The Sun Angel

by Ashley Martinez

  “Stand back there, Will,” Mae ordered waving her hand and a chair slid up next to Will and nudged him back to the wall before becoming immobile once more.

  Will watched as Mae closed her eyes and began chanting underneath her breath. He couldn’t make out most of the words, but her actions intrigued him.

  She placed another white flower in the bowl with Jenna’s blood then opening up another cupboard she pulled out a small vial of powder and dumped it into the blood. Jenna screamed and arched her back in pain.

  “Stay back, Will,” Mae warned hearing him move.

  Taking the last bowl with the first white flower and some herb-looking plants she had grabbed from the ceiling, Mae brushed Jenna’s body with the herbs then placed them in the blood bowl as well.

  Jenna’s eyes opened, and she screamed so loud Mae had to cover her ears. Will knew it was because Angel’s voices were so high pitched even Mae’s ears couldn’t handle it. Mae would’ve been deafened but since Jenna was in human form, it would only make her ears ring.

  “Dang that girl can scream,” Mae said after Jenna had stopped.

  Will ignored Mae and watched Jenna closely. Her body was writhing but the restraints stopped her from going anywhere. Only soft moans escaped her mouth now, but Will was deep in worry. He knew every sound she made was out of agony, and he could do nothing to help her.

  “You might as well sit back and relax,” Mae said sauntering over to him and sitting in the chair next to him.

  He glared at her before turning his gaze back to Jenna. Resting his elbows on his knees, he shook one leg nervously.

  “The worst of it is over,” Mae said resting her hand on his shoulder.

  Will sat back, “Don’t touch me.”

  She slumped back folding her arms, “I used to like her.”

  “What?”

  “I used to like her,” she repeated. “Now? Not so much.”

  “And what has she done to you?”

  Mae gave him a pointed look, “You used to be around a lot more.”

  “Mae,” Will groaned running his hand down his face. “Not now.”

  “We have time, so it’ll happen now.”

  “What do you want me to say?”

  “Start with the truth.”

  “I’ve been busy,” he shrugged.

  “I don’t buy it,” Mae shook her head. “It’s because I’m a witch, isn’t it?”

  “What?” Will was taken completely by surprise.

  “Or wait,” Mae calculated something in her head, “It’s her.”

  “What?” he repeated himself. He didn’t want to have this conversation and was very close to knocking Mae out.

  “I knew the moment I touched you,” she said.

  “Knew what?”

  “You still love her,” Mae nodded in Jenna’s direction.

  Will’s stomach clenched, “No.”

  “You can’t lie to me.”

  “What do you know?”

  “A lot more than you think,” her eyes narrowed. “For example, I know you are concerned, happy, confused, scared, and also…impressed.”

  He looked at her slowly not saying anything. He knew she was capable of many things but this?

  “What I’d like to know is what you’re scared of,” she looked at him thoughtfully.

  “How do you know what I’m feeling?”

  “By a single touch,” she said caressing his cheek and leaning closer. “I know every feeling that’s going through you at that exact moment.”

  “Really?” he said watching her.

  She moved closer bringing her lips up to his.

  “Mae,” he turned away. “Don’t.”

  “See?” Mae pulled back pouting.

  Will didn’t answer turning his attention back to Jenna who was eerily still.

  “Didn’t you say she might die from this?” Will asked Mae.

  “I did,” She stood moving back to Jenna’s side, “she’s still alive.”

  “Well it looks to me like she’s just sleeping,” Will came over too.

  Mae shrugged, “She must be stronger than I thought. She’s an angel after all.”

  “But she’s mortal, in human form with her powers locked. How’s it possible?”

  “I don’t know everything, Will,” Mae sat back down. “Now let’s talk about what you’re planning with her.”

  “No,” he answered staying by Jenna’s side.

  “You’re happy the sun hasn’t risen, aren’t you?”

  Will didn’t answer; he didn’t have to.

  “It won’t work,” Mae said.

  “You don’t know that.”

  “I do,” she said matter of fact. “The Earth will die without the sun.”

  He ignored her, knowing she was right but not wanting to admit it.

  “Don’t be so stupid, William.”

  He whirled around shocking her with his quickness, “Don’t.”

  Mae stood, “I may not be able to beat you, but I can do some damage. So don’t even think about it.”

  Will clenched his fists, “Then stop telling me what to do.”

  “As I recall I didn’t once tell you what to do,” Mae said, “I merely pointed out your plan wouldn’t work.”

  Sighing, Will walked slowly back to her and sat down heavily, “sorry, Mae.”

  “You should be.”

  “What do I do?” he put his face in his hands.

  “Do you really want my advice?”

  Will looked up, “Yes.”

  “Save her.”

  “But if I do, the Queen will be angry and things will go right back to where they were before.”

  “Not always,” Mae looked over at Jenna, “she’s not the same as before.”

  “How do you know?” Will watched Mae closely, looking for any lies.

  “You know I’m telling the truth because you can feel it yourself,” she looked at him evenly. “It’s what’s drawn you to her, isn’t it?”

  Will didn’t have a chance to answer before Jenna stirred. He ran to her side just in time to see her eyes open.

  “Jenna!” he breathed a sigh of relief. “Are you okay?”

  “I don’t understand,” Jenna’s eyes were tired, looking like she were still in pain.

  “You don’t understand what?” Mae said coming to stand next to Will.

  “My memories,” she looked down at her hands, “I only had one, and it went all blurry and quiet in parts of it.”

  Will looked at Mae, “Do you know what’s going on?”

  “It seems to me it’s been tampered with,” Mae shook her head, “careful though, Jenna. It’s not over. You still have four memories to go through.”

  Jenna’s eyes tightened, “I want it to be done. It hurts too bad.” A single tear dropped from her eye.

  Will caught it and wiped it away, “Don’t worry, Angel. You’re strong.”

  She nodded about to answer, but she choked on the words. Panic threatened to overcome her.

  “Breathe,” Will said soothingly.

  “She’s going under again,” Mae said checking the bowl.

  Will glanced over noticing some of the blood was gone. Jenna’s body tensed and she squeezed his hand tight enough to make him wince. He watched sadly as Jenna’s eyes rolled into the back of her head. She went limp again; the only sound coming from her was deep rhythmic breathing.

  “What do you mean her memory’s been tampered with?” Will asked Mae.

  “Sometime during her Earth years someone came and broken through my shield and altered it, or tried erasing it completely.”

  “How?”

  “With some very serious magic,” Mae shook her head. “I’m pretty powerful, and Jenna helped me with this spell. If it wasn’t one of your guys, then it had to be someone from the North or South.”

  “Dammit,” Will hissed.

  “What?”

  “That’s what the stupid bastard was doing!”

  “Are you going to tell me what’s going
on?”

  “I have to go,” He headed for the door.

  “William!” Mae shouted, lifting her hand to slam the door shut with magic.

  He turned on her, “What!”

  “You promised Jenna you’d stay.”

  “This is something that can’t be avoided,” Will reached for the door.

  “Ah!” Mae raised her finger, “Remember, she’s not the same.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “Promises are sacred to her. If you leave and she wakes, she won’t forgive you.”

  “Mae, this can’t wait,” he shook his head. “She’ll understand.”

  “You better hope so,” Mae swished her hand, opening the door.

  “Oh, and Mae,” Will turned, “your magic can’t stop me.”

  “No, William,” she grinned, “but it always slows you down.”

  “Give me two hours,” he said before disappearing.

  Chapter Eleven

  Will glanced up anxiously to the dark sky. The sun’s absence was being felt. The night creatures were stirring and beginning to venture out. He knew no good would come of them being free and could only do so much to hold them back.

  It took Will over an hour to meet up with James in the Southern Realm and send a request out to Arlo asking him to meet with some important Royal business and had finally got word back that Arlo would meet them here at the edge of his Realm.

  “Tell me again what we’re doing,” James said as they walked up a dark street.

  It was late afternoon and the sun still had refused to show. They had encountered more creatures of the night than usual. The creatures didn’t bother them since they were Night Angels, but it concerned Will how many they’d seen. He was tense and felt the urge to give this up and rush back to Jenna before she awoke, but he needed answers for her. If she woke and found him gone she might think he’d abandoned her and he didn’t want to make her hurt anymore. He was tired of this fight and wanted peace.

  “We have a meeting with Arlo,” Will said watching the street to make sure they were alone.

  “I’m sorry, who?”

  “Arlo, he’s a Southern Angel.”

  “Can I ask why?”

  “I’d like to know that myself,” A man in a suit with dark glasses stepped out of the shadows and into the light of a street lamp.

  Will itched to attack but held himself back because he had information to get.

  “First I’ll warn you; if you lie to me I’ll know. If you try to run, I’ll stop you,” Will put his power behind his words to let the Southern Angel know he meant what he said.

  “We’ll see about that, Dark One,” Arlo smirked as he lit a cigarette.

  “Try it, and you’ll be ripped to shreds very slowly,” James said menacingly.

  “I don’t have anything to hide from you.”

  “Good,” James nodded. “Then we won’t have a problem.”

  “What did you do to Jenna’s memory, and whose help did you have?” Will asked, stepping closer to Arlo.

  “Oh, wow,” James looked surprised, “you just jumped right in there. Well, okay.”

  “Sorry, boys,” Arlo smiled flicking ash from his cigarette before inhaling again. “Can’t answer that.”

  “We’ll see about that,” Will glared. “I’ll give you one more chance, which, I might add, is very generous. Usually I’d already have ripped your head off.”

  Arlo rolled his eyes, “You think you’re so special being the Moon Angel, but I’m not afraid of a coward.”

  Will’s teeth clenched in rage, but he remained calm pulling out his magically infused sword, “I’m not the one who’s going to be running.”

  Before Arlo could answer Will spun, bringing his sword across Arlo’s hand, cutting it clean off. Arlo dropped to one knee, clutching his bloody stump howling in agony.

  “That was fun,” Will said wiping off his blade. “Had a change of heart yet? Ready to tell me what you did to Jenna’s memory?”

  “It was an order!” Arlo gasped.

  “From who?”

  “Silas.”

  “What was the memory?”

  “I don’t know!”

  Will flicked his sword ever so slightly, cutting Arlo across the chest. Arlo screamed and stumbled back panting.

  “What was the memory?”

  “Screw you!” Arlo spat and disappeared leaving only a puddle of blood in his wake.

  “Dammit!” Will shouted.

  “What was that about?” James asked stuffing his hands in his pockets.

  “Jenna’s getting her memories back, and one of them is cloudy,” Will put his sword away. “That prick was the one who messed with it, and I wanted to know why and what actually happened in the real memory.”

  “You’re not thinking about helping her restore herself are you?” James asked. “I’ve never seen the Queen so happy.”

  “What do you think of eternal night, James?”

  “It doesn’t matter what I think; you’re the one in charge.”

  “It matters to me, so what do you think?”

  James shook his head, “I don’t really like it. Doesn’t feel right, not to mention there’s more creatures out.”

  Will nodded, “My thoughts too. They’ll destroy the human race if they’re not contained.”

  “So what are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to help Jenna,” Will turned to James. “What do you think we should do?”

  James looked defeated and sighed heavily, “I guess you’re right.”

  “So you’re with me on helping her?”

  “If you command it.”

  “I’m asking you to help me as a friend.”

  James looked up and met Will’s eye, “Then my answer is yes, I’ll help you.”

  “Good,” Will nodded, satisfied. “Don’t tell the Queen if you happen to see her.”

  “I rather like my head attached to my body, mate,” James laughed then grew serious. “Where to now?”

  “We go back to Mae’s,” Will answered clapping his friend on the back, “but first I have a favor to ask of you.”

  “What is it?”

  “I need you to keep a special eye on Elena.”

  “The Guardian? How come?”

  “I get an uneasy feeling around her.”

  “That’s because she’s a Guardian.”

  Will shook his head, “No, this is different. I don’t trust her. She’s planning something.”

  “I’ll watch her,” James spread his gray wings. “Shall we fly?”

  “Let’s,” Will agreed spreading his own wings and jumped into the night, racing back to Jenna.

  ***

  “No, Will!” Jenna screamed as rain poured down on her. “You don’t understand!”

  “I don’t need to,” he called over his shoulder.

  Jenna was bound with her hands behind her back. She immediately noticed they weren’t alone, sensing someone behind her. Looking around, hoping to spot something familiar, all she could see were orange rocks. Where was she?

  Will walked back to her with a small glass cup in his hand.

  “What is that?” Jenna asked leaning away from him.

  “This,” Will held it up in the moonlight and Jenna could see a clear liquid swishing around. “This is the answer to my problem.”

  “Your problem?”

  “You, Jenna,” he looked down at her, “you’re my problem. I’ve tried to warn you, but you just wouldn’t listen.”

  “I’m not with him anymore!” Jenna said desperately trying to keep Will talking. He was different; she could see that. Somehow, he seemed crueler than usual.

  Will shook his head clicking his tongue, “I don’t believe you.”

  “I left as soon as I found out what he was planning!”

  “And what was he planning?”

  “The same thing every Angel wants,” Jenna tried standing but was knocked down by James, who stood behind her. She threw a glare at him
before continuing, “World domination.”

  “I never wanted that,” Will answered, “I was happy where I was, but you had to go and ruin that.”

  Jenna strained against the ties around her hands feeling them loosen. She slipped one hand out just as Will reached for her. A sword appeared out of nowhere in her hands. She rammed the blade up into Will’s chest.

  He grunted in pain, almost spilling the cup. James quickly disarmed Jenna before she could get anywhere else. He smacked her hard, sending her crashing into the rocks. There was a loud crack as they rumbled from the force. Not stopping there, James climbed on top of Jenna and began beating her.

  She laughed through the pain, “You can’t hurt me.”

  James growled and plowed his fist as hard as he could in her nose. Jenna felt her nose break along with her skull. She saw stars but remained conscious.

  “Move,” Will stumbled forward, pushing James aside.

  “What are you going to do?” Jenna said through a mouthful of blood. She laughed, “You can’t kill me.”

  Will ignored her and forced her mouth open and dumped the liquid down her throat. She struggled, but was too weak from James’ beating. The liquid burned immensely causing Jenna to sputter in an attempt to spit it out.

  Her body suddenly felt engulfed in fire, and she screamed. She felt like it was folding up on itself; her bones felt they were breaking over and over again. She was barely aware of James and Will turning her to her stomach.

  The pain coursing through her body was terrible, until she felt her wings being torn from her back. She’d never wanted to die before, but now she begged them to kill her. Anything would be better than this pain. Slowly the fire receded to her face. Unable to keep her eyes closed she opened them and light shot out. As soon as the light went out, Jenna slumped to the ground, her world going blissfully black before she hit the rocks.

  But even in unconsciousness, she withered in pain. She screamed out but no one answered. She attempted to sit up, but her body felt as if it were filled with lead. Her throat was raw from the screaming and fire. All she could do was lay there in agony until she woke.

  She gasped, eyes flying open. Her body felt like it’d been run over by a train multiple times. She looked around and noticed Will and James standing over her. To her dismay she found Will had healed himself from the damage her magical sword had inflicted.