Dark Angel Box Set

by Hanna Peach

  “Jordan. Thank me later,” he said. “Move.”

  Jordan clutched her hand and took off down another stony wall corridor, half dragging Alyx as the wailing echoed around them. Her calf wouldn’t let her move any faster. He looked down at her leg and grimaced. Before she could protest, he swept her feet out from under her and had her in his arms. Their eyes locked for just a moment.

  Jordan focused his attention forward as he ran, Alyx clinging to him with her arms around his neck. As they turned another corner Alyx glanced back over his shoulder. The walls were undulating towards them in a wave, pieces of stone and rock exploding off, as if some great hooved beasts were thundering under the skin of the rock walls.

  “Through here.” Jordan let Alyx down near a small wooden door about half her height. Where had that come from? The wooden frame cracked as Jordan kicked the door open with his foot. The inside looked like dark nothingness.

  “Really?”

  “Go, dammit.”

  Behind them something roared. The ground shook. Alyx jumped into the dark feet first.

  And landed in a field of blood.

  Chapter 31

  No. It wasn’t blood.

  It was a field of poppies. A field filled with so many poppies they covered as far as her eye could see like a sea of blood. They stood perfectly still, no wind to shift them.

  Jordan landed next to her. The door, suspended above them, closed up into nothing.

  “How did you do that?” she asked.

  “No time to explain. We can’t stay here. They’ll find us too easily.”

  “They?”

  Jordan stepped forward and dropped to his knees. Where there was none before, there was now another door, this time round and wooden, lying among the poppies. “Move now, talk later.”

  He opened the door and it revealed another black hole. The sky far off in the distance started to shake and crumble. Alyx didn’t hesitate. She stepped out over the hole and dropped into nothing...

  She landed on a plateau sparsely punctuated by trees, some distance away from a cluster of simple houses, a mountain range in the distance with its snow-capped tips pointing at the sky. Jordan turned to a nearby tree trunk and opened another door. Alyx stepped in without a word...

  They kept moving, fleeing from Michael through DreamScape after DreamScape…

  Through grassy fields…

  The edge of a snaking river…

  The base of a looming golden temple…

  She stepped out from the latest door. Sand crunched under her feet. Soft white waves licked the shoreline beyond a glittering blue ocean.

  “I think we’re alright to stay here for a short while, but not for long,” Jordan said as he closed the door behind them, a smooth, polished surface looking very out of place against a rocky cliff. Then the door wasn’t there anymore.

  Alyx tore her eyes from the water and looked around. The small cove was crowded with white boats and colored sails. Behind the cove soared a steep cliff, on the top of which she could just make out the peak of a turret. Back from the beach, pink and cream houses were arranged like rows of coconut ice. Something seemed very familiar.

  Urielos. Alyx recognized the coastal Seraphim city. She turned to Jordan. “Back there you said ‘they’.”

  “That DreamScape you were trapped in was too powerful to be the work of one seraph, even an Elder as powerful as Michael. I suspect he must be using the powers of other DreamWalkers as well.”

  The idea terrified her. Michael using the other Elders’ powers...

  “Is that even possible?”

  “It’s very possible. The Seraphim can magnify magics by working together, but the Elders keep this secret.”

  What other secrets were the Elders keeping?

  “How did you find me?”

  “I’ve been skimming your dreams since we first met, especially after you fled from Michaelea. I told you, I’m here to help you. You should let me teach you how to escape the DreamScape.”

  Alyx shook her head. “I’m not a DreamWalker. I can’t control the DreamScape.”

  “You don’t need DreamWalker power to influence the DreamScape. The DreamScape exists in your subconscious. Your subconscious is what you can control. I can show you how.”

  “I appreciate you saving me back there, but I don’t even know you. And you’ve just admitted you’ve been stalking my dreams.”

  “I wouldn’t call what I do stalking. More like monitoring.”

  “It’s stalking.”

  “Monitoring. It’s what I do. I help new Freethinkers. I figured that you may need my help since, you know, since you’re too proud to ask for it.”

  Alyx spluttered. “Listen here, Rogue...”

  “Jordan. The name’s Jordan.”

  “Listen here, Jordan, I’m not too proud, I just don’t need your help. I can take care of myself.”

  “I’m not saying you can’t, but,” Jordan placed his hand on her arm, “you don’t have to do everything by yourself.”

  Alyx stared at his hand − firm, strong − and considered what he was offering her. Was he one of the Rogues she could trust? She couldn’t take that risk. She shrugged his hand off. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Just think about it, okay?” He frowned. “What happened to your calf?”

  “I was running from a den. A Darkened sliced me with his sword. It’s not healing.”

  Jordan studied her leg. “It can’t be possible.”

  “What isn’t possible? Tell me.”

  Jordan looked around them as if he suspected that someone might be listening. “Not now. We’ve been in here too long. When you wake, ring the tower of Saint Paul’s Cathedral and meet me there.” He lifted his hand towards her. “This won’t hurt.”

  “What are you doing?” Alyx cried as the world around her started to dissolve.

  “Letting you wake so Michael can’t get you for now. Saint Paul’s Cathedral. I’ll be waiting.”

  Everything faded to white.

  Alyx felt a lumpy mattress under her and a soft pillow under her head. An awareness of a dull throb somewhere on the lower half of her body and someone’s fingers tracing her face.

  She opened her eyes. Israel’s face appeared above her, concern pressing his brows together. “You’re awake.”

  “What happened?” she asked, rubbing her forehead, trying to piece together her last few memories. Everything at the moment was blurry.

  “I was hoping you’d tell me. Last thing I remember, you went into that demon house. I went after you. I reached a window and everything went black. When I woke up we were both lying here on the concrete. You were moaning in your sleep. I moved you to the mattress.”

  The memories came flooding back to her.

  “Michael had me trapped in a DreamScape again.”

  “I tried to wake you but you didn’t respond no matter what I did... Who’s Jordan?”

  Jordan. His face flashed into her mind. She thought about his offer to help her, his offer to teach her to escape the DreamScapes, to tell her the reason why her leg wasn’t healing.

  She realized that Israel was waiting for her to answer him. “Jordan is this Rogue...”

  “Rogue?”

  “A Rogue is a Seraphim who has broken away from their society, someone who lives outside of their rules, outside the Code.”

  “Like you.”

  She realized that she had said their rules, their society, as if she was no longer a part of it. “Yes, a Rogue like me.”

  “You called his name in your sleep.”

  “Jordan is another DreamWalker. He’s been watching me since this whole thing started. He saved me from Michael. He has offered to help train me−”

  “Watching you?” Israel crossed his arms. “A friend of yours, then?”

  “Not really. I’ve only met him once before. I don’t even know him.”

  “But you’re going to let this Jordan train you?”

  Alyx studied him. “Are you angry at me?�
��

  “No, why would I be? Have fun with your little Rogue boyfriend.”

  “What? Israel you’re being− Ow.” As Alyx sat up a sharp pain moved through her leg. She grimaced as she rotated her leg around to study her calf. The tourniquet had been replaced with an off-white linen bandage.

  “It was still bleeding when I woke up.” Israel’s voice was softer now. “I bandaged it using stuff from an old first aid kit I found.”

  Alyx unwrapped the bandage. The bottom layers were soaked with dark blood. Her lips pressed into a line. The wound had started to scab over but wet blood still clung to the cut. She should have been fully healed by now. But she wasn't. She was healing…like a mortal.

  Alyx felt the oppression of fear on her chest...the missing piece of the Amulet, the greater demons gathering at the den, now a flesh wound that wouldn’t heal... “I don’t know why I’m not healing.”

  The last of Israel’s anger faded from his face, replaced with concern. “Maybe it’s a type of magic?”

  “I’ve never heard of such a magic,” her voice cut off as her throat closed with panic.

  “Hey,” he guided her jaw with his fingers until she was looking at him. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll figure it out.”

  No, we can’t. Alyx placed her hands on his chest. “I’m sorry, Israel.” She pulled at the hidden DreamWalker ink at her ribs and pulsed it into him. It didn’t take much. His eyes widened before they closed. He slumped forward into her arms and Alyx eased him down.

  She brushed her lips against his in a goodbye.

  Israel,

  I’m sorry, but there is somewhere I have to go. It’s too dangerous for you to come with me. I know you wouldn’t have let me leave without you.

  I will return. I promise.

  Alyx.

  Chapter 32

  Alyx adjusted the fur cap on her head, a recent creation of hers, and pressed farther into the forest within the Michaelea wards. A bird squawked nearby and she jolted, rustling the leaves around her.

  Stop jumping, she scolded herself. They won’t be expecting you to come back here, so they won’t be on the lookout.

  Alyx pressed aside the leaves in front of her. There was a light on inside Mayrekk’s hut. She was about to move forward when she noticed movement near the entrance. From this angle she couldn’t quite make out who it was. Mayrekk? Alyx moved around through the canopy of leaves to get a better look.

  There were two figures standing outside Mayrekk’s door, facing out at attention. Lightwarriors? What were they doing here? Were they guarding Mayrekk from something? Or guarding him? Did the Elders suspect that Mayrekk helped her? Did she cause him trouble? Alyx gritted her teeth against the flood of guilt that ran through her.

  She didn’t hear him coming up behind her.

  A hand closed over her mouth, another around her, trapping her arms to her side. She started to struggle.

  “Relax, Alyx, it’s me,” a familiar voice whispered in her ear.

  She stopped struggling and the grip around her released. Alyx blinked as she turned around. “Passar?”

  He placed a finger over his mouth and glanced towards Mayrekk’s hut. He motioned for her to follow him. Alyx hesitated. Was this a trap? She followed him but she unsheathed her sabre silently.

  Passar led her farther around the mountain base, away from the city. They were almost to the Hollows when he finally stopped. He glanced around the woods before turning to Alyx. His eyes dropped to the sabre in her hands.

  “I didn’t steal it, Passar. I’m being framed.” The words tumbled out in a rush. She was vaguely aware that her sabre was shaking as she spoke.

  Passar raised his hands in a show of placation. “It’s okay, Alyx. I believe you.”

  “You believe me?”

  “You can put the weapon down.”

  “Are you trying to trick me?”

  Passar looked pained. “Are you really asking me that? I’m not the one brandishing a sword here.”

  “I’m sorry, Passar. But I can’t be too careful.”

  She pointed her sabre down towards the ground but she didn’t sheath it. She eyed Passar’s soris hanging from his belt.

  “What are you doing back here?” He glanced around again. “If they find you...”

  “Is it that bad?”

  His grim expression was answer enough. Passar’s eyes widened when he noticed the bandage around her calf. “What happened to you?”

  “One of the Darkened sliced me with a weapon, but I don’t know what it was. I can’t heal the wound,” Alyx said. “Passar, you should have seen them. Nightmare demons, hate demons…the greater demons that we always thought were just legends. They’re real and they’re here in Saint Joseph and they are congregating. Something is happening, something terrible.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I saw them all myself. We followed them to a house in the Valley.”

  “We?”

  Alyx hesitated before speaking. “I’ve been Guardian-bonded to a mortal.”

  Passar let out a low whistle, his eyes widening. “He must be pretty special.”

  Her eyelashes lowered, her thoughts turning to Israel’s smiling face, causing her body to warm. “He is. Passar, you have to warn the other lightwarriors. Warn them about the greater demons, about their new weapon. Tell them that the Darkened are up to something.”

  “If it’s this big, then I should to go to the Elders.”

  “No. You can’t trust them.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  She bit her lip.

  “Alyx, it’s me. You can tell me.”

  Finally she nodded. “I did break into Elder Michael’s chambers but I didn’t steal anything. While I was there I found a communication thread. In it were maps of a secret Seraphim city and an update on a secret Seraphim army. I don’t know how many of the other Elders are involved. Do you believe me?”

  “Of course I do.”

  Alyx sighed with relief.

  “Let me dig around,” Passar said, “see what I can uncover. I’ll share with you what I find out when it’s safe for me to sneak out of Michaelea. Just tell me where to find you.”

  Alyx drew back, hesitant. “It isn’t safe for you to get involved. What if they catch you? What if they find out you’re helping me?”

  “I’ll be careful, I promise. Alyx, you can’t figure this out on your own. You need help. Let me help you.”

  You can’t do this alone. Alyx took a deep breath and some of the growing anxiety she had been carrying around by herself eased a little. “Okay. Thank you.”

  Chapter 33

  The small studio apartment brought back so many memories for Israel. He stood at the foot of the bed looking at the painting of a sandy beach hanging on the far wall. He bought that for Adere at the el Souq markets. They had talked often of going away to the beach together. For some reason they had never made it there. What was he doing back here?

  “Hello, stranger,” her familiar voice came from behind him, cool and clear as a bell.

  Israel spun on his heel. Adere was sitting, stoic and pale like a ghost, against the faded lemon love seat. Her light hair spilled over one shoulder, her thin arms stretched along the top of the seat. Her petite features were just as he remembered. There was no mossy skin, no protruding horns, no jagged teeth. She looked human. Israel found that he couldn’t speak.

  “Have you been looking for me?” she asked and stood, her thin silk shift skimming over her long, lean body. She walked towards him, fluid, like a dancer. A part of him wanted desperately to run from her, but a part of him wanted to stay.

  “Adere? Is that really you?”

  She stopped before him, close enough that he could feel her breath on his chest. “Of course, my love.”

  “But your face, it’s...but it can’t be. You were Darkened.”

  “It’s really me. Oh Israel, you don’t know what it’s like to be a prisoner in your own body, having your own memo
ries used against you, having to witness everything but being powerless to stop it. The only time I can gain some control back is when the demon is asleep. I’ve been watching the demon use her powers. It’s how I’ve been able to slip into your DreamScape. She doesn’t know I’m here.”

  “Why should I believe you?”

  “Look at my face, Israel. Do you see any signs of a demon?” She grabbed his hand and pulled his fingers across the creamy skin of her pale cheek.

  “No.”

  She pressed her body against his, her fingers fluttering against his chest like little butterflies. Her voice lowered to a shaky hush. “You have to help me, Israel. You’re my only hope.”

  “What are you talking about?” He wanted to turn away from her but...he couldn’t.

  She peered up at him through lowered lashes. “Do you remember, Israel, all the good times we had when we lived here together? You and I.” Her hands found his stomach under his shirt. He gasped at how cold her fingers were but he didn’t push them away. He couldn’t push them away. “Do you remember, we would stay in bed all night and all the next day? We could have that again.”

  “What do you want?”

  “Do you still want me?” Her hands traveled down below his stomach. He grabbed her wrists, jerking his hips away.

  “Adere, seriously, what do you want from me?”

  She looked pained, then her face melted into a dreamy wistfulness. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw it was you last night. I knew you had been looking for me. Still being a hero. My hero. You haven’t changed a bit, my love.” Adere pulled her hands out of his grip and cupped his face. “Israel, there’s a way to turn me back. To make me wholly human again.”

  “No. Alyx said there’s no way.”

  “Alyx? Is that her name? That Seraphim you were with?”

  Israel didn’t answer. He didn’t feel right talking to Adere about Alyx.

  “She’s lying to you, Israel. There is a way.”

  “She would never lie to me.”

  “She may not lie, but she may be wrong. Her Elders, they lie to her, don’t they?”