The hanival was Jordan’s hope too. He will be devastated that I won’t be using it unless I can come up with an alternative way to seal the gate.
I run up to the third floor to check on Ebony’s parents. I put them in the suite down the hall from my bedroom to stay until they’re well enough to make their appearance in the human community again. Their recent imprisonment in Skade, beneath the Mi’Ocra Mountain, left them traumatised and near death.
Jez is looking after them. I find her leaving their room, quietly closing the door. ‘They’re sleeping now, but recovering well considering what they’ve been through,’ she says.
‘How are they taking the news?’
‘Hard at first, but recalling their own rescue from Skade helps to keep them positive.’ I nod, and she continues, ‘The good news is they’re ready to take the next step.’
‘Officials will grill them.’
‘They understand to be vague on details and memory. For believability’s sake, I’ve left purple bruises, a few scars and signs of head trauma. But they’re longing to be home and start rebuilding their lives.’
It’s what they told me too in our conversation before I left for Empyrean. I rub the back of my neck to ease the tension there.
‘They plan to stay at their neighbours’ place – Reuben and Dawn.’
‘Amber’s parents.’
‘Yes, while they supervise construction of their new house. I’ll look in on them regularly,’ Jez volunteers. ‘If they’re not recovering sufficiently under human care, I’ll speed their healing along, help keep flashbacks to a minimum. They’re going to be fine.’
‘Thanks for taking such good care of them, Jez.’
She shrugs. ‘It’s my job. We take care of humans.’
We hear Isaac, Solomon, Jerome and Sami arrive on the front deck and head downstairs to greet them, but slow our pace when Isaac runs in ahead and Shae leaps into his arms.
‘Hold me tight,’ she whispers.
He catches my eye over the top of her head. How bad is the news?
I’ll brief everyone in my study as soon as the others arrive.
Uri and Tash walk in next. Michael directs them to my study. Jez follows Tash inside while I wait at the door.
‘We should restore our energy,’ Michael proposes.
‘There’s no time for food. Immediately after the briefing we leave for Skade.’
Michael nods slowly. He has something to say, but Solomon arrives at the front door and he goes to greet him.
Isaac hears and asks softly, ‘When was the last time you ate anything, Thane?’
I glance at him from the doorway, making sure to include everyone sitting at the table. ‘I don’t need food. It’s been three days already since he took her. It’s as if time is on a spinning wheel that’s accelerating exponentially.’
‘But you need your strength for this mission, Thane. We all do.’
He’s right. Of course he’s right. But the thought of delaying going after Ebony for even a second longer than absolutely necessary is driving me crazy. ‘OK. We can eat while we discuss our course of action.’
Uri and Tash volunteer and take off to the kitchen.
Everyone is eager to know how we got on at Empyrean and if we have the hanival with us, but they know we will wait for Uri and Tash to rejoin us and for Gabe to arrive. Meanwhile, I ask for an update on the tasks I left with them.
Isaac goes first. ‘I’ve been helping Gabe with the new prison facility. It’s almost finished.’
‘No problems?’
‘You’d be surprised how many rooms the Brothers had already constructed after the Prodigies’ last attack. We’ve closed off all the tunnels leading to or from the monastery, except for those that now form the spine of the new prison. It’s a labyrinth down there but completely escape-proof.’
‘Have you started questioning the prisoners yet?’
‘Affirmative.’
‘Anything useful?’
‘Some.’
‘Brief me on the way to Skade. And the Thrones?’
‘Nothing yet. They will be hardest to break.’
‘Keep working on them. They’ll talk eventually.’
Gabe arrives and pulls out a chair. ‘Have I missed anything?’
Tash and Uri walk in with steaming platters of food. The scent is intoxicating, lifting the mood in the room, and while everyone digs in I ask Uriel for the engineers’ report.
‘They’re not finished yet.’
Gabe groans. ‘They’ve had three days.’
‘Yes,’ Uri says, ‘but they’ve had to consult with specialist biochemists.’
‘What for?’ Gabe looks at me, while Uri shrugs and across the table Michael catches my eye. I nod and all eyes turn to him.
He starts from the beginning, explaining what happened when he, Shae and I put our petition before the High King. He holds nothing back; to do so would be disrespectful to our colleagues. Gathered around my table now are the angels who will help me formulate the plan to bring Ebony home. They need all the facts, including how the gates’ composition is of living matter and what it would take to seal a puncture of the size we require.
When he finishes the only sound in the room is our breathing.
Until finally Tash asks, ‘How many realistic options do we have?’
‘That’s what we need to discuss,’ I tell everyone. ‘We need a new plan other than the one the High King gave us.’
A few of them start talking simultaneously.
‘Just in case anyone is thinking that a human sacrifice is an option, I’m telling you now it isn’t.’
‘There was once talk of a back door into Skade,’ Isaac recalls.
Solomon says, ‘Luca destroyed it about a thousand years ago, after rebels leaked the location.’ He shifts his glance to me. ‘My prince, forgive me for asking, but why aren’t we discussing our High King’s option?’ He looks around the table, making the others suddenly squirm. Principals, the angelic order Sol belongs to, have a more pragmatic approach to solving problems than Seraphim, who are more aware of our own and others’ emotions.
Tash explains. ‘It’s a lot to expect of a human, even if we did find one who fit the criteria.’
‘Oh, come on, people,’ Gabe says. ‘There is one who might do it willingly, and you all know I’m talking about Jordan but are too scared to bring his name up in front of my youngest brother.’
‘We’re not scared of Thane, you fool,’ Jerome hisses. ‘We’re respectful. We are in our brother’s house, which just happens to be Jordan’s home too. If anyone brings Jordan into this discussion, it shouldn’t be any of us.’
Unfortunately Jordan is the one human who comes to mind. But it’s an abhorrent thought, and it sickens me that his name enters my thoughts just as easily as the thoughts of those who hardly know him.
I start to respond to Gabriel, but he rushes to defend himself. ‘Brother, everyone is thinking of Jordan. We may as well deal with it now.’
‘OK.’ I glance round the table, meeting the eyes of everyone in turn. ‘I can’t stop you from thinking his name, but I implore you not to mention this option to Jordan. He cannot be a candidate for too many reasons to explain.’
‘I object.’
It’s Shae. Of course. I understand where she’s coming from, but on this no one will sway me. The sooner they understand this, the sooner we can get on with rescuing Ebony.
Gabriel says, ‘Thane, we all know how close you are to this boy and that you find the very thought of his sacrifice repugnant. I do too, as I’m sure does everyone here.’ Nodding heads and murmurs around the table concur. ‘But we must think logically because there are consequences to leaving Ebony in Skade, and besides that, Ebony is one of us.’
‘And Jordan? What is he? An instrument to use at our will? He is a human being, the very species we are sworn to protect, the same species who will suffer the most should I fail in this endeavour. I know what’s at stake, and I’m telling you –
I will find another way.’
Gabe glares at me from under his dark-blond lashes, so thick they make a near-perfect screen, concealing what he is really thinking. How much could Ebony see when she looked into Gabriel’s eyes?
‘Tell us you didn’t use Jordan when he died and you caught his soul,’ he says. ‘Tell us you didn’t use him as an instrument of your will.’
‘I gave him a chance at a better life than the one that Luca ruined when he kidnapped Jordan’s Guardian. I didn’t know it would turn out like this. I stand by my decision to give Jordan a second chance. But since he still doesn’t have his Guardian, who will look out for him if I don’t? If I have to, I will protect Jordan to the end of his days.’
‘Brother, humans live and they die. Some die young. We can’t stop that. And we all know how full of love Jordan’s heart is for –’
I’m on my feet before he says her name. ‘Jordan can’t hear of this. Not one word. Do you understand, Gabe?’ I glance over the others around the table. ‘Do you all?’
‘I do,’ Jez says, quickly followed by assurances from Michael, Uriel, Tash and Sami.
I turn to Gabe. ‘I respect your different view, but I need you to trust me that I will come up with another plan. In the meantime, I need you to promise you won’t tell Jordan about this.’
He groans. ‘Thane, you have to admit Jordan is perfect. He loves Ebony, and he hates his life. I think he’ll sacrifice himself willingly if we give him the choice.’
I slam my hand down on the polished timber table with more pressure than I mean to and it opens a fissure halfway to the opposite end.
‘Now look what you’ve done,’ Gabe scolds.
‘Really, Gabe? You’re concerned about a table? Tables are expendable. Humans are not. Jordan could never be replaced.’
‘What do you see in that boy?’
‘Courage. Honour. A willingness to be a better person.’ My eyes sweep to Tash’s as a memory springs to mind of the night in Skade when we searched for Ebony’s human parents. We’d set up camp in the icy paths that formed a maze on the outside of Mount Mi’Ocra. Tash had huddled down with the wild dogs she’d successfully made into her pack when she’d had a vision and a seizure. She’d murmured, ‘Someone you trust will betray you,’ right before she passed out.
‘What about lust?’ Gabe asks. ‘For your fiancée?’
‘Show me a seventeen-year-old boy who would not lust over my fiancée.’
That catches him off guard, and amused sniggers break out around the conference table. Gabe opens his mouth to say something, and closes it again. ‘Touché,’ he grins, and in that moment I glimpse the brother I know and have always loved. ‘I just think you should give Jordan the chance to make up his own mind.’ He glances at the others. ‘We should take a vote.’
‘No, we shouldn’t.’ I have to stop this before momentum takes over. Voting is our favoured method to settle disputes between us. But this is not one of those kinds of disputes, not when a human’s life is at stake. ‘We don’t vote whether a human lives or dies.’
‘This is about choice, Thane, a human’s basic right,’ Gabe persists, and he turns to face the others. ‘Let’s do this quickly in a show of hands. Who thinks we should give Jordan the chance to make up his own mind?’
I stare into my brother’s face, ‘Given the choice, do you really think Jordan could walk away? Can’t you see that if he knew, he would have no choice? The part of him connected to Ebony through the Guardian bond would not allow him to make an objective decision. Turning away would destroy him. That’s why he can’t be told.’
‘And what of the greater reason Ebony must be brought home? The children Luca will make with her, the army over time that puts the entire human species in danger?’
‘I’m aware that the sooner we bring Ebony home …’ But I can’t finish. Just being apart is tearing me up inside, and these thoughts bring images with them. Seeing Luca with Ebony in his arms, his hands on her, forcing her to … to … ‘Gabriel, believe me, I understand the ramifications should we fail to retrieve Ebony before Luca makes her Skade’s Queen. I know how much harder it will be once …’
Heads nod and for now at least Gabriel goes silent. But arguing with him has taken my attention away from where it should be – listening for Jordan in case he arrives home. It’s a school day so he should be down in the Oakes Valley. Or he could be at Amber’s. I don’t know, and I’m not concerned as long as he’s not here. I listen for his thoughts and breathe a little easier. There’s still nothing.
But the thought occurs that if Ebony kept training in my absence, chances are Jordan would have too. The last thing we worked on together was blocking angels from getting into his head. Circumstances, his anger for me, would have motivated him to work on improving this particular skill.
Stars almighty! I shouldn’t be listening for Jordan’s thoughts!
And when I shift my focus I hear Amber straight away, frantically deliberating what to tell Jordan to make him leave and go to her place.
‘No. No, no.’
Not only is Jordan home, but he’s also close. How much has he heard? I spin around looking for him.
‘What is it?’ Michael is already at my side.
Jordan is here.
Where?
Close.
I’ve been listening. I didn’t hear him.
He’s blocking his thoughts from us.
Then, how … ?
Tash looks up and says, ‘Amber is with him.’
I yank the door open and see them, their backs against the wall. I glance into the study which is so close, and I know. The only question is, how much did he hear?
Amber shifts her head from side to side. Her eyes are streaked red, pupils dilated and filled with fear. And I know then, he’s heard enough.
Jordan’s nostrils flare as he draws in a strangled breath and says, ‘I’ll do it.’
Amber shrieks, ‘No!’ It’s a guttural cry for help. She looks at me. ‘You can stop him, right?’
He gives her a harsh glance. ‘Amber, you don’t understand.’
With a sense of heaviness, my eyes close. Maybe if I open them slowly enough, Jordan will not be standing before me and this will all be a bad dream.
‘Did you hear me, Thane? For God’s sake, man, open your eyes and tell me you heard me!’
He pushes past me into the study, where Jez, Isaac, Sol and Jerome are hurriedly clearing the table. ‘Stop, everyone, you can clean up later. Right now I need someone to tell me exactly what I have to do to make this happen. How? When? Where? All of it. I don’t want to stuff up the one good thing I can do with my lousy life.’
Amber leans on the door, clutching herself around the waist, a pleading look in her eyes. ‘Jordan, come home with me. Jordan, please …’
But he ignores her as if she weren’t there. ‘Who’s gonna help me do this?’ His eyes go first to Michael, who gives him a small shake of refusal.
Jordan glances at Isaac next, who wordlessly looks away. From one after another he receives similar reactions. He shifts his eyes between Jerome and Sami, both of whom I assume he’s come to know in my absence, but my brother’s piteous look and my sister-in-law’s compassionate one only make Jordan growl.
He looks at Shae next, recognising her, and hope makes his eyes widen. ‘Will you help me save your sister?’
Shae’s hand whips up to her mouth, her eyes flitting to mine. I love my sister, she links.
I know, Shae. I do too. And I’m asking you to trust me. I will find another way to bring Ebony home and keep humankind safe.
She sighs. ‘Jordan, what you ask is impossible for an angel.’
‘It shouldn’t be for you. We’re not talking about any angel, you know,’ he hits back. ‘I heard you lot talking about taking a vote. Well, I’m saving you the trouble.’ He spots Gabriel. ‘You!’ he points. ‘You want me to do this. I heard you. You are gonna help me.’
Jez taps the table to get Jordan’s attention. As sh
e’s healed him in the past, the two have developed a certain rapport. She comes and stands in front of him. ‘Jordan, let’s talk about this.’
‘No. You’re not gonna change my mind.’
‘There are things you should know.’
‘Stop! I don’t trust anything you tell me because you would do anything Thane says. You’re like his pet groupie.’
She steps back as if he slapped her. With her pride stinging, she loads her arms with dishes and heads to the kitchen, murmuring to no one in particular, ‘Maybe we should let him do it, the ungrateful insect.’
An instant of regret flits across Jordan’s eyes, but Jez misses it.
He then turns to Gabriel. ‘What’s it gonna take to get you to help me? I’ll do whatever you want. Anything. Just tell me. Come on, Gabe, you’re my last hope.’
Gabriel remains silent. He peers over the top of Jordan’s head to me, a distinct apology in his eyes.
Sensing defeat, Jordan picks up a chair and hurls it at the wall. ‘What’s the problem with you people? My life isn’t worth shit anyway!’ He points a finger at me. ‘You know that. You gave me a second chance but I blew it. You should be the first to volunteer me.’
‘You didn’t blow anything, Jordan.’
‘Yeah, I did. Our deal was that I help you find Ebony so you could take her back to her real home. I helped find her, sure. But I’ve done nothing to encourage her to return to Avena. I’ve tried to manipulate her into not going. You don’t know the things I told her when you were away, how I played on her doubts to make her believe she wasn’t an angel. I wanted her to stay on Earth and I tried to make her stop loving you.’
‘Sacrificing your life is not the answer to helping Ebony – or to correcting any mistakes you’ve made for one reason or another.’
He drops into a chair. ‘What about my contract with the Dark Prince? He owns my soul. He gets me when I die anyway, so before I go to the fiery pits of Skade I may as well do one good thing with my life.’
‘Luca manipulated you in a dream. I will deal with that as soon as I –’
‘Just quit it, Thane! You think you can fix everyone’s problems. Shit, you even think you can fix the world! But that’s not gonna happen. There are some things that even you can’t fix.’