by KC Bellinger
The twins nodded.
Camille continued, “Well, Whitney killed my family, with help from her friends. Now I need a new family.” She reached for May’s arm. “We could be best friends.”
May tucked her arms deep into the cloak.
“She already has a best friend. Me!” Jasper said bravely.
“Of course, we could be like triplets. Won’t that be fun?” She reached for Jasper, attempting to take him out of my arms. “I won’t harm you, I promise.”
“Now, Whitney!” Tresian hollered.
I threw the twins up into the sky with the aid of Neetah. The angels caught them effortlessly.
Camille’s face twisted in anger. “I will destroy your family,” she threatened. “Starting with you.” She twirled her fingers counter-clockwise, pulling the light breeze into an electrical wind storm the size of a small dog. Quickly, it grew until she was hidden behind it.
I looked around frantically, taking a step back. My foot tapped on something metal. I didn’t feel like ripping her head off anymore—something in me softened. I felt bad for Camille, but she needed to be destroyed or at least contained. Glancing down, I kicked off the metal lid to Dustyn’s old water well. Many demons were trapped down there. Would it hold an immortal Hour-gone-evil?
I started mumbling the paralyzing curse Dustyn made me recite on a weekly basis for years—the same curse I used to trap Jaiten. Dustyn would be proud.
“What are you doing?” Camille asked as I walked closer to her and the storm.
“I’m sorry,” I told her, “your life has been so difficult.”
“Don’t patronize me!” A faint boom of thunder rumbled between her hands. “If I let this go, it’ll destroy everything in its path.”
“What do you want, Camille?” I asked gently. “Would you like to join my family?”
“Don’t give me any of your bullshit.” She started backing away.
I needed to be within reaching distance so I could trap her in the well. “Stop, please sit with me and tell me your story,” I pleaded. I sat on a boulder a foot away from the well.
“Seriously?” The storm shivered, losing its intensity.
I nodded.
“This changes nothing.” Bringing the shrunken storm to her lips, she blew it out. It rustled the nearby trees and then was gone. She took a seat by me and looked bewildered. With her arms crossed over her chest and her lower lip trembling, she didn’t look so menacing. She may be older than me, but somehow she still clung to her child-like qualities.
“Why don’t we call it a truce for today, and tomorrow you can attempt to destroy us.”
“Don’t mock me.”
“Don’t take me for an idiot. I can rip your head off your body right now. There is no way you could survive that.”
“Fine.” Camille sighed.
I continued the curse under my breath.
“The Strongs said they found me, but I think they kidnapped me from my parents. I don’t remember anything before them. My angel found me and tried to free me, but they killed him with the quartz spear. That’s how I became immortal—his immortality transferred to me. They didn’t realize that would happen, they just wanted me free from any other ties. I knew I had power because I could manipulate the air around me. I think that’s an Hour’s trait, but I didn’t know how to do anything else.” Camille dropped her head.
She looked vulnerable like a good hug would make her all better. I doubted any amount of physical touch would change what was ingrained in her. She’d never stop until she destroyed everything I loved, and I knew it. So, when I had two lines of the incantation left to say, I took her hand kindly as she continued her story.
“The Strongs made me focus on the sky elements. I guess that’s how I got so good at controlling the atmosphere, I’ve had plenty of time to play with it. They made me think it was me changing the weather because I messed with it so much. I guess they lied.”
“Please forgive me, Camille,” I said soothingly.
“For what?” Confusion spread across her face. Her eyes scanned the ground.
Before she could react, I pushed her into the well and said the last of the spell.
“Whitney,” her voice echoed in my mind, “what about the other angels?”
“You said there weren’t any other angels,” I yelled into the cavernous hole. I didn’t know she could still communicate once she was trapped in the well ... even if it was telepathic.
“I know where they are hiding them.”
“You’re lying!”
“If you leave me down here, you’ll never know.”
“You wouldn’t tell me anyway. If they are out there, I’ll find them!” I tuned her out, replaced the metal lid, and rolled the boulder over the top. I knew she couldn’t get out, but I never wanted that well to be used again. No one deserved to be trapped in stagnant and demon-infested water, but my family comes first. That was the most important thing Dustyn taught me.
Chapter 34
I ran to where Arwyn fell, but to my surprise, she was gone. I scanned the trees and sky for a sign of someone, but they were empty. I ran down the path to the cabin to find Hewitt on the porch swing with the twins.
Justin leaned against a post, but the angels and Arwyn were missing.
“Whitney,” Hewitt greeted me at the edge of the path. “Thank you for protecting the twins.”
“Uh, how much do you know?” I knew Dustyn kept a lot of secrets from him.
He chuckled. “I’ve pieced everything together from what the kids and your ‘friend’ told me.”
I was tired of everyone assuming Justin was more than just a friend.
“Are we safe now? Is that girl gone?”
I nodded. “Where are the others?”
“The kids said there were three angels that helped.” Well, sorta. We still weren’t sure what Arwyn was.
“But I haven’t seen them. Of course, I never saw Dustyn’s angel. Was he one of them?”
I didn’t want to touch the subject of Dustyn and Tresian or the possibility Hewitt wasn’t their father. “Yes, and I believe one of our other companions is May’s angel.”
Hewitt ran his fingers through his thinning hair. “Will he take her away from me?”
“Oh, no, definitely not. I wouldn’t be surprised if he stayed here to guide and protect her and Jasper.”
“Why Jasper?” he asked suspiciously.
I bit my lip and looked away. “He’s not an Hour. Is there something I need to know? Does he have magical abilities?” Crap!
I shrugged, but he knew I was keeping something from him.
“Well, at least everyone is safe, and that’s what is important for now. We will continue this conversation later.”
We walked back, and Hewitt eyed Jasper intently. I patted his arm and smiled up at him. His shoulders dropped and welcomed the hug I gave him.
***
Hewitt took the kids back to the house. We told them we would join them for lunch and then head back to school. I needed some time to say goodbye to Dustyn and Justin opted to stay with me. I think Hewitt scared him a bit.
I left Justin on the front porch overlooking the valley and walked behind the cabin. I found a patch of daisies and picked the largest flower. They were always in bloom. Even in the winter, they bloomed below the snow.
“Hello, Dustyn,” I called into the cabin. I wasn’t sure this would work since I didn’t have her petal and leaf pendant with me like I did when I called Mable. But I remembered when Dustyn had talked to Haesel before she’d crossed over. All she’d needed was a daisy. I think it was an Hour thing since Haesel was also marked by an angel.
“Whitney.” She pulled me into a tight hug.
I stood there, unsure of what to do. My arms lay limp at my sides. Hug her, dammit! I buried my face in her shoulder and cried. For so long, I’d held grudges and blamed her for all the bad luck thrown at me, and all she’d done was love me. She’s been gone and bad stuff still happens to me, besides she was not there to
funnel all my anger on. “I’m sorry,” I confessed. “We could have been so much closer if I wasn’t so stupid.”
“I don’t blame you. I’m glad you could blame someone other than yourself as I had.” Dustyn motioned for me to sit.
There wasn’t much in the one-room cabin. A small couch and a rocking chair made up the front part of the house. The kitchen consisted of a few cabinets, a sink, and a round table with a couple of chairs. A wood stove and a bed separated the cozy room. I felt Jaiten. I smelled him on the couch. I knew he’d stayed here when Dustyn was pregnant and unable to leave the house.
My heart plummeted. I didn’t know the details of what he did to Tresian or Dustyn, but I knew it was horrific. I broke down and told her everything that had happened since leaving for Timber Grove.
“What do I do? How can I be with Rhys if he’s an angel?” I asked.
“I bound my soul to the cabin because when my spirit moves on Tresian would have a new Hour to guide. I’d lose him.”
Even as a ghost, I could feel her desperation.
“Your situation is different. Your angel’s obligation is to the relics, so as long as they are protected, it may be possible to be together.”
“How do I find out?”
“You have a whole lifetime to figure it out. Besides, since you are soulmates, eventually your paths will cross again,” her wise words were soothing.
I felt a need to help her and Tresian, but I didn’t know how. “I had a dream about Mom. She said to ask the angels how to release your bond so you can move on from this world.”
“This is not an existence I’d wish on anybody, but Tresian and I are together. I can touch him as I touched you, but it’s for a brief time only.”
There was one more question burning at the back of my mind. “Did you love Daddy?”
“Yes, I loved Hewitt, but not in the same way I love Tresian. You know now what it’s like to love—there’s a difference between enduring, affectionate, and unconditional, but sometimes it’s hard to tell them apart.”
“But how could you leave Tresian all alone up here? I needed him, too!” I whined.
“I know, but we both needed to be human for a while, and the twins needed their father.” Dustyn shimmered.
I’d forgotten she wasn’t really here anymore but stuck between realms. “Who is their father?”
She didn’t answer me before fading out completely.
There were footsteps coming up the driveway. Out of the front window, I saw Arwyn limping and being supported by the two angels. I ran out the door and down the two steps to see if they needed help. “What happened?”
Arwyn held out her leg. The missing piece of the spear pierced through her thigh. They had torn the pant leg off and the skin was black around the puncture.
“What do we do?” I asked.
“We cut off the leg,” Killian replied sadly. “Infection is setting in, we have to remove it before it spreads. This isn’t a normal puncture wound. There’s something laced in the quartz, maybe poison or a curse. The sword was created to destroy.”
All three of them looked bleak. Surely something else could be done.
“Tresian, do you know of anything?”
“Sorry, Whit. Like I said earlier, I know nothing about the relics.”
“If only I could talk to Rhys—he’d know what to do.”
“Well, we can’t,” Arwyn spat. “Where is the little bitch? I’m going to kill her!”
“She’s trapped in Dustyn’s well. You’ll never see her again. The only other person who knows how to dispose of or retrieve demons from the well is Dustyn.”
“From your book, right, Whit?”
“Yes, why?”
“Are the relics mentioned in them? Do you think Dustyn would know?” Tresian offered.
“Of course!”
I ran to the back of the cabin and picked another daisy. “Dustyn, are you still here?” A lilac-infused wind pulled my hair playfully and followed me into the cabin.
Her specter was flimsy until she caught sight of her angel.
The others caught up quickly, and after they set Arwyn on the couch, Tresian was at Dustyn’s side. Their love was palpable. I knew that love, and I missed the hell out of Rhys.
“Dusty, do you remember anything that can heal a wound from the spear?” Tresian asked.
“Yes, I do, but it only works for angels, and maybe humans. I don’t know if it would work on a demon.”
“I’m not a demon!”
Dustyn shrugged. “Then it can’t hurt, can it? All you need is a few drops of blood from an angel into the wound.”
“Wait. I could’ve saved Penn?” I cried. Damn, if only I’d known. If I only read the books instead of just looking at the pictures. I felt my eyes burn. Rhys or Azu could have given their blood.
“Did it penetrate his heart?”
I nodded, so they couldn’t hear my breaking heart.
“Then, no, it wouldn’t have worked. That was a fatal wound. What your friend has here is just a flesh wound.” Dustyn seemed to think for a moment, then continued, “But there may be some side effects.”
“Like what?”
“I’m not sure, but there’s typically a consequence when using the relics. So, be aware.”
“I’ll do it,” Killian volunteered. He grabbed the knife strapped to Arwyn’s boot and nicked his finger.
A few droplets fell into the open wound. The skin faded from black to an ashen-gray. Once a tinge of pink was showing through, Killian pulled out the spear shard. We watched in amazement as it slowly healed.
“Thank God it worked,” Killian whispered.
“Why the kind words, Killian? You’ve never been fond of me. Why so eager to help …” Arwyn’s voice trailed off as she gazed into Killian’s eyes. “Oh, shit.”
Killian’s face softened and a goofy smile spread across his face.
“How long have you felt this way?”
“Since the first day I set my eyes on you, but I thought you were The Protector’s. I did everything in my power to stay away from you, but you were always there!” Killian’s voice hitched. “And now, I feel a connection. It’s like you absorbed my emotions through the drops of blood. I can detect yours too.” Gingerly, he took her hand. “I feel your frustration and anger, and it’s not just from Camille. You’ve been hurt a lot to feel so much pain.” He cocked his head and studied her leg. Cautiously, he laid his hand on the wound. “But your leg is just a dull ache to me. What do you feel?”
“Not a damn thing!”
We all laughed. Killian wrapped his arm around Arwyn, and although she slapped his hand away, her hair and cheeks were cotton candy pink. The relaxed atmosphere had us swapping stories. A mixture of love and friendship filled the room. I don’t think any of us had been this vulnerable in a long time, and it felt good.
“Now comes the hard part, guys.” The room became sullen when I spoke. “Who’s staying and who’s going back to Timber Grove?”
Epilogue
My Dearest Rhys,
It has been a month since the last time I touched you, and the days haven’t gotten any easier. I found the feather today tucked under my pillow. You’ll have to try harder if you are trying to hide them from me. I’m assuming you found Azu by the blue iridescence that lined the edges. They are the only things keeping me going sometimes.
Julia was right about Justin and me, and no, there’s nothing between us. In fact, Justin started dating a girl named Jessie. We work well together and have the same goals in helping the homeless. We developed free food banks with the leftover fruits and vegetables from the church’s gardens.
There are more kids showing up at the church without adults. They’re arriving almost daily and we are running out of room. Daddy purchased the land behind the church grounds to house them.
Our little group is still trying to find the angels. The demon population is becoming unsettled again without you here. Arwyn does her best, but with Killian in Aster and yo
u being gone, she is losing her touch with them.
I miss you like crazy, but I understand why I’m here now—what I need to do. Come back to me after you find Penn. Please.
My soul is forever yours.
I didn’t need to sign it. I balled up the letter and threw it into the fire. Taking the feather, I compared it to the others I’d collected over the past few weeks. This one was different: larger, thicker, and heavier. The shaft bulged in the middle, and after playing with it for a minute, it opened. Inside was a bluestone.
The amazonite stone.
To Be Continued….
Books By This Author
Sent Marked By Angels book 1
Marked by an angel. Desired by demons. Desperate to be left alone.
Dustyn Walker has never seen an angel, but the birthmark on her back and the magical abilities she’s suddenly gained are undeniably celestial. After a series of earth-alternating events, a large population of the earth died, and other-worldly creatures roamed freely. When she realized no one else in her town could see them, she retreated to her families’ cabin in the mountains.
Returning for a supply run and to visit her friend, Dustyn quickly senses a change in town. Something is amiss with the demon activity. When a master demon returns to check on his descendants, Dustyn gets caught up in the family drama. Between aiding lost souls, helping an ungrateful teen, and surviving dinner with the mayor, her heart starts to soften for a snarky angel. Can she slip out unharmed and live the life she desperately desires, or will she be forced to aid her merciless enemy?
Given - A Marked By Angels novella
Step back in time and witness Simeon and Haesel's love story.
