Tempest

by Karen Ann Hopkins

  “It makes no sense. Why would you protect a fledgling Watcher?” Uriel’s brow furrowed.

  “For payment of a deal I made with another.” He winked at me. “Someone was very concerned for your safety. He feared Angels would destroy you, so he made a bargain with me to come to your aid if such a thing ever happened.” He snorted. “Of course, the very idea of entering a warded territory to chase off the same Angel who chained me in a prison cell for a thousand years was very appealing, to say the least.”

  “Who broke your bonds?” Eae spoke up.

  Samael grinned broadly. “Why, that’s a secret.” He turned towards Uriel and lowered his voice. “But I can say that my chains were broken by a most surprising character.”

  I shook my head, not caring about who let Samael free. “Who made the bargain with you?”

  Samael looked back with blazing eyes. “Don’t demand answers from me, love. I don’t tolerate equal treatment from anyone—even God.”

  For an instant, his handsome façade disappeared. Blackness so complete swirled in my mind. Pain jabbed at my gut and I doubled over. I vaguely was aware of Insepth’s and Horas’ hands on me. I saw Samael pull Angus’ head from his body and then Ivan’s. Blood flooded my peripherals when he did the same to Timmy and then a newborn baby.

  “Stop!” I wailed, clawing at the blackness.

  The vision disappeared, and I found myself crumpled in the dirt in front of the barn. Insepth had his arm around me and Horas patted my back. Maddie stood frozen between Eae and Ivan. Her normally dark skin had paled.

  “Lest you not forget who I am,” Samael purred.

  I stared back at him, unable to speak.

  He inclined his head, but didn’t take his eyes off me. “She’s a feisty one, Uriel. You should be proud.” His voice rose to a booming Angel call. “Come out and pay your debt.”

  Horas took a sharp intake of breath and Insepth’s arm tightened around me. I stretched to see past the Roman in the direction everyone was looking.

  My stomach lurched and I was dizzy. A chill wrapped around me and I felt my heart breaking.

  Sawyer strode from the side of the barn. My dry lips parted, but no words came out.

  He paused in front of me with downcast eyes. “I did it for you, Ember. I hope you’ll forgive me someday.”

  Our eyes met. I felt as though I were floating under water, tipping and sinking. This can’t be happening.

  I screamed and opened up to the flames. They surged inside of me, pulsating, alive and full of vengeance.

  “Nothing would make me happier than to bleed your whelp dry, Uriel,” Samael said.

  “Stop it,” Insepth begged in my ear and Ivan whined, pushing his wolf head against my shoulder.

  But I couldn’t stop. Hot wrath pushed their voices far from my mind. I would stop Samael from taking my guardian, or die trying.

  “Don’t do this. I’m not worth it.” Sawyer dropped before me, a solitary tear slipping from his eye.

  I couldn’t stop the flow of fire from leaving my body. The blast knocked Ivan away and burned Insepth, but he didn’t let go.

  Samael’s eyes sparked with hunger and his mouth parted. He was sucking up my hatred, growing even stronger on it. He was the Prince of Darkness—what better sustenance than my hatred?

  I tried to stop the fire, but couldn’t. It barreled out of me, more powerful than my other elements combined.

  “Enough,” Uriel bellowed. He stepped in front of me, spreading his wings wide. When my fire struck him, he absorbed it. The flames shot through him, healing his wounds and giving him energy that Samael had not anticipated.

  Uriel slashed his sword between us, shattering my connection to the power. The raging flames winked out. He turned around with a reproachful gaze. “Go, Samael. Your debt is paid.”

  “No—no!” I cried, swiping for Sawyer, but Insepth held me tight.

  He rose and walked to Samael without a glance backward. Black wings folded around him until I couldn’t see him any longer.

  Samael jetted upwards and streaked across the sky into the collapsing doorway into Purgatory. When his black form disappeared, the gray scene vanished with a puff of smoke that drifted away on the wind.

  Our guardianship connection snapped and I was alone.

  I collapsed against Insepth and raised my tear-streaked face to the sunshine streaming down through the broken clouds.

  Sawyer was gone.

  Chapter 30

  The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

  2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

  “There is nothing I can do. The Demon pledged an oath to Samael—his life for yours. It can’t be undone,” Uriel said.

  I dug my fingers into the dirt, sucking in a wet gulp. My body shook and I forced a breath, and then I repeated the motion. Branches from the fallen maple tree were close enough that if I stretched out, I could touch them. Sawyer and I had stood beneath that same tree, kissing and hugging and whispering to each other. Now they were both gone.

  Fresh tears stung my eyes and I didn’t bother to wipe them away. Angus did me the favor by licking his rough tongue over my cheek several times until I pushed him back. Ivan sat cross legged to my left. Occasionally, he patted my back, but otherwise, he was quiet. Even though we didn’t have any kind of blood connection, I still sensed his great sadness. He loved Sawyer, too.

  “Perhaps if we traveled back to Purgatory,” Horas spoke up, stepping away from the Watchers, who had been huddled together, discussing the events in hushed tones.

  “Enough!” Uriel’s voice echoed across the valley. I cringed at the sound. “I’m beginning to think all of your minds are rattled.” He looked around with eyes glinting like steel. “Your last trip to that place was a miracle and not one to happen twice. Even if the will of God was with you, Purgatory has been claimed by Samael and he controls its borders. It’s part of Hell now.” He grunted, flapping his wings. “If you thought the place was dark and wrought with danger before, you should see it now.”

  Eae lent his softer voice to the conversation. “Brother, they loved the Demon. He was their comrade, much the same way Angels call each other brothers. They are hopeful creatures. That is one of the greatest traits that our Father loves them for.”

  Burning heat filled my chest and I jumped to my feet. Angus yelped at the sudden movement and Ivan rose with me in a startled fashion.

  “Where is God in all of this? Is He going to make an appearance at some point—maybe punish Michael and Gabriel for their actions?” I spat.

  Uriel straightened even taller than his seven or so feet. “You are as ignorant as a newborn pup in a kennel. My brothers were in their right to come here to punish you and your friends for leaving this plane of existence and traveling into a forbidden realm.” His voice grew. “Angels are essentially God’s police. We maintain order in the universe and your ragtag group has disrupted the balance enough to become a threat to our existence.”

  “What does it matter if we’re on the precipice of the end of days?” Insepth asked.

  Uriel shook his head and flipped his hand at Eae. “You tell them. I’m losing patience.”

  Eae exhaled. “We have never been to this time and place before—yes, it’s written in the Book, but scripture has been lost throughout the eons, words have been altered. The exact details are not known—even to the Angels.”

  “There must be a way to save Sawyer—he can’t…be lost forever.” I choked out the last part. Ivan’s arm slipped around me and I leaned against him. I was completely empty inside.

  Uriel strode up and I felt Ivan trembling, but he didn’t let go or back away.

  The Angel’s red ha
ir shone brilliantly in the sun and his square jaw jutted out. He leveled hard eyes on me. “The only way you’ll see the Demon again is when it won’t matter anymore—when Hell rampages the earth, taking this realm as it did Purgatory.” His voice cut into my heart. “He will no longer be humanlike—he will be a soldier of the King of Demons, a monster. You must forget him and cling to those you still have, the ones not yet defiled.”

  Fire bubbled in my veins and I stared back at my forefather. Just as I opened my mouth to reply, a strange sound rang out, like a horn blowing.

  The color drained from Uriel’s face and his features twisted in horror. He turned to Eae. “It can’t be—too soon.”

  “What is that?” I found my voice.

  “A horn of some kind,” Maddie said.

  “My God, you don’t mean?” Insepth covered his head.

  I heard Youmi’s gasp and twisted around. His hand covered his mouth and the other clutched Sir Austin’s shoulder.

  “What’s the big deal—it’s just a horn.” I tried to steady my voice, but found it difficult to do so as the air left my lungs.

  “It’s not just any horn—it’s Gabriel’s horn. It is written that he will sound his horn on the day of Armageddon.” Uriel looked around wildly, wings spreading for flight.

  “We don’t know for sure—perhaps we are wrong.” Eae reached for Uriel to stop his flight.

  “Even though we have never heard the sound, we know it in our hearts,” Uriel argued.

  Angus barked and leaped forward, running towards the cabin. Everyone’s eyes followed him, even Uriel’s. I gripped Ivan tighter, filling myself with fire, earth, and water when I felt Insepth, Youmi and Sir Austin doing the same with their elements.

  When Angus reappeared, Preston was at his side. Maddie had told me that when they’d run out of the barn, a squall of rain poured down, separating them.

  Preston’s hair was stuck to the sides of his face and his jeans were torn, but those things only half registered in my mind. It was the long, shiny object in his hands that caught my attention and made me gasp.

  A gust of wind from Uriel’s wings hit me in the face when he landed in front of Preston. He grabbed the horn from Preston’s hands and shouted, “What have you done, fool boy?”

  Preston dropped to the ground, cowering. “I’m sorry. I found it in the woods.”

  “And for no good reason, you decided to blow it!” Uriel raised his hand as if to hit Preston and fire surged from my fingertips. The flames struck Uriel, doing no damage, but got his attention.

  “Don’t you dare touch him!” I jerked away from Ivan and marched up to Uriel. “He’s an innocent human who happened upon all this madness because of Gabriel.”

  “You will learn your place or suffer the consequences.” Uriel pointed at me. “Don’t think you’re some favored child that won’t be punished when she’s crossed the line.”

  “We have more pressing matters to deal with.” Eae stepped between us.

  “These Watchers, especially my offspring, are becoming too headstrong. Perhaps Michael is right—”

  Uriel didn’t have the opportunity to finish his sentence. Eae thrust his hands upward and we all looked to the sky. A band of billowing, dark clouds formed where a moment ago only wispy ones had been. They moved through the sky as if hurricane force winds pushed them along.

  “We have to go!” Insepth cried, grabbing my arm.

  Horas was poised on the balls of his feet and Ivan had changed into a wolf. Angus barked at the anomaly and Cricket tossed her head, prancing in place. Lutz reared up on his back legs and roared at the sky. Preston and Maddie huddled together on the ground, while Youmi and Sir Austin inched backwards.

  We can’t outrun whatever was coming, I told myself, smacking Insepth’s hands away.

  “This is not something we can fight,” he pleaded with me.

  The clouds rolled through the sky with a gathering rumble that matched the pounding of my heart. But I stood firmly in place, waiting for something to come out of the storm.

  The sound of neighing pierced the thunder. And then it rang out again. I glanced at Cricket, who was motionless, except for the twitching of her black hide. She stared at the sky along with everyone else, but something about her alert manner caused me to walk to her and place my hand on her neck.

  “It’s all right, girl,” I mumbled, not believing my own words.

  She didn’t acknowledge me, raising her head higher and pointing her ears in the direction of the ominous clouds. The gusts of wind snapped her long mane and tail.

  A third and fourth horse-like, echoing whinny, rang out and Uriel spread his mighty wings. With a single powerful flap, he thrust upwards. There was longing on Eae’s face, but I turned away from it to watch Uriel’s flight into the clouds, his red hair and wings glowing brightly against the jagged grayness.

  I covered my mouth when the four horses appeared in the sky. They galloped over the clouds like they were on solid ground. Clap—clap—clap. Sparks flew from their hooves and they ran even faster.

  The lead horse was solid white, like freshly fallen snow, and the second was a flame-colored chestnut. A little further behind was a black horse, and galloping at the rear was a pale, yellowish palomino.

  Cricket bumped into me and I whirled around. She dipped her head, stretching her front legs out in front of her in a stance I’d seen circus horses do.

  Mount me.

  “Go with the mare—it may be our only hope to stop it from happening,” Eae urged.

  “Are they the four horses I’m thinking they are?” I grabbed a fist full of Cricket’s mane in my hand and shimmied onto her back.

  “Your human friend has summoned the horses of the apocalypse with the horn,” Eae confirmed.

  Cricket stood, her muscles quivering beneath my legs. Insepth grabbed my knee and I bent down to listen.

  “Ila must have known—somehow—that this moment would come. This is why you had to transform Cricket. Its destiny, Ember—let your horse talk to them.” He flung his arm out, slapping Cricket’s rump. I barely had time to wrap my fingers tighter into her mane when she bolted forward.

  She cleared the rock wall in a bound and I stretched out over her neck. I dug my legs into her sides and leaned into her flying mane. The huffing noise she made as she ran was nothing new to me—it was a sound I usually loved. But as we raced across the meadow towards the horses, who had the task of unleashing God’s fury on the world, I found no joy in it.

  Insepth was right—Ila must have somehow known we’d need Cricket as more than an ordinary horse, for everyone’s sake. Her words echoed in my mind, “Use your powers to change Cricket into a human. Do whatever it takes to achieve this task. It must be done to further your cause.”

  The white horse touched the valley floor first, followed by the other three in quick succession. Cricket veered to the left to turn into their path. I clung onto her with everything I had, praying that I wouldn’t come off her back.

  Uriel flew above the horses, but didn’t make any move to intercept them. Cricket skidded to a stop as the four horses formed a single file line and altered course, circling her.

  The white horse threw its head up and snorted, slowing to a trot. The others followed suit, spreading out so that they were spaced equally around us when they came to stop.

  It struck me as ironic that the fate of the human race hinged on five equines, but the thought left me when something incredible happened. Colors exploded around each horse, and when the air cleared, four men stood in their places.

  My heart beat madly as I swung my leg over Cricket’s back and slid down her side. She turned her head and looked at me with large brown eyes. I nodded at her, unable to speak.

  A sprinkling of colors burst over me and I blinked several times to see. Cricket was human again and wearing the same jeans and flannel shirt sh
e’d borrowed from me the day before. Her black hair was tangled and her face smudged with dirt, but otherwise, she was a beautiful woman. In a surprising show of affection, she reached out and squeezed my arm before she looked back at the men staring at her.

  The white steed was now a young man with platinum hair pulled back into a ponytail. His trousers and button up white shirt were old-fashioned, and his frown showed his displeasure. But the flame-colored horse-man smiled deeply through his chestnut beard. He spread his arms wide.

  “What a sight for sore eyes!” He glanced at the man to his left, who wore a tan tunic and leather pants. “A female version of us.”

  “Is that really what she is? Perhaps this witch created an illusion for our benefit?” the older man said. He scratched his chin with doubting eyes.

  “I’m not a witch,” I protested. When the four horsemen shifted equally hard gazes in my direction, I lowered my voice. “I’m a Watcher.” When recognition didn’t light their faces, I hurriedly added, “You know, a descendent of Angels.”

  “Hah!” The bearded man tossed his head in a very horse-like movement. “Those perverted Angels couldn’t keep their hands to themselves, eh?” He paused and looked sideways. “We have been gone a very long time, haven’t we boys?” He straightened, continuing to smile. “Let me introduce ourselves. I’m War,” he patted his chest, and then nodded at the elderly man in the tunic. “This is Death. The fair-haired one over there is Conquest, and this gloomy fellow—” he motioned at the black haired man “—is Famine.”

  Although the guy with the beard seemed jovial, I sensed the same short temper and stubbornness that Cricket possessed. The other men had danger sparking off them. They were all muscled and strong looking, even the older man. I understood what they were—the beings that heralded the end of the world.

  “My name is Ember.” I motioned to Cricket, whose eyes darted between the men. “This is Cricket—the only mare-human changeling,” I added to impress them.