “I'm going to have to leave you hanging again.”
My heart lodges in my throat as I exclaim, “Phoenix, no! Don't do—” He interrupts me by grabbing my head and touching his forehead to mine.
“It's the only way,” he whispers, his dark bangs falling into his face. “I'll do anything to keep you and Ash alive.” He presses his lips to mine, breaking away a second later. He steps forward and squares off with my father.
“Take my life instead,” Phoenix proclaims bravely, loud enough for the entire arena to hear.
A perplexed expression cuts across Alexander's face. “You would sacrifice yourself to keep my son alive?”
Phoenix replies, “Yes.”
With Phoenix's answer Alexander shoves his son to the ground, apparently done with him. Then he steps up to Phoenix, regarding him curiously.
“You love my daughter,” Alexander muses, tilting his head to the side.
Phoenix nods. “Yes. I'd die for her.” His words wash over me with sadness, causing my heart to explode into a million pieces. My legs begin to wobble like they're about to give out as my father steps closer to Phoenix.
“Hmm,” Alexander ponders, still concentrating on Phoenix. “This gives me an idea.” He abruptly grabs Phoenix by the shoulders and says, “You will be trained under my authority. You will be the key to bringing my daughter to the clan.”
This angers me and I scream, “No!”
Before I can punch my father in the face and pull Phoenix out of danger, Alexander teleports them to the golden alter next to Botis. I try to teleport myself to the alter but my raging thoughts keep me from being able to accomplish it. I watch as Alexander leans down and whispers to Botis, the whole time keeping a firm grip on Phoenix's arm. This time when I will Phoenix to look at me he doesn't. I can feel his defeated emotions. He's already given up.
Without warning the ground beneath our feet starts to rumble as an earthquake threatens the island. For the first time fear crosses over the Fallen Angel's face.
“The a
ngel nears!” Botis wails, and those three words set the entire crowd of demons into a frenzy. He grabs onto Phoenix and Alexander, getting ready to teleport them away, when my father's gaze drifts over to me. With my keen hearing I'm able to hear every word they speak.
“What about my daughter?” Alexander inquires.
Botis answers, “Don't worry. Zavebe is in the city. He will find her.”
That's the moment my legs start working again. I sprint toward the alter and when I'm about to reach them the black mist swallows them up, taking them away. Taking away Phoenix. The strength leaves my body and I fall to the ground, my gaze stuck on the place he had just stood. Phoenix is gone, kidnapped by my father and Botis.
And it's all my fault.
The arena continues to fall apart around me. I don't make a move to get up and fight. I hear the cries of my loved ones, of my new friends, but their voices sound far away and distant. We have been defeated. I've been defeated. What reason did I have to continue living? I didn't know if I could go on without Phoenix.
I snap out of my downtrodden state when a white light fills the arena, so bright and warm sweat begins to trickle down my neck. Screams of agony pierce through the air, the demons exploding to dust by the magnificent light that infiltrates the arena. Then everything goes silent, the bright light gone, and in it's wake a form of a man emerges. I can't tear my eyes away from what has to be the most beautiful creature I've ever laid eyes upon. He's at least seven feet tall, wearing silver armor and harboring tight muscles all over his body. His silver wings fan the air behind his back, his black hair reaching his shoulders and swaying in the breeze of his wings. He walks over to me and looks down with silver eyes. I can't stop the gasp that crawls out of my throat.
Finding my voice I ask, “What are you?”
He gives me a warm smile. “An Angel.”
Wow. An Angel. With silver eyes. Could this be the Silver Eagle legend spoke of? Was the Eagle an actual Angel from Heaven?
My clouded mind can't process my thoughts. I watch as he walks over to Ash, bending on one knee. He lifts a hand over the manacles that are clamped to his wrists and feet. Instantly they pop open, freeing Ash from his constraints. Then he stands up and turns to Mom and the rest chained up to the wall. Again he lifts his hand and all their restraints snap open, setting them free. They all rub at their wrists and ankles, staring in awe at the creature in front of them. When he turns my direction, lifting his hands, the cuffs on my own wrists and ankles detach and fall to the ground.
“You are all free,” the Angel verifies loudly. “You will need to teleport away quickly, for in a few minutes this island will be destroyed.”
“But we can't teleport,” Reagan calls out, adding, “Not being trapped underground with Hell Stone in every crevice—”
Reagan doesn't finish her statement because the Angel lifts his hands to the air and a large explosion opens up the arena. All eyes lift to the opening where the darkened sky can be seen. A chorus of amazed gasps resounds. We're at least one hundred and fifty feet underground, though now the Angel has given us an opening.
The earth shakes again, knocking our bodies back and forth. I've gone to Ash's side, ready to teleport as soon as I get some answers.
“Gracen!” Reagan yells, taking Jude in her arms. “Teleport to the warehouse!”
“How?!” I holler back, picking up Ash.
She rolls her eyes. “You've been there. Imagine it in your mind and you'll make it.” She vanishes with Jude, followed by Mark and Jack. Tink has my mother, holding her hands. Mom calls out to me.
“Teleport, baby! Let's get the hell out of here!”
Tink and Mom vanish, leaving Ash and I alone with the Angel. He walks over to me, gazing at me questionably.
“Why have you not left yet, child of light and dark?” he inquires, tilting his head to the side.
“I need to know,” I say, my eyes looking to my left and right, watching for any debris that could crush us. Settling my gaze on him I ask, “Are you the Silver Eagle?”
He smiles warmly, placing a hand to my shoulder. I shudder under his touch, which is scorching hot.
“The answers you seek,” he tells me, his other hand pointing to my heart, “can be found in there. You are special, Gracen Potts. You have the heart of the Eagle and the powers of the Viper. Use them well.” He turns away from me, his silver wings outstretched, like he's about to take flight.
“Wait!” I cry out. He glances back at me sideways. “Please tell me your name.”
He smiles a smile so brilliant it could easily outshine the sun.
“Michael,” he answers before lifting up with his powerful
wings, their shine glinting from the bolts of lightning that streak the darkened sky.
CHAPTER 25
The first image that pops in my head is the queen-sized bed in the warehouse. Holding onto Ash's unconscious body we appear on top of the black comforter. I gently lay his head on a pillow, peering down at him with tears in my eyes. I sit down next to him, stroking the blonde hair off his face. He seems at peace, his face relaxed and his breathing stable.
Mom walks up with a bowl of water and a wash rag, her expression full of grief and sorrow. Sitting the bowl in her lap, she pulls a chair up to the bed and sits, wringing out the wet wash cloth.
“Do you think he'll be alright?” I ask quietly, watching as she gently wipes at the cuts on his face and arms.
She nods. “I think he'll pull through. That place...that island depletes their energy, making them weak and frail. You know about Hell Stone, right?” I nod my head, remembering what Phoenix had told me. Mom continues, “The only way they can regenerate themselves is to rest. See.” She flips her head back.
Looking behind her I see Jack and Reagan, passed out on the couch, holding each other close. Tink is asleep on her cot wrapped tightly in her Tinker Bell blanket. They seem as serene and content as Ash.
“What about Mark?” I wonder softly. “Is he freaked out by all of this?”
A laugh rumbles in her chest. “He was at first. When we first arrived here he began demanding answers. Jude has taken him to get coffee. He's going to try and explain it all. Whether Mark deals with it or not—well, that's a different story.”
I shake my head, my nerves shot and guilt-ridden. If Mark is messed up after all this, having to be put in a mental hospital, then I would be blamed. Because of that one date Mark would now have to live the rest of his life knowing about the supernatural world that most humans never knew of. I'm the one at fault here.
A lot of mishaps are my fault.
“What time is it?” I ask just as the first rays of sunlight breaks the horizon, answering my question. I gaze at my mother's face as the sun filters through the warehouse's grimy windows, her claw marks disappearing and her silver eyes changing to their normal gray color. I feel my own transformation, the Silver Eagle in my blood giving back my humanity—until midnight, that is.
“Before I left the island I found out the Angel's name,” I inform her.
Her eyes brighten. “You did? What is it?”
“Michael.”
Her jaw drops with surprisal, then understanding paints her face. “An Archangel. Of course. That makes sense.”
“Do you think he's the Silver Eagle, like, the one who started it all?” I watch her facial exhibits closely, but I frown when she answers my question with a question.
“What does your heart tell you?” she replies, wetting the wash cloth and squeezing the water out of it.
I don't say anything as she continues to clean Ash's wounds, taking extra care around the viper positioned on his cheek. It's funny how things have changed between us all. I used to want to kill all Night Viper's, but now I feel compassion toward them, especially after learning that I'm a Halfling.
“The Angel, Michael, knew who I was—what runs through my veins,” I tell Mom, my gaze staying on Ash. “He told me that I have a heart of the Eagle and the power of the Viper. I still don
't understand how one can overpower the other. A couple of days ago I thought I was a full-blooded Silver Mortal, but now I'm not sure what I am.”
Mom places the wash cloth back into the bowl and takes my hand.
“Gracen,” she begins, peering into my eyes, “no matter who your father or mother is, no matter where you come from, no matter what blood runs through your veins, you have a choice, the freewill to decide how you want to live. You have extraordinary powers, powers that I can't even begin to understand, and you're not done learning what all you can do, but I do know one thing...”
“What's that?”
A smile tugs at her lips. “You are good through and through. I know you'll make the right decisions in life.”
“What about Phoenix?” I marvel, feeling a sob build in the back of my throat. “Do you think we can save him from Alexander?”
Yeah, I know he's my father, but I'll never claim him as such.
Her lips form a frown. “I don't have the answer to that, but in this life anything is possible.” And with those last words uttered she goes back to cleaning Ash's wounds, concentrating on the slashes up and down his arms.
We sit in silence a few moments, listening to the soft snores of the worn-out Vipers. I think about Mark and inwardly pray that Jude can talk to him and explain about the supernatural world around us. Maybe I should have been up front with Mark about my heritage, explaining that demons did exist and I was part of the good side. Of course I never thought he'd come looking for me and get kidnapped by demons along with my mother and Jude.
Secrets can sometimes ruin and change lives forever. Right then and there I swear to myself that once everything settles down, and I get Phoenix back, I would sit down with Bets and tell her everything. As of right now I'm done with keeping secrets. Done.
“Mom,” I say, thinking aloud, “let's make a pact right now that there will be no more secrets between us. Deal?”
