by Hanna Peach
“No, how dare you leave without me,” she heard herself shrieking. “I’m supposed to go with you.” She shook him with all the fury in her body. But he didn’t wake.
She called upon her Soulsight, praying that she could still see his soul. Perhaps she could grab it and find a way to hold it to this Earth. But there was no light left in him.
His soul, the thing she loved, was gone.
“If you die, I die.” She rocked him as the sobs racked her body. “That’s the Guardian bond.”
Something went wrong. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She wasn’t supposed to live.
She felt the Elder’s gentle hand on her shoulder. “I’m afraid,” he said, “that when he sent out that vision into the hearts of everyone, he fulfilled his role, severing your Guardian bond. He died after the bond was severed so…”
“No!” she cried. “Take me with you!” She collapsed upon his body as her anguish drained her soul completely of energy. Her world reduced to a black hollow. She had never felt so empty. How could she be allowed to save the world and lose hers in return?
* * *
A great joy filled Jordan’s heart even as the light of everyone’s souls across the valley faded. Near him there was a soul that shone brighter than all the rest for him. But then again, he already knew that about Cleo. He dropped his sword as did she. He closed the gap between them and held her close. She held him back. They stood there pressed against each other as sounds of cheering began to float through the valley.
“Looks like we actually did win,” he said. He pulled his head back to look down at her. Their faces were so close.
“Great,” she said. “I wasn’t ready to die. Not yet anyway.” Cleo pulled away from him. She picked up her sword, sheathed it, and began to walk off towards the FreeThinker’s camp.
“Hey,” Jordan called out. He collected and sheathed his own sword and jogged after her. “Where are you going?”
“Away from you.”
“What? Why?”
“I’m still mad at you, remember?”
Jordan grabbed her arm and spun her until they were facing each other. “Are you serious? We fought beside each other. We almost died together.”
“So?”
“You… You kissed me.”
“That’s when I thought we were going to die.”
“I saved your life.”
She pulled her arm out of his grip and crossed her arms over her chest. “Dear Jordan, saving my life does not constitute an apology.”
An apology.
She wanted an apology. Jordan knew exactly what for and he knew that she deserved it. “I…” the words failed him.
She raised an eyebrow. Go on, her look said.
God, he had so much he wanted to say to her…not the least of which was an apology for being a clueless ass. She must have been so confused at his behavior. At his attention, at the many nights they spent talking and laughing. But he had been confused about his feelings too.
He tried again. “I…” All the things he wanted to say tried to pour out at once − I’m sorry. Forgive me. I need you. They all crammed in his throat so that they became stuck and nothing came out.
Cleo made an exasperated sound, rolled her eyes and turned to stalk away.
He couldn’t let her go. He wouldn’t.
He grabbed her arm again, spinning her to face him with more force this time. Her face flew into a pouty look of annoyance and she opened her mouth, probably to deal him a verbal serving, as she always did, as she was so good at, as he loved to get from her, but not right now.
He closed his mouth down on hers. Her lips were soft, ever so soft and pliable under his own. He felt suddenly lightheaded. His fingers pushed lightly into her skin almost to keep himself from falling over.
Then he realized that she wasn’t responding. At all. As in, she was frozen against him. Was it from shock or did she not want him? Had he misread her desire and her anger at him?
He loosened his grip on her and pulled his lips from hers. He stumbled back and waited for the slap that was sure to accompany her silence. But she didn’t hit him. In fact she didn’t look angry. She looked shocked.
That was different.
“Cleo, I−”
She crossed the widening space between them and their lips met again, her hands moving up his body to wrap around his neck, anchoring them together. He pushed his tongue between her lips and got his first taste of her. She was sweet like a cherry and the feeling of her soft tongue dancing together with his made his head spin. It was like he was underwater. He felt weightless and the edges of reality blurred around them.
Finally, after feeling like he had gone too long without air, he pulled away.
“That,” said Cleo, her voice husky, “still wasn’t an apology.”
Jordan laughed. Then he saw the look on her face. “Wait, you’re serious?”
Her look said, damn straight, I am.
She wasn’t going to let him get away with anything, was she? Ever. Inside he smiled to himself. This, he really liked about her. More than liked… He grabbed one of her hands and held it in both of his. “Dear Cleo…”
“This better be good.”
“A little silence, please? I’m trying to apologize here.”
She raised her free hand up and waved it to him in a well go on motion.
“Cleo, you were right.”
“I know that. I’m always right. What are you talking about specifically?”
“I was wrong to say those things to Alyx about you, about us. I didn’t mean them. I’m not even sure why I said them. I know that it’s over between Alyx and me, whatever little of us there even was to start with. And there’s you. I was using Alyx to avoid this growing…thing between−”
“Thing?”
Yes, “thing” was definitely not the right word to use. He tried again. “I was ignoring these feelings I have for you. I realize all these things now.” Jordan grabbed her shoulders. “When I was speeding back to the castle behind that dark army, do you know what the only thing I could think about was? You. That you might die without my making things right with you. That I might never get to see your face again or hear your voice again. You were all I could think about. You.” He scanned her face, looking for acceptance there, looking for a sign that she forgave him.
She smiled and brushed his cheek with her hand. He pressed his mouth to her palm in a kiss. “You know,” she said, “it’s a lovely speech, Jordan, but you still haven’t actually said ‘I’m sorry’.”
Yup, she wasn’t going to let him get away with anything. “I was getting to that…”
“You can’t say it, can you?”
“I can.”
“Then say it.”
“Cleo…”
“Yes…”
“I have something else to say to you.”
“What is it?”
“I’m getting to it.”
“I’m growing old waiting.”
“I’m sorry.”
There was a pause. She actually had the nerve to look a little surprised that he had actually said it. “Well…” she said finally, her eyelashes blinking, “that wasn’t too hard, was it?”
“No.” It wasn’t hard. It was the easiest thing in the world. And saying it just made him feel free and lighter. He hadn’t realized what a weight on him this apology had been. He had been such an ass. He made a noise in his throat. “I was such a fool, Cleo. I was clueless. You could see it but I−”
“Okay. Okay, you’re sorry. You apologized. I forgive you.”
“I was such an−”
“Dear Jordan. Now’s the time to stop talking.”
“Oh?”
“Shut up and kiss me.”
He grinned. “Yes, ma’am.” He pulled her to him once again.
* * *
Alyx clung to Israel, determined to hang on to him until death decided to be kind to her and take her to join him. She wasn’t listening to the Elder’s attempts to soo
the her. She didn’t even look up when another person joined them.
“What happened?” In her world of total darkness, a small part of her recognized Balthazar’s voice.
“I think it is obvious what happened,” said the Elder. “Israel fulfilled the Prophecy and paid for it with his life.”
“And the Amulet? Michael’s body?”
“Looks like they both fell into the portal.” Alyx couldn’t bring herself to correct the Elder.
Balthazar cursed. Then she felt him pat her shoulder. “It’ll be alright, Alyx.”
Her voice came out muffled, “Nothing will ever be alright again.”
“You know,” Balthazar said slowly, “there is a way…to bring him back.”
“Balthazar,” admonished the Elder, “you can’t be suggesting...”
A way to bring him back? Alyx could scarcely breathe for hope as she raised her face from Israel’s chest. She wiped the tears from her face to clear her blurred vision and stared. “Balthazar, if you are joking it is the cruelest thing you could ever do to me. Do not give me such rotten hope just to dash it.”
“There’s a way…” Balthazar began, “an ancient magic that can bring back a life taken too soon.”
“How?”
“Only if a demon and a Seraphim work the magic together. I would be willing to do it but I would need help…”
“I’ll do it,” cried Alyx.
“You can’t. You’re too young to remember this kind of magic. But…he isn’t.”
“Elder.” Alyx turned to the Elder. “Please, Elder. Do this for me.”
“Don’t be so quick to ask for something you don’t know anything about. Balthazar isn’t telling you everything,” the Elder said, glaring darkly at Balthazar.
Alyx froze. “What? What isn’t he telling me?”
“This magic, it would require a sacrifice on your part.”
“Anything,” Alyx said. “I’ll give up anything.”
“Even your own life?”
Chapter 44
Alyx’s breath caught in her throat. “My life?”
“Nothing comes for free, Alyx,” Balthazar said. “You’d have to give up your immortality and become mortal. In exchange, he would get another mortal life.”
“Do it.”
“But you wouldn’t get this life.”
Alyx blinked, sitting back on her heels. “What?”
“You would die, as he did. You would both be reborn, in new bodies, as mortals.”
“Alyx,” the Elder said. “Please think about it before you answer.” He waved his hand at the Seraphim twirling and dancing around the valley like fireflies, sounds of rejoicing and weeping and singing filling the air. “The Seraphim have moved into a new exciting phase in our history. You have a chance here to be one of the great future leaders of our people. You have proved you have it in you. Do you really want to give up your life here? Do you really want to say goodbye to all your friends? Would you die just for a chance to be with him again?”
“A chance?”
“You would get another life, Alyx, another body,” the Elder explained. “So would he. It would mean that neither of you will remember each other or anything that has happened in this life when you’re reborn.”
Alyx’s throat tightened. She thought of all the mortals existing on this planet. She and Israel would just be two among billions. “Would Israel and I even meet each other again?”
“Maybe…if you both wait for each other.”
“How would we know to wait for each other if we don’t remember each other?”
“Faith that there is that one right person out there fated just for you.”
“That’s a great leap of faith,” said Balthazar.
“Alyx, you wouldn’t be getting anything more or less than any other mortal on this planet,” the Elder said. “Nothing in any mortal’s life is guaranteed.”
Alyx stared down at the man she loved, the love of her life. She had a chance now to have the kind of life she had always wanted. A life of leadership, one where she was respected and revered, one that would let her shape history. Could she give up this life for love?
She knew in her heart that she could. All those things she used to want paled against getting to be with Israel again. But would love be enough to bring them back together in another life? Should she risk it all for just a chance?
Something Raphael said to her floated up into her mind. Remember that love is greater than death. Now she understood. Her and Israel’s love would survive, even after both their deaths. Raphael was telling her to have faith in their love.
“I would die for him,” Alyx said. “I would give up immortality for a chance to be part of his next life.”
The Elder nodded. “Then I shall help Balthazar perform this magic for you.”
“Thank you, both of you.”
“Do you want some time to say goodbye?”
Goodbye? Alyx’s heart pained as she thought about everyone she would be leaving behind: Jordan, Tobias, Cleo, Vix, Xiang, Dianne…
“Alyx? What about me?” Sparrow’s small voice piped up. She had forgotten that Sparrow was there, standing quietly among the ruins of the mosque.
“Oh Sparrow,” she sobbed, her heart breaking. She opened her arms and he flung himself into them. How could she leave him behind? How could she leave any of them behind?
But for Israel…her heart banged like half a drumbeat without him. If she stayed, she would never get to feel his hands on her again or watch his eyes light up as he laughed or to feel his love. Every day she would feel the hollow in her heart where his heartbeat should be, feel the absence of his soul usually knitted into hers.
“Please don’t leave,” Sparrow whispered.
Alyx’s poor heart ripped apart with her decision. “I have to, little one. Israel and I…we need each other. We belong together. For me to stay while he doesn’t, it would be…it would be like someone taking a piece of you away from you. Do you understand?”
Sparrow wiped his eyes, but he nodded.
“Your place is with me, little Sparrow,” the Elder said. “I have been waiting for you to appear for a few centuries now.”
“You’ve been waiting for me?” Sparrow’s wet eyes grew wide.
The Elder nodded. “We have a lot of training in store for you, young man.”
“One more hug?” Alyx asked Sparrow. He threw himself into her arms. Alyx discreetly slipped the Amulet from her pocket and into Sparrow’s.
The Elder ruffled the boy’s hair as Alyx and Sparrow pulled apart.
Alyx breathed in deeply and looked at Balthazar and the Elder. “I’m ready.”
Alyx settled into her nook against Israel’s chest. As the magic built up around her, she looked up at Israel’s still face. I’ll wait for you. She brushed the white scar across his top lip. Wait for me.
Chapter 45
Over Cleo’s shoulder, Jordan spotted Balthazar and the Elder with Sparrow close by his side walking down towards them from the mosque. No Israel. No Alyx.
His heart dropped, coldness flowed into his toes as they neared. He pulled away from Cleo. “Where’s Alyx?” he demanded when they neared. “Israel?”
Jordan read it on the distraught face of Sparrow before Balthazar answered. “Alyx is gone. So is Israel. They saved us but…paid with their lives.”
“They might be gone,” the Elder said, “but they are not lost.”
Part of Jordan’s heart, the part that still cared for Alyx, felt like it had been ripped apart from him, as if her soul now flying high away from this earthly world was attached to it. “Alyx,” was all he could choke out as his throat closed over with grief.
Balthazar glanced to Jordan’s left and he remembered that Cleo was at his side. “Cleo.” When he turned to her, her eyes were wet. “I’m sorry. I still care about her.”
“I’m not crying over your reaction.” Cleo scowled as she turned away. “She was my friend too.”
Jordan tried to grab her a
rm, to hold her, to comfort her, to be comforted. He needed to feel her body against him once more. Something to soothe this ache.
She pushed him away. “No, Jordan. Not now, not yet, not like this. I need time. You need time…”
He understood. He let Balthazar pat his shoulder as he watched Cleo walk away from him. Maybe in time…?
* * *
Vix sustained huge injuries fighting off the guards around the mosque, but she was enough of a “badass” that she survived. The guards were not so lucky.
Lukas and Marin also sustained injuries but they, too, would heal and survive.
Tobias, unfortunately, did not. War is often cruel about who it lets live and who it does not. Or perhaps it was kind, as it meant that Tobias never had to go through the pain of losing a son he only just had returned to him. Now he would get to be with his one true love, Maresa, in the life after this one.
There was a truce declared between the FreeThinkers and those still of the Society. The Elders and FreeThinker leaders all agreed that there would be freedom of movement between the Society and the outside world. It was a start to rebuilding a united global Seraphim community.
Most of the FreeThinkers chose to return to what was once their homes in Urielos, Gabriela and Michaelea. Gabriel, repentant at allowing so much of Michael’s undue influence on him, resolved to be a better leader for his people. It was decided that the cities would be led by a group of Seraphim and anyone could be voted in for the first time in the history of the Seraphims on Earth. To implement such a change would take time, but it would happen. Uriel had been killed during the battle, so his second in charge stepped in to manage the city until a group of leaders was elected.
There was a lot in Michaelea to clean up; the Tree of Knowledge was dismantled, although the GiftKeeper blood was saved to create more bloodink. The Hollows, where the bodies of Lutando and Tii’la were found, were filled in with soil, never to be used again.
Michael’s secret island was located and the female prisoners were all freed. The emotional toll on their lives created open wounds. They, too, would eventually heal but their experience would leave them with scars.
