What’s my mother’s is mine.
My mouth falls open as I look into Gage Oliver’s eyes.
“No angel in Heaven, no devil in Hell?” The idea of a laugh puffs from me.
“Hold onto your wings,” I tell him. “Because I’m about to stop you in your fire-breathing tracks.”
I pull him close and press a desperate kiss to his lips, last one, and my heart aches, my spirit is crushed within me as I linger.
The beat of hooves comes hard and fast in this direction, and I pull back and nod.
“It’s time,” I say.
A pair of wild horses, the finest celestial steeds, pale as death, shine iridescent as they charge their way over.
Gage shakes his head slowly as if trying to put the pieces together.
“My mother’s horses,” I say. “For now they belong to me. What’s hers is mine.” I nod with assurance. “They took Chloe and me somewhere once. Tonight they’ll transport us exactly where we need to be.” I take him by the hand and pull him in their direction. “The exact place you need to be. The nexus of the beginning, where the answers lie—where they wait for us—where they’ve waited for you all along.”
Gage and I hop onto the mammoth beasts, and I lead the charge. The dark navy of the sky recedes to an airy, ethereal shade of blue. My eyes close as I command the steed beneath me, the wind, my mother herself, to lead me where the answers lie.
There is one pinpoint of time where it all shakes out, and that is where we must go. The window is quickly closing to prove to Gage that all he believes is fiction. It’s here upon us, and if I fail now, I fail forever. I don’t just fail Gage but my people, our people.
The horses drum against the sands of time until we find ourselves on the sparkling shores of Ahava. The scent of lilacs dusts the air, the scent of my mother’s skin. I see the Falls of Virtue, the lake as blue and clear as my mother’s eyes. The white water hits the glacier blue pools below, and cobalt blue butterflies bigger than my hand flutter in and out of its mist. In the distance the verdant Elysian Field looks soft, like the fur of an exotic animal, so very resplendent as it goes on for miles. Soft explosions of light bloom over the lawn as loved ones come to greet those entering paradise for the very first time, and it’s a sight to behold. A reunion of the ages.
And then I see him from afar, tall and stately, gorgeous as a sunrise, Marshall.
My heart warms, and I feel safe as if in some way I needed his assurance.
I’m here, Marshall. I made it. And you helped me get here. Now tell me what to do—where to go. Show me how to save Gage. Give me a hint in the least.
The surly Sector doesn’t acknowledge me. Can he see me? I suppose that’s not for me to know.
Marshall looks in this general direction, shining in all of his celestial glory before turning his head and nodding to his right.
Gage and I plod steadily in that direction, and with every step closer, our bodies along with the steeds that have transported us, grow as transparent as glass.
A laugh bubbles through me. Surely there are no secrets in paradise, and then it hits me. This is my doing, my secret, my invasion, my mission, and it will most certainly be my success.
The horses slow as we hit a field just shy of an empty amphitheater, and there we find them. My mother and the devil himself, Demetri. Nearby a horse whinnies, and it’s a horse I know well. Shaddai, that silver steed that has both frightened and confounded me on occasions. It’s the horse my mother was riding when she miscarried with Rory. It was the horse that Rory had with her on Paragon the first time I saw her.
My mother is glorious in her infernal beauty, her hair of spun gold, her eyes the lightest sapphires. And Demetri—he looks comely, a far more sharpened and refined version than the one we’re treated to on Paragon. If my mother were here—Lizbeth, she would fall down and worship him. A part of me wishes she were here to experience the real him, the one without the smiling mask.
I slide off the magnificent beast who transported me to this heavenly plane, and Gage does the same. I take his hand, looking up at this glassy version of him, clear and malleable as water. We shine like silver, and I can’t help but smile. I nod to him as I lead us into their midst.
My mother says something to Demetri and he winces. Their voices grow heated.
“You’re no fool.” My mother glowers at him. “I take that back. You are very much a fool.”
Every last part of me wants to applaud her. Instead, I give Gage’s hand a squeeze and look over at him while biting down a smile.
He nods my way. All right, Skyla. I’ll give it to you. This is quite a show you’ve got for us. Come on. He navigates us closer still. I don’t want to miss a minute.
Trust me, I say. You will never forget this.
I hope.
Demetri’s expression grows serious. “That I am. I let you slip through my fingers, and now look where we are. Warring for people neither of us cares for.”
Gage’s fingers cinched over mine as he said it. I was hoping there would be explosive revelations, but to have them so soon in our visit is spectacular.
“I care for them,” my mother quickly corrects. “They belong to me. God has his armies, and now I have charges of my own. It’s a privilege to serve the Master, and with an entire league at my distribution.”
Demetri nods. He looks cold, angry even. “Those in the celestial high seat will govern the land, and I with you as their celestial cohort.”
My mother doesn’t look impressed. “We both know it will be Sector Marshall by my side.”
Demetri kicks a rock and it lands clear over into the lake. “What is this fascination you have with Dudley? I can no more stand to hear his name than I can see you groveling for his affection.”
Gage huffs a laugh that dies in his chest. I can relate.
My mother laughs loud and sharp. “Oh my dear Demetri. I’m not groveling for anyone’s affection. Perhaps you’re conveying your own actions as of late?” A delicious smile curves her lips. “Nonetheless, he is a specimen. Perhaps I shall gift him to my sweet daughter,” she sings the words like a song. “I know I shall.” That smile on her face says so many things, but mostly it says get ready for the zinger. “My daughter shall bear children with a nearly perfect Celestra, with a perfect Sector as well. She will create a new form of Nephilim, a sublime creation that will surpass the powers, the authority gifted to that unwarranted breed.”
Demetri growls out a laugh. “Then perhaps I shall arrange a Fem for her to have children with as well? Someone handsome, irresistible, the very one I choose to rule over my people.”
I look to Gage, but he’s staring intently over at them, his face stern and studious, his emotions beginning to percolate. I sense a rage building so I don’t say a word.
My mother sighs with exasperation. “Demetri.” She closes her eyes a good long while. “We’ve fallen so far so fast and it’s all your wicked doing.”
He reaches over and caresses her cheek. “We could have it all back. Just say the word and we will end this futile game now. I will rule with you. The Counts will form the government of the domain given to you. And Celestra will watch over the souls of those still living.”
I blow out a slow breath. Come on, Demetri. You may have all eternity to discuss the inner workings of this celestial disaster, but we do not. Cut to the quick. And for the sake of all that is holy, give us the smoking gun.
My mother shoots daggers at him with her eyes before exerting a heavy drawn-out sigh.
“Your great deception won’t work,” she tells him.
“Of course, it will,” he so smugly informs her. “It will work so well, it will deceive your child as well.”
My jaw unhinges. My hand goes slack, but Gage tightens his grip over me just the way he used to when we were together. Gage was always supporting me. Holding me up, giving me strength.
Demetri examines my mother, and you can see his adoration of her alive in his eyes. “We will be family, bonded by
our grandchildren. How very wonderful will it be. Perhaps the granddaughter we share will become the next in line after your own daughter? Her powers will know no limit—her strength only magnified because of your own.”
My mother scoffs. “That fabled granddaughter won’t see the light of day should you forge her into existence. Nothing or no one will stand in the formation of my daughter’s pure lineage—nor the lineage she shall hand down. My child will have a daughter herself. And that child will be the fruit of a pure union. There will be no seed of wickedness in her—much like the Garden of Eden prior to the moment you cast a shadow in it.”
Demetri inches his head back. “You’ve planned this, haven’t you?” His left eye comes shy of winking. “You planted the seed in my soul to usher the angels to the daughters of men so that you could form a new people, one that will work under you for all eternity. Your own underlings—your own people. That would make you akin to the Master, now wouldn’t it?”
“How grandiose your own delusions are. You caused the plague; I’m simply tempering it. I was gifted authority over the fates of humans, and these beasts are no different.”
“Ah, but they are. After all, you’re hand-selecting them for your private service—the inner circle of which will be those born of your own bloodline. You have plans for these people, these beasts as you call them. They will be your treasured possessions.”
“Yes.” My mother’s expression hardens. “And your delusion—how very cruel to cause your own child to believe he should be a gatekeeper in Hell.”
His chest rumbles with a laugh. “You have extracted my deepest thoughts, and, of course, you would be accurate.”
“Demetri, the Master needs no such thing,” she tells him. “The agony your child will go through to think he could be separated from the ones he loves is unfathomable.”
Yes! My soul takes a moment to revel in the beauty of my mother’s words. Did you hear that, Gage? My God, if this doesn’t convince you, nothing will.
But Gage doesn’t move, his eyes never leave the two of them. His jaw squares out, and he looks as if he’s about to commit an interstellar homicide.
Demetri’s lips curl at the tips. “Separated from your daughter—their children. One of which you’ve all but killed.”
My mother gives another long blink. “Don’t charge me with that. The human body can’t be trusted.”
“No.” Demetri gives Shaddai a pat over his side. “It cannot. Neither can those who reside in them.”
She takes a deep breath and holds it. He’s trying her in ways only Demetri can.
Persevere, Mother. Persevere. Nail that bastard to a celestial wall. It’s what you’re best at. Hell, you’re damn good at it.
She nods his way. “Your deception, though cruel, will be a powerful promoter of your nefarious will. No doubt your son will move celestial mountains to gain eternity with his beloved.” She bows her head to the ground. “You have proven to be a worthy opponent.”
“Did you ever doubt my love for you?”
“No.” She lifts her chin. “I doubted mine for you.”
She takes off past him, past us, and walks on water until she’s taken her seat with those Sectors who work shoulder to shoulder with her. She is done with Demetri. And judging by that look on his face, he doesn’t look too pleased with it.
Demetri gives another rock a kick and it shoots off like a comet.
Gage takes a bold step forward. “Angry, Father?”
Demetri’s eyes widen as he looks our way and the curtain of anonymity is lifted.
I should know, it was me who lifted it.
A roar emits from Demetri, a fire in his eyes, a ripe anger in his face that I have never seen before. No sooner does he hold his hand up at us than I wake with a start—in my bed on Paragon. It’s dark, save for a seam of silver light streaming in through the split in the window.
Logan pulls me close.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Skyla.”
The moonlight lights up his features, his bare chest, and I cup his cheek with my hand.
“What’s the verdict?” he whispers.
I curl up in his arms as Logan pulls me into his lap.
“I think we just took down the enemy once and for all.”
A smile flickers on his lips. “I always knew we would.”
23
Gage
There have been some dreams I’ve wished were realities, and there have been some realities I wished were dreams.
My lids beg to stay closed as I do my best to rouse, alone in my cold bed.
My time with Skyla comes back to me in snatches at first, then clear as a celestial bell.
“Shit.” I wipe my face down before grabbing my phone in hopes to see a message from her confirming it was real. It was, I’m sure of it. But there’s no message from Skyla. No message from Logan.
A heavy sigh expels from me.
Now what?
Believe it?
For all I know it was a mindbender designed by her mother—some warped dream to give Celestra the advantage. There’s no way in hell I’m running with it. Not with some serious investigation to back it.
I’m pretty sure I know Demetri will laugh in my face if I present him with it. He is programmed to deny the crap out of any and everything.
But then, why refuse him the right?
My feet hit the floor, and it feels like the very first time. Something has shifted, my world is about to be cemented or hurled into space—toward my wife, our people.
I glance around the room, the room I shared with Skyla back when it was holy. Then with Chloe when it was damned.
Hell, I feel bad about it, too. Yes, she did so much crap, but I killed her as efficiently as she killed Logan, if not worse.
But that was nothing compared to the hell I put Skyla through.
I grab my keys and head straight to Demetri’s. Zero hesitation. Zero regret.
The lights are on. His overgrown house is softened with a blanket of fog. It looks peaceful, idyllic, so very deceptive. How I wish this would go in the direction Skyla wants it to. But this is me. That alone assures me it most likely won’t.
I park right next to the porch and head on up, banging on the door before walking right in. Demetri doesn’t lock the damn door. He’d relish a thief. He’d probably eat the sucker for breakfast.
“Demetri?” I belt it out. “Where are you?”
The sound of footsteps quickening comes from upstairs, and soon enough he’s trotting down the stairs, cinching his robe, his hair looser than he wears it during the day. It’s amazing he puts so much effort into playing the part of a human. I’m shocked he doesn’t sleep upside down in the closet.
“What’s this about?” He squints my way, his lying eyes studying me for a moment. “Let’s take this to the grand room.” He nods as we enter the enormous room to our right and flames roar to life in the fireplace. He strides before me and heads for the bar.
“Too early for a drink?”
“None for me. But you might need one.” A smile flinches on my lips. “Let’s cut the bullshit. What’s going on? Was it real?”
Those dark eyes of his steady over mine. I can smell his cloying cologne lingering in the air, and it makes me want to choke.
“Was what real, son?”
“Don’t call me that.” I take a few steps in his direction. “You were there, weren’t you? I saw you and Candace in Ahava talking about all of this crap the two of you concocted.” All of the angst, the heartache, the anger I’ve been bottling up bursts to the surface. “You did this to me.” I stagger in his direction. “You designed me, but you couldn’t program me—the Almighty doesn’t allow it. You needed to follow the rules, so free will it was. And look where that landed us. Right smack-dab in the middle of a grand delusion.”
He takes a deep breath, his chin rising, features hardening just before those smiling eyes take their haughty position.
“Gage. It sounds to me you have indeed just exp
erienced a grand delusion—by the enemy. We knew this day would come.” He heads my way, drink in hand. “They will break your back, crush your soul, and obliterate your psyche. They will do what they must, son. It’s painful to witness our Nephilim brothers in the throes of death. But this is the only way. We need to cement this victory, Gage.” He takes another step closer, and this time it feels like a threat. “We are moments—moments, from acquiring every last Nephilim under your leadership. And when that happens, it will be impossible for Celestra or any other Faction outside of the Countenance to prosper until Kingdom come. This serum, it’s the holy grail. It’s all we need. I give it less than a week. And once we have our Nephilim family restored under your crowning glory, we will host a heavenly feast. We will show our people that they were right to side with us, with you. And all will be satisfied.”
“Especially you.” I hold his gaze hard and cold, trying to read this monster before me. “Tell me right now. Were you there in Ahava talking to Candace about deceiving me?”
He needles those dark, soulless eyes into mine as his lips curve a notch.
“No,” he says it morbidly slow, his expression growing sober along with it.
“Liar,” I roar as I knock the glass out of his hand, and it flies into the fireplace, bursting to life like a Molotov cocktail.
I’m halfway to the door before he materializes before me, fully dressed in a suit, his hair slicked back, looking every bit the demon he is.
“They’re gone.” The words come from him with his requisite calm.
“Who’s gone?”
“The mighty three. Barnabas, Belshazzar, and Micah.” He glances to the floor, and for the first time I see the shadow of defeat on his face. His eyes meet up with mine with a renewed fire, and he’s right back to being hard and angry. “Banish the thought, bastard.”
“You’re the bastard in this equation. I think we both know it.”
I push my way past him, and he appears next to the oversized front doors.
“I’ve called the Valkyrie. They’re in position for battle.” He lifts his head a notch, and there’s a threat in his eyes as if daring me to cross him.
Roar of the Lion : Celestra Forever After 7 Page 50
