“Miss Ashton, we see you’ve been very busy,” Ahriman started. “Famine is dead, is he not?”
“Yes, sir.”
He adjusted his blue robe around his shoulders and sat forward in his chair. “Tell us how you killed him.”
Violet’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. She ran her fingers over her forehead. “It’s a little blurry…”
“We have ways to make you remember,” Willow snapped.
Violet glowered at Willow from underneath her brow. “That’s not necessary.”
“Then speak and make it quick.”
“I came across Famine in Logansville while I was hunting trackers. He was preparing four horses—strange horses. One was a pale white, one was red, and one was—”
“We don’t care what color the horses were. Get to the part where you killed him.”
Violet nodded. “I stabbed him through the chest and hacked at it until there was nothing left. I scooped it all out, too, just to be safe.” Her eyes remained unflinchingly on Willow’s face.
“Do you know the offense for killing a demon that you’re not assigned?” A smug smiled spread over Willow’s lips and my hands clenched into fists. I knew she’d play dirty.
“Yes, ma’am. It’s thirty whip lashings, a star demotion, and house arrest for two weeks.”
“Well then, guards!”
Violet stiffened as the guards advanced on her. I ran to Violet’s side to protect her, but I couldn’t do anything. I wasn’t really there. “No, no, no,” I mumbled under my breath. “That’s not fair.”
“Wait!” Sebastian, the orange Council member ordered. “Violet did save the Earth. She made a mistake letting Death compel her, but she has more than made up for it with the death of another Horseman. I think that requires a reward, not a punishment.”
“What she did was unauthorized,” Willow argued. “We punished an angel yesterday for the unauthorized killing of a Skatter demon.”
“Yes, but he did it on purpose. Violet here stumbled across Famine. Look at her mission schedule, she was meant to be in Logansville. Check Earth’s classified weather reports. There was nothing natural about the storm that was brewing yesterday. Violet is a hero, not a criminal.” Violet stared dumbfounded at Sebastian. He stood up for her, even I was confused… until an uneasy feeling settled in my stomach. I didn’t like the way he looked at her. Like she was something delicious that he could eat.
“Sebastian has a point,” Ahearn agreed. “Let’s vote.”
The vote was pointless. Willow was the only one to vote against Violet. I kept my eyes on Sebastian as he smiled cockily at Violet and she returned it with a thankful nod of the head. Jealousy definitely wasn’t a feeling I was used to. Since becoming a demon, my emotions were heightened. When I was angry, I was incredibly angry… my jealousy seemed to be following that same path. I scowled at him.
“It’s settled, then. Violet shall be rewarded, not punished,” Seth announced. “I’d like to suggest she gets her three stars back and another gets added. She has endured a lot and we are lucky to have her fighting for us.”
The Council agreed except for Willow, but her presence was ignored. I looked at Violet. The happiness in her eyes said it all. She did like being an angel. She enjoyed fighting for what’s right. I’d already taken her heart and her spirit and crushed them under my shoe. But that smile… I’d never take that smile and destroy it. I liked it where it was… on her face with her beautiful eyes and high cheekbones.
The Never Dark realm faded away and the beautiful array of colors returned. I watched them for a little while. Violet’s favorite part of being an angel was the teleporting and I’d have to agree. There was something about the colors that washed away all the anguish and replaced it with contentment. The colors disappeared and a soft thud hit the floor. I rushed over to Eva and knelt down beside her. Blood ran from her nose and down the front of her black robe. I scooped her up, laid her on my bed and tucked her under the blankets. Her eyes flickered open and her voice was weak.
“She is an amazing girl, Lucas.”
“I know.”
Slowly, she pointed a finger at me. “You don’t deserve her.”
I smiled. “I know.”
Eva’s hand dropped onto her body as she fell into a deep sleep. I stared at her for a little while as she slept peacefully. I can’t be all bad… right? Eva stuck around even though she knew how dark I was. I’d be the first to admit that I’ve treated her badly and she’s the closest thing I had to a friend. A shiver erupted over my skin and I heard the Underworld calling me back. I closed my eyes. I’ve already done one selfless thing tonight, why not another?
I rustled through the drawers in my oak desk, trying to find the spellbound contract I had Eva sign when I saved her from War. I pulled out a folder as thick as my forearm and flicked through it. My body twitched as I fought the summoning. I wanted to free Eva before I left. I found the contract and tore it in two. I grabbed a pen from my holder and scrawled across the paper.
Dear Eva,
You’re free, friend.
Lucas.
I dropped the pen and weightlessness consumed me as I traveled back to my own realm. Happy. Content and craving the next time I would see Earth’s pretty surface.
Epilogue
Violet
They say that it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. I call bullshit. Some people would argue that the experience of loving and losing a person is worth it. It’s for the experience, they say. I disagree. To lose someone you care for immensely is the worst feeling in the world. I’d take kidney stones or a broken arm over the depression and the sharp heartache that follows me around any day. When you break an arm, you get up and you get it fixed. With a broken heart, you’re stuck with the memories forever. You carry around the shadows that are left over from losing the one you loved and they never seem to go away.
I’ve been to Earth three times now and I’ve driven past Lucas’s building every time. Today was no different. He hadn’t surprised me on any of my hunts and so I assumed he’d gone back to the Underworld. The last time he left for the Underworld, I didn’t see him for three years. This wait might be nine hundred years. I’d be long gone by then, but he’d still be as young and sexy as he was now. If I hadn’t loved him in the first place, I’d be able to move on now, but instead I watch his club like a depressed, lovesick stalker. Today, I came to say my goodbyes because I was forcing myself to move on. In the last few weeks, I’d grown as a person. I’d made friends and I’d gone to parties. I hadn’t made the step to start seeing people, but I knew it was coming. I needed to do something for myself for a change and it was going to be hard, but I couldn’t live a life with Lucas. He was a demon. The exact thing he’d trained me to kill. Our love is over… and has been for a long time. I just refused to believe it. Lucas loved me. He gave up the apocalypse for me and I’d never forget it, but I needed to forget him, for the sake of my own happiness. I was given a second chance at life and I was prepared to live it.
I started the car and drove off. I kept glancing in my rearview mirror until his building eventually disappeared from sight. I looked ahead. The late afternoon sun warmed my cheeks. Today would end, as most days do, and tomorrow would bring a new day. A new me. And I was ready for that.
~ Acknowledgements ~
As per usual I have to send my love to my husband, Ash. He is forever patient when I go into ‘writing’ mode and completely zone out. He also helps me decide if I’ve used the ‘F’ word too much. Thanks babe!
I’d also like to thank Angela, Sarah, Sammy and Melissa for listening to my ramblings about writing. No one knows how much I both love and hate writing as much as you girls do.
Thanks to Limitless Publishing, Toni Rakestraw and Eden Crane. They ALWAYS come through for me and help turn my so-so manuscripts into the books you all love.
Lastly, I want to thank my readers. Your constant support and awesomeness gives me the inspiration to
keep writing. If it wasn’t for you, I’d have given up a long time ago.
~ About the Author ~
Skyla Madi was born in the small town of Port Maquarie, New South Wales in 1993. She spent half her life growing up in Wauchope, a thriving rural town at the heart of the Hastings River Valley before making the leap to the busy city of Brisbane.
Whenever this young Australian writer isn’t changing diapers, watching cartoons, cooking for her husband or doing other motherly-wife things she is actively working on her writing and improving her writing skills.
Skyla loves to read just as much as she loves to write and since discovering that YA/paranormal romance/urban fantasy/ are her favourite genres, she has embarked on her own writing journey and is currently working on various YA and NA books.
Twitter:
@Skyla_Madi
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http://www.skylamadi.com
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http://www.goodreads.com/SkylaMadi
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/SkylaMadi/e/B00AJ3MTSE/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Skyla Madi, Dark Wings
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