“Are you okay?” I ask cautiously.
Her whimpers become panicked and she’s tries to crawl away from me, but she doesn’t have enough strength. “Please,” she gasps. “Don’t.” Then I notice the blood. Lots of blood. I run over to her and roll her onto her side. Her eyes are closed, too swollen to open.
“It’s okay,” I tell her. “You’re going to be okay.”
She isn’t going to be okay. She’s lost too much blood. Her short purple dress is pulled up to her hips. I pull it down. You don’t have to be a doctor to understand what exactly has happened here. Poor girl, there’s blood coming from all orifices and a lot of it is dry. She’s been like this for a while, barely holding on. She’s young, at least nineteen, maybe twenty. The contents of her handbag were spread out all over the concrete. I search them, looking for a driver’s licence or I.D. card—anything that can tell me what her name is. I find her purse and locate the driver’s license. Violet Ashton. Concave City. I pull out my cell phone and dial the HQ.
“Jordan Aft speaking.”
“Jordon, it’s Lucas Cross. I need you to get a message to the Never Dark for me, to Sally, the recruitment officer. Tell her to run the name Violet Ashton, Concave City, in her system. Call me back.”
I hang up and wait impatiently, staring at Violet. She’s stopped moving and whimpering now. I press my fingers to her throat. She’s gone. I tap my cell phone on my knee. The window to create an angel is short and I’m running out of time. Buzz, buzz.
“Jordon?”
“Violet Ashton, Concave City. No parents, no siblings.”
No family. I glance down at her and I can’t process the fact that she has no one that’ll care if she dies tonight. The thought alone constricts my chest.
“Do you remember when I said that I don’t want to be a mentor and turned down that last kid?”
“Yes…”
“Well, I’m ready and I want to mentor this girl.”
“What makes her so special?”
“We’re running out of time! Call Sally and tell her that I’m bringing back Violet Ashton. See if Luke is free—if he isn’t, get another Veltra angel down here immediately. Tell whoever it is that I’m in an alley on Rock Street and need to be teleported now.”
I disconnect, stand up, and pull Violet into my arms. I can’t help but wonder what makes this girl so special? I stare at her. It’s clear I’m not helping her because she’s hot. I have no idea what she looks like under all the swelling and blood. It hits me—it’s because she’s a fighter. She had no idea if she’d even be found, but she held on right up until I found her. There was nothing I could do to help her, but maybe I can give her a second chance at living.
I glanced up the alley and I see the run down janitors’ shed and the graffiti of a devil woman with large breasts spray painted on the concrete wall in front of me. I grabbed the giant tin barrel I was sitting on and I threw it at the concrete wall across from where I was sitting. It clanged hard against the concrete wall and the couple screamed and tried to run past me, but I grabbed them both by the throat. They didn’t try to fight me, they were too scared.
“Please,” the girl cried. “Don’t.”
Her whimpers become panicked and I think she’s trying to crawl away from me, but she doesn’t have enough strength. “Please, she gasps. “Don’t.”
I drop them and they run, leaving me alone in the alley with my memories. I fall onto my knees, trying to shake the remembrance from my mind.
I run over to her and roll her onto her side. Her eyes are closed, too swollen to open.
“It’s okay,” I tell her. “You’re going to be okay.”
“Stop!” I yelled, punching the concrete beneath me. But it doesn’t stop and it won’t stop. If I didn’t step into this alley years ago, I never would have known Violet Ashton and I wouldn’t have felt that urge to protect her and eventually we never would have fallen in love. I had to protect myself from my memories. I had to destroy the source that forces me to remember them. I had to destroy Earth. I rose to my feet and stormed through the alley. I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and called Dex.
“Dex. It’s Lucas. Close the club, I’m coming home and I want it cleared out, do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Call War, Famine, and Conquest. Tell them to meet me in my boardroom. I need to discuss plans with them.”
“Yes, sir.”
I hang up the phone and put it back in my pocket. I never voluntarily invite my brothers to my club, but I figured the sooner we end this stupid world, the better. I’ll force the memories of my old life from my mind by destroying the familiar places. It was a long shot, but one that had to be made.
Consciousness
Violet
I opened my eyes to the same stupid, boring cell. I’d hoped it was a dream and that maybe I was still asleep in the teleportation reception room back on Earth. No such luck. Was I meant to wake up and suddenly remember things? Because I didn’t. I still didn’t recall being compelled, and although it’s something I wouldn’t remember, I think I’d know if I missed a whole chunk of time out of my life. I sat up and my whole body ached. I glanced down at my black tee. I also had vomit on my shirt.
“I need a shower,” I groaned. Instead of pulling the vomit-covered shirt over my head and adding any more to my hair, I tore it from the collar down and let it fall into a heap. I was thankful that the front of my body wasn’t damaged. There was no bruising to my breasts, stomach, or legs. I didn’t even have to look at my back to know that it was a completely different story. My face also felt swollen and sore, but it wasn’t as bad as it was the last time I was awake, whenever that was. I stood under the shower and turned it on.
The first drop hit my skin and I remembered. It all seemed so clear. The warm droplets burned against my abused skin. Steam enveloped me and I stood there, still, the voices echoing in my head. Eva’s. “Compulsion is an exhausting spell, Lucas, and on an angel, takes it to a whole other level of strength.” Lucas’s. “I need her to be safe… and Earth isn’t safe.” Mine. “You don’t have the people you care about compelled… you don’t take away their rights.” I turned the water off, hardly washing. It was true.
Lucas had me compelled.
I ran to the door, completely naked. I didn’t care, this was a bigger issue than being shy.
“I remember!” I yelled. “Hello?”
I stared down the long white hall. The other cells appeared empty and no one populated the walkways. “I was compelled! I remember everything! Hello?” I shouted.
A guard stepped into the hallway. “Shower. We’ll bring fresh clothes. The Council would like to see you.”
I returned to the shower and scrubbed eagerly. I needed to get out of here. The harsh soap scratched against my skin as I washed my body. I couldn’t stop thinking about Lucas and what he did to me. Everything I just went through was his fault. The least he could have done was compel me a decent back story. There were a lot of holes in mine and I see them now that I’m not in some forced stupor.
***
“Miss Ashton,” Willow greeted.
“Good morn—even—night,” I said awkwardly. I had no idea what the time was. “You’re right, I was compelled, but I remember everything now.”
Sebastian, the orange Council member, leaned forward in his chair. His bright blue eyes pierced mine. “It is very important that you give us every piece of information.”
I nodded, feeling more comfortable now that I was back in a catsuit. “I went to his club, and then up to his room. He injected me with a serum and it made me pass out. When I awoke, I was handcuffed to his bed. He referred to his brothers, so I guess they’re in town, too.”
The Council stiffened and it made me uneasy.
“He told me to leave Earth because it wasn’t safe for me and then he had me compelled by his witch.”
“I doubt Death went to all the trouble to compel you just to keep you safe. He must’ve told
you something he doesn’t want anyone else to know.”
“No, I swear. He didn’t tell me anything.”
All twelve eyes narrowed. “Then this was all for nothing. Your trip was all for nothing,” Nektosha said.
“And you brought us nothing,” her brother added in the exact same voice. “The world is about to end and you were prancing around town with an ex-lover.”
“No, it wasn’t like that, I—”
“Silence!” Ahearn shouted. “You have disappointed us all. I would like to suggest that Miss Ashton is dropped down to a half star. It seems like tracker demons are better suited for her capabilities.”
I wanted to jump out of my chair and scream and punch things, but there’s no way my body could handle anymore abuse. “No, I beg of you, please.”
Ahearn raises his hand. “All those in favor?”
One by one they raised their hands and I was fighting back the urge to cry. My chest ached. After all that I’ve been through for them they’re just going to kick me to the curb?
“I’m sure you could find a tracker mission within the next few days. Leave the hard tasks to the grown-ups, okay?”
I watched as they left the room, one after the other. Tears dropped onto my cheeks and I trotted from the Council room. In a tear-filled haze, I made my way to the elevator. In the reflective surface of the elevator wall I saw all of the damage done to my face. I was so mad. How could they do this to me? I was one of them, not an enemy. Surely there’s another way to force someone to remember if they’ve been compelled. I pulled my hair around my shoulders so it created a curtain and concealed the majority of the damage. There was nothing I could do for the puffy, bloodshot eyes. I stepped out of the elevator and headed straight for the exit.
“Violet? Oh my God!” Great, just what I needed. Jenga jogged over to me and wrapped her arms around me. “I was so worried for you. You’ve been up there for ages.”
She pulled away from me, but kept her hands firmly on my shoulders. I don’t like being in close proximity with people, but I was too hurt, too exhausted to tell her to go away.
“Jesus Christ. What did they do to you?”
“It’s nothing. I just want to go home.”
“I’ll take you.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll walk.”
The thought of pressing my bruised back against a car seat makes me want to vomit.
“You’re not my boss anymore.” She chose her next words with caution. “They told me about the demotion. So let me walk with you as your friend, not your assistant.”
It felt weird having someone actually care besides Lucas. Jenga grabbed her long black coat and hid her pretty red fifties styled dress underneath it. We walked in silence through the lobby. People stared and whispered. I felt exactly like I did the day I walked all the way home by myself after Lucas had been taken. People stared and whispered then, too.
“You’d think they’d handle things more discretely up here,” Jenga mumbled to me. “Hey! What are you staring at? Get back to work!” she shouted to three angels who made it their mission to make me uncomfortable with their gawking eyes.
With embarrassment plain on their features, they turned and stalked away from us. We finally made it outside. The freezing cold air soothed my burning cheeks. I looked around my city. I loved being back here. It was always bustling with purpose. Not the kind of purpose you’d find on Earth. Our city wasn’t fuelled by alcohol, sex, money—although they did make the Never Dark slightly more bearable—it was fuelled by death, the death of Demons. The Never Dark isn’t like Earth (despite all the luxuries we bring back). It has no countries and no borderlines. It’s one major city run by angels. Everyone had something to contribute. Angels weren’t just recruited to fight, some were recruited to keep our world thriving. Despite being angels, we still had to survive off actual food and water so we had farms on the outskirts that provided us with what we needed. The elderly angels (very little in number) chose to stay on the outskirts of the city mostly, in beautiful cottages until they passed on to the after-afterlife. I often hear angels wonder if there is a god. Some say yes, some say no. I, for one, don’t think there is. Or at least I hope not. I’ve lived enough for an eternity.
“Are you really okay?” Jenga asked, breaking me from my thoughts.
“Yeah.” I shrugged. “I mean, stuff happens.”
“I know you’re not the kind of person that likes to have friends or to share things, but you need to talk to someone. It’ll be good for you.”
“Good for me, huh?”
She shrugged her shoulders and smiled. “So they say.”
“There’s no need to cosy up to people here. Why? Because they’ll probably die tomorrow or the next day…”
“What if they don’t?”
“What do you mean?”
“If they don’t die, you miss out.” She glanced sideways at me. “You could let me be your friend. I’m not a field angel, so I’m not going to die.”
She did have a point, but sharing feelings and spending time? It all seemed so exhausting, and I wasn’t used to people caring because I didn’t let them. I didn’t have parents or siblings. I was raised in a shelter before I moved out at eighteen. I’m not used to having shoulders to lean on. The moment I let someone ‘care’ and walk me home, I died because they didn’t actually care about me, only what I could provide.
“I won’t push being your friend, but I do have something that should help your situation,” she said.
“Situation? This isn’t a situation.” I kicked an empty can of Coke that lay abandoned on the footpath. “This is one big fucking mess.”
“Fine, I have something that will fix your big fucking mess.” When I didn’t respond, she continued. “What if you don’t kill Lucas?”
“Well, I can’t now, anyway. Besides—”
“What if you kill one of his brothers?”
A chuckle fell from my lips. She made it sound like killing demons was a walk in the park. It’s not. Even trackers have their difficulties. And I’ve seen firsthand how strong Lucas’s brothers are.
“The only reason I went after Lucas in the first place was because our relationship used to be intimate. I thought I could manipulate that.”
“Then manipulate one of his brothers.”
A shudder crept through me. Clearly, she’s never seen his brothers. Lucas was a ten, his brothers were barely a one. Gross.
“That isn’t going to work. You can’t kill what you don’t get assigned to. Besides, his brothers are creepy.”
“I’m sure the Council won’t care if you kill one of the four Horsemen, and if you want to earn your stars and the respect of the Council back, there are always options. You’re going to want to be quick, though. Earth probably isn’t going to exist in a few more months.”
“Thanks, but look at me.” I pointed at my swollen face. “This is what happens when you swim in water that is too deep, so I think I’ll pass.”
“Violet, you—”
“Look, I get that you’re trying to help and all, but I just want to rest for a few days. The thought of going back to Earth right now makes me want to kill myself.”
“Okay, fine, but if you do decide you want to regain your pride, let me know and I’ll help you.”
Jenga turned around and I called after her. “You’re crazy!”
She flipped me her middle finger and kept walking towards HQ, leaving me wallowing in the blissful sounds of a busy city.
***
It had only been a week since I was last in my apartment complex, but it felt like a whole lifetime had passed since then. The door jarred a little, but with a hard shove it opened, throwing me into my living room. My apartment was as depressing as the cell I’d stayed in. I’d never taken to decorating my space or filling it with meaningless junk. I was never here, after all. The bed, the couch, and the TV were enough to sustain the brief lengths of time I spent in this realm. I made my way through the desolate living room and into th
e bathroom to assess more of the damage done to my body. I slid out of my catsuit and stood in front of my huge bathroom mirror. My cheeks and mouth were quite swollen and purple, a few days and it should turn yellow before disappearing completely. Until then, I wasn’t going anywhere. It might be a little vain, but I doubt anyone would leave their house if they looked like they’d picked a fight with a concrete wall and lost. I pressed on the inflamed skin and winced.
“Assholes,” I hissed under my breath. A small bottle of painkillers sat on my countertop and I took a few, swallowing them with two handfuls of water. I strolled from the bathroom to my bedroom. Clothes and open books scattered the floor. I turned the fan on and it circulated warm air around my room. With a loud grunt, I collapsed onto my bed and closed my eyes. I wondered if I could hide out in here forever—it’s what I’d like to do. Unfortunately, killing demons is the name of the game, and if you’re not killing, you’re not in the game. I rolled over onto my back and thought about the things Jenga had said. She was right about everything and I knew that, but the thought of having to do those things terrified me. When you make new friends, it isn’t just the awkward social conventions you have to worry about. It’s also their losses and their deaths you have to deal with. I’m not sure I could be the person to offer support in those times and I’m definitely not the type of person that would want support in those times, at least, not anymore. Did I ever consider Jenga to be a friend? No, not really. She was my assistant and that’s as far as I thought it went. Jenga, on the other hand, seems to feel obligated to see how I’m doing and I think she genuinely cares. She’s definitely toughened up in the year that I’ve had her as my assistant… maybe I could be her friend. As for the regaining my pride thing… I don’t know how I’d manage. The four Horsemen are a powerful bunch, but it’s worth a shot, I guess. Lucas cared enough to have me compelled, so surely he cares enough to kill one of his own brothers if they hurt me. It was a long shot, but probably one I’d entertain when I’m feeling up to it.