Dark Angel Box Set

by Hanna Peach

  “Israel, Israel,” the Elder said. “Let me up. We are not enemies.”

  Israel applied a little more pressure to his throat. “Funny, that. But I don’t believe you.”

  “Look around you, Israel. See how my guards are at ease. No one is attacking you.”

  Israel narrowed his eyes in suspicion. If this was some kind of trick to get him to take his eyes off the old man... Israel flicked his gaze up quickly before returning to the Elder’s amused face. The old man was right. All the guards that had threatened him so vehemently before were now standing at ease.

  Vix came over and placed her hand on Israel’s shoulders. “It’s okay, Israel. Let him up.”

  Israel couldn’t believe his ears. “You...you were in on this, too?”

  “Israel, what’s going on?” Alyx’s face appeared as a ghost by Vix.

  Of course. Alyx would have been pulled into his mind when the danger was becoming apparent.

  “I’m okay, Alyx,” said Israel, ignoring the strange look Vix was giving him. “Apparently, it was just a test.” Israel let an edge of sarcasm lace his voice as he glared at Vix.

  “What? Where are you? Who is testing you?”

  “I’m in China.”

  “China? Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”

  Israel gritted his teeth. “Not exactly talking to you, remember?”

  “I’m just trying to make sure you’re not killed, Israel.” Then she mumbled, “You don’t have to be such a bastard about it.”

  Israel rolled his eyes. “I’m okay. Vix is here. Can you yell at me later? I’m in the middle of something.”

  Alyx opened her mouth but she halted. “This conversation isn’t finished.”

  Israel nodded. “No. It isn’t. When I get back, we need to talk.”

  Alyx looked startled but she nodded and disappeared.

  “Talking to someone?” Vix asked, an eyebrow raised in question.

  Israel frowned. How to explain…

  “He has been Guardian-bonded,” the man said without a hint of surprise to his voice. “His Guardian would have been alerted to the danger he faced and was reaching out to him to determine what was happening...this Alyx, he must be an old and powerful Seraphim to have been chosen as your Guardian.”

  “She is a warrior,” said Israel. “A young warrior. And she’s plenty good at kicking ass even without her own magic, thank you.”

  The Elder’s eyes widened. “Bonded to a warrior? Without a gift?”

  “No offense, but from what I’ve heard of your gifted Seraphim, they wouldn’t know how to swing a sword to save their own precious lives.”

  The Elder frowned before an incredible look of sadness tore at his features. “Then it is true. The Elders have completely forgotten our purpose here.”

  Israel wanted to ask so many questions. What was their true purpose? How long ago had this Elder been a part of their society? Why did he leave?

  The Elder cleared his voice. “Israel, perhaps you can let me up now?”

  “Oh, right.” Israel rolled off the Elder and up to his feet. “So why the show?” Israel asked as he held out a hand to help the Elder up. “And why the hell did you have to rip this shirt?”

  “I wanted to feel where your heart was placed. But I didn’t have to. The scar across where your heart should have been is proof that it was not in a mortal position. The test was to see how you would react and also to check that you had been bonded.”

  “Why didn’t you just ask me to take your stupid test?”

  “I had to see what you would do under pressure, Israel. If your gifts were not known to you yet, which I believed they wouldn’t be, then you had to be placed under pressure for them to take over instinctively. Besides, you needed to feel real danger to activate your bond.”

  “Gifts? What are you talking about?”

  “Look at the course you just undertook,” the man swept his arm out towards the deadly hole. “Do you really think that you could have succeeded if you were fully human?”

  Israel studied the hole. It did look impossibly long and the safe bamboo platforms were tiny and unstable and placed inhumanly far apart. Was it possible that this man was telling the truth? He had gifts?

  Israel shook his head. “But it’s just parkour. I was trained. Anyone trained in gymnastics or parkour could have done it.”

  The man smiled. “I have lived here a long time and I have not seen one mortal accomplish what you have just done.” He glanced at Vix. “The only other person who has successfully crossed that test is standing before us.”

  Vix. Vix also succeeded. Israel felt his insides begin to rumble. No, it couldn’t be possible. How could it be that the skilled part of him was thanks to the cursed part of his blood? His demon blood. Israel felt his face contort. “No.” He shook his head. “I refuse to believe that I succeeded because I am…a half-breed.”

  The man’s face softened as he studied Israel. “Your blood does not make who you are, Israel.”

  Israel barely heard him. His mind was swirling with bitter thoughts. It was only when he felt a firm hand on this shoulder that his eyes came back into focus on the Elder standing in front of him.

  “Come,” the Elder said. “I can see there is much to talk about.”

  * * *

  Vix, Israel and the Elder were sitting cross-legged on the matted floor in a simple room in the monastery. The only furniture in the room was a small table that sat low between them and an old-looking wooden chest by one wall that held the teacups and saucers that were now spread across the table.

  “So you see, Elder,” said Vix after she had outlined why they were there, “we came here to warn you. We thought the Black Stone safer where it is rather than it would be if we took it.”

  Israel took another sip of his tea. It smelled grassy and fresh and it tasted as such. The warmth sat in his belly like a hug from the inside.

  He noticed the Elder studying Vix’s face.

  “No one at Aradale knows of your existence here, if that is what you’re worried about,” said Vix. “Israel made the connection himself when he saw my reaction when the location of this Black Stone was revealed.”

  The Elder nodded. “It is here. Carved into the door which encloses the innermost temple. It is very safe here.”

  Vix nodded. “Then we shall find a way to assure the others that it is safe here and not to be moved without revealing the details of who you are.”

  The Elder bowed his head to Vix. He then turned to study Israel. “How long can you stay here?”

  “We are due back tomorrow evening,” said Vix.

  The Elder nodded. “I need to spend the rest of your time here with Israel. Alone.”

  Israel almost spilled his tea. “What?”

  * * *

  Alyx was so furious she couldn’t get back to sleep. She crept out of the main Castelli del Grevepesa building before anyone else was up and found a quiet spot in the surrounding Tuscany countryside to let off some steam in a punishing training session.

  Israel had gone off with Vix. To China. Just the two of them.

  “I’m okay. Vix is here.” Remembering his words caused another flood of anger to rush through her. Well, if Vix was there, then Vix could make it all better, couldn’t she. Vix wouldn’t mess up like she did, would she. Perfect Vix. Tears pricked her eyes. She was supposed to be the one with Israel, the one he confided in, the one he partnered with. Not Vix.

  Alyx realized this possessive feeling towards Israel, this protective instinct that ruled her actions and behavior towards him, which made her act crazy, feel crazy...she was completely and totally in love with Israel. Nothing but love could make anyone act and feel this crazy. And, Angel help her, did she feel crazy.

  * * *

  Later that morning, Alyx and Jordan headed back to Florence in an old single-cab truck that Jordan drove. Alyx was so lost in her own thoughts that she hadn’t even noticed Jordan was silent until he spoke. “I want to move on from this, Alyx.”<
br />
  Alyx turned to look at his profile, his eyes still on the road ahead of them. His unruly hair was swept back into a ponytail and Alyx noticed shadows under his eyes.

  Jordan continued, “I’m disappointed. But…I understand. Getting over your first can be…the most difficult thing in the world. More difficult than facing an army of Darkened, even. When your heart is so filled with love and loss for another, there is no room for anyone else. There is no room for me. Maybe in time…” His lip tilted up in a small smile and he reached out to squeeze her knee. “What you need now more than anything is a friend. I’d like to be that friend.”

  Alyx felt a rush of gratitude for this Rogue. She grabbed his hand on her knee and squeezed it. Jordan took his eyes off the road long enough to smile at her. His words echoed in her mind. Maybe in time…

  Alyx and Jordan arrived at the Galleria a few minutes after it opened and found one of the few remaining parking spaces left nearby. They approached the front of the Galleria, where there was a set of stairs leading up to the entrance.

  Inside, Alyx noted the security guards that stood watching the few tourists milling around. She and Jordan moved through the building feigning interest in the paintings and sculptures, especially the ones situated close to the exits so they could also study the ways of getting in and out of this building. They moved along the walls and rooms until they came to the section of building that housed the Three Archangels. It was presented up high on a pedestal away from the walls so that Jordan and Alyx could walk all the way around it. The statue, depicting three men appearing to stand upon flames that sprayed up around their feet, was made entirely of what looked like black marble. The figures were larger than life, with wings that soared above them in grand arcs.

  * * *

  Israel followed the Elder through the dense forest surrounding the monastery. For the last God-only-knows how many hours, they had been trudging up this mountain. The air here was fresh and cool against the layer of sweat that had built up over his body.

  “If you won’t tell me where we’re going or why we’re going there,” Israel huffed, “do you mind at least telling me when we’re going to get there?” It was harder to breathe up this high as well. Although the Elder didn’t seem to be bothered.

  “We will get there when we get there.”

  Israel rolled his eyes. The Elder had been mostly silent, but the few times that he had spoken were only in answer to the questions that Israel had asked. And like this one, his answers didn’t make any sense. This Elder was as evasive as an eel in water.

  “We’re lost, aren’t we?”

  “We are always exactly where we should be.”

  Israel rolled his eyes again at the Elder’s back. Stupid, crazy-talking old fool.

  They kept walking in silence, Israel mumbling to himself and swatting at bugs. He didn’t notice the trees thinning until they stepped out on a ridge.

  Israel halted and his mouth dropped open. “Holy wow.” The view was spectacular. The mountain dropped below them in a cascade of swaying emerald, the monastery far below was a patch of red and orange, looking like a cluster of blooms among the green. The snow-capped mountains peaked and dipped across the horizon like a sea of deep green and purple waves tipped with white froth.

  “You are here,” the Elder said, lowering himself cross-legged to the ground. “It is the first time you have been here all morning.”

  Israel frowned. What was that supposed to mean?

  Before Israel could ask, the Elder pointed to a cluster of bamboo trees. “Climb to the top.”

  Israel eyed the slender stalks of bamboo. “They won’t hold me.”

  “That is why you must make yourself weightless.”

  Israel sighed. “Are we still stuck on this? I don’t have any gifts or powers.”

  “You just haven’t been taught how to focus them,” the Elder said, still staring out at the horizon. “And your anger blocks the full utilization of your gifts. Your anger makes them uncontrollable.”

  Israel bristled. “I’m not−” he cut off his sentence abruptly when he realized that his loud voice was echoing off the surrounding mountains. He tried again in a calmer tone, “I’m not angry.”

  The Elder raised an eyebrow.

  “Fine. Sometimes I get angry, but everyone gets angry.”

  “Everybody feels angry, but then most people let it go. You...you swallow your anger and direct it towards yourself.” Israel opened his mouth to argue. “No more talking. Up you go.”

  Israel sighed as he walked up to the bamboo. He felt that it would be better to prove this old fool wrong than to argue with him. Gingerly, Israel began to pull himself up the stalk. He only managed to climb a few meters before the stalk began to bend and crack. Israel dropped himself on the ground before the bamboo broke. He placed his hands on his hips and looked expectantly at the Elder.

  “Again.”

  Israel climbed up again and again, but none of the bamboo stalks would hold his weight.

  “I can’t climb a stupid bamboo stalk. It’s too damn thin,” Israel yelled in frustration.

  The Elder didn’t react for a few moments. Then he spoke, “Hold the stalk.”

  “Didn’t you hear me? I said I can’t do it.”

  “Hold the stalk,” he said again, his soft smile never wavering.

  Israel made a rude noise under his breath but did what the Elder said. The bamboo stalk was cool and smooth under his fingers. “Okay I’m holding the stalk. Now what?”

  “Close your eyes.”

  Israel bit back the rising frustration and did so. “And?”

  “Remember the test. Remember how you traveled across that space when you did your parkour, as you call it. How does that feel?”

  “What has that got to−?”

  “Tell me how that feels,” the Elder interrupted in his infuriatingly calm voice.

  “I feel...free.”

  “Go on.”

  Israel’s mind went back to the test, to the training sessions with Razorback and Mason and the boys, to racing along rooftops during a warm summer’s night in Saint Joseph...

  It took some moments before he was able to find the right words. “My mind steps back and my body takes over. My body just knows what to do. It feels weightless and light and easy.” Israel remembered the night that Alyx first lifted them both up into the stars, how familiar that feeling was… “It feels like I am flying.”

  “Climb.”

  Israel’s hands moved along the bamboo, one hand over the other as he pulled up along the stalk. A bird twittered in the distance but part of Israel didn’t hear it. He was elsewhere, existing in that moment with Alyx as they were flying up into the night sky...the stars were beautiful but she, she was even more so...the wind up there softly tousling her hair across her cheeks. They had both just hung there, with only the air holding them aloft...free. Weightless.

  A voice came from far below. “Open your eyes, Israel.”

  He did and his jaw dropped open. The tops of the trees were at eye level and the sky was all that much closer. Below him the Elder remained seated, but he was looking up at him and chuckling.

  Israel was suspended up amid the tops of the bamboo stalks, holding on with both hands, his body seeming to make no impact on the swaying stalks. In fact, he swayed with them as if he were a leaf on this stalk.

  When Israel jumped or flipped in the air, there was a moment between the propulsion up and when gravity began to pull him back down...the moment only lasted for a second but it was there, the moment of weightlessness. Hanging up here in the air was like that moment being stretched out.

  Then a small inner voice started to panic. This isn’t right. Gravity will always pull you down. Israel felt the weight pooling back into his legs. The bamboo stalk started to bend and he felt his stomach rising into his chest. “Help. I’m going to fall.”

  “Stop thinking, Israel,” the Elder yelled.

  So. Not. Helping.

  Israel heard a cr
ackle, then a loud snap as the stalk broke in half. He began to plummet. Israel’s arms flailed at the air around him, stripping off leaves. Everything in his vision began to blur. He was going to die.

  His fingers caught something more solid. A tree branch. He jolted to a stop. Then he began to drop again as the branch bent under his weight. Israel heard the branch groaning, long and arthritic. It was about to snap.

  Israel spotted a thicker branch below. He swung out towards it. Just as the branch he was holding broke. He landed on the thicker branch, then flipped off before this branch had a chance to buckle. His body took over as he swung and flipped from branch to branch down towards the ground. Israel felt a flood of relief surge over the adrenaline as his feet touched the earth. His chest heaved as he glared at the Elder, who hadn’t even moved. Israel could have been killed or at the least seriously hurt.

  The Elder seemed nonplussed. “Try it again.”

  * * *

  That evening, after Israel and the Elder had returned to the monastery, Israel desperately wanted to rest. But he had no such luck. Now he stood in the center of a dark room lit only by rows of candles placed along the sides of the room. A single candle sat a meter in front of him on the wooden floor. The Elder stood behind this, looking directly at him.

  “So it appears you have an affinity with the air.”

  “Okay…” Israel shuffled his bare feet nervously.

  “Using only your will, snuff out the candle in front of you.”

  Israel raised one eyebrow. “How?”

  “Can one ask the butterfly how it flaps its wings? Can one ask the wind how it blows? This gift is a part of you. It is in your flesh. It is in your blood. You know how to use it.”

  “Demon blood,” Israel spat.

  The Elder peered at him closely. Appearing to come to some conclusion, he nodded. “Your blood, despite your disgust at it, is still a part of you. It is all beautiful. Every part. You must learn to feel love for all parts.”

  “Easy for you to say,” Israel grumbled. “You don’t have a monster inside you.”