“Glad to make you laugh, anytime.” I wiggled my eyebrows. “What are friends for? So, do you think our situation in Hilo is a dire one? Do I need to tell the Divine Elders?”
“You kind of did. I’m a Divine Elder, remember?”
“You’re my friend first, and you know what I mean.” I cocked an eyebrow.
Michael inhaled a deep breath, shifted his leg, and looked beyond me to the door. “No need to bring the Venators in at this time. I’ll inform Claudia. I’ll help you rescue this demon, Eli, and I’ll help you make Mortem pay for his crimes.”
I rubbed the side of my head, wondering if I should tell him about how Lucia felt about Eli but decided not to. Lucia had told me she didn’t love him. Sure, she cared about him, but we all cared about him. Maybe she did more than us all, but it didn’t mean anything, right?
“Do you know anything about Cyrus? Have any of your ancient friends told you about him?”
“Ancient? Are you implying I’m old?”
I lifted my shoulders and gave him a mischievous grin. “Yeah. I guess I just did.”
“I’ll forgive you for now. Duel me, and we’ll see who is really old.” His expression became serious again. “Did Lucia get injured? Did she experience pain?” He swallowed hard and looked away.
I couldn’t lie to him. Lucia being his daughter, he had the right to know. “We’re not only at war with the demons and Fallen, we are faced with treasures hidden from the world long ago that can do unexplainable things. A weapon called a true-cross dagger can freeze a being in place and give pain beyond agony. I’m not sure to what degree, for I’ve not felt it, but …” My heart shattered, recalling when Cyrus had pierced Lucia’s heart. I would have traded my life for hers, but he wanted Eli. And Eli took the fall for Lucia. I would never forget his sacrifice. “Lucia…she—” I didn’t need to say more.
Michael placed out his hand to stop me. His eyes narrowed, dark and full of anger. His muscles hardened, showing every curve and bump. He looked like an angry bull ready to charge.
“She’s good as new,” I blurted out before Michael lost it. “She’s fine. Eli took her place. He…we need to rescue him. He’s only a boy. He lost his mother and has no father. And I feel terrible. I’m so sorry, Michael. I feel like I let Lucia down,” I rambled.
I disliked Eli at first. He caught Lucia’s attention, and I knew trouble would stir between them, but one could never stop a beautiful love fated to blossom. Who was I to judge and stop it? I couldn’t with Michael and Claudia. I’d envied them for the longest time and wished I had someone to love, but my path in life led down a different road and I was fine with it.
“It’s not your fault, Davin. We all knew the possibilities. Just because she’s a special child, a child born from the blood of the original angel, doesn’t mean she will always be safe. What do we do now?” Michael sat across from me, relaxed and calm. Thank God.
“I found Mortem’s hideout. I say we surprise him with a visit.”
Michael’s lips slowly lifted into that warrior’s grin I remembered so well. He couldn’t wait.
“And where exactly are you two going?”
Claudia’s voice stunned us. Michael and I turned. Claudia, Vivian, Caleb, and Austin entered. Oh, crap!
“Davin?” Claudia had the same worried look. She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed me like she missed me. I loved her hugs. Then I nodded a greeting at Vivian, Caleb, and Austin.
“Hello, my love. How goes the meeting?” Michael kissed Claudia on her forehead.
She shook her head while Michael sat beside her. “Davin doesn’t know about these children.” Claudia met my gaze. “Let me explain. Vivian and Caleb found thousands of them when they were on a routine scout throughout the world. They are of mixed blood—human, demon, and even angel. Vivian and Caleb, please jump in when you want.”
“Too many of them, all over the globe. Their parents were killed and we killed the demons before they could take them. They are orphans now.” Vivian added, pushing her dark hair to the side. Her attire consisted of dark pants and long spiky boots. She liked to hide her daggers inside them.
“They haven’t transformed yet,” Caleb threw in.
I rubbed my jaw, trying to figure out what they were getting at. “That’s good, right? We can train them and have them on our side.”
Vivian started to pace the room, her heels clicking on the polished white floor, and then she stopped. “There’s a problem. None have been able to enter Crossroads. So then they must have some demon blood. Do you know anything about that?”
I started to do the moonwalk across the floor, and everyone looked at me as if I had grown devil’s horns on my head. So I stopped and shrugged. “It’s called a moonwalk. It’s a dance. And I think I have an answer.” They kept staring.
“Normal people don’t dance like that,” Vivian spat. “I know what moonwalking is. I’m surprised you can do it.”
I glared at her. “Normal people? I’m not normal.” My eyebrows knitted together, realizing I’d put myself down. Maybe. I wasn’t sure. “Anyway, you want answers or what?”
Austin rubbed his face and leaned his hip against the back of the sofa. “Things don’t change much.”
“And some things do. Like you and me. We’re buds now.” I patted his back.
“Get to the point, Davin.” Michael rolled his eyes.
I gave him a challenging scowled. “As I said before, I might have the answer. In Kona, we found two types of vampires. The Lamia can walk in the sunlight, and they look like the humans except they have fangs when in battle. The other kind, their eyes are red and their teeth are always sharp as swords. Some even have black wings. We believe these are the children that have gone missing in the area. In fact, Clarissa, a friend of a witch they called an Elementa—long story—went missing. Clarissa reappeared all right but as a weird combination of a demon monster. She was not herself. And many were like her. I believe the Fallen are creating these monsters to build an army. They abduct them and turn them.”
“They’re recruiting half breeds, supernatural beings,” Austin murmured.
“Not recruiting. More like taking by force,” I clarified.
Michael tapped his foot on the ground, his eyebrows scrunched together. “Not all half breeds can be changed to a supernatural being. It would depend on their genes.”
“True,” I agreed.
“Wow.” Vivian lowered her eyelashes. “These poor kids. What do we do?”
Michael rounded his shoulders. “Davin needs to get going. I’m going to help his team find a missing being. And from what Davin has expressed, he’s an important element to finding the missing pages. Meanwhile, I’ll inform the Divine Elders. We need to get ready if war is headed our way.”
Austin backed away from the sofa. “After I’m caught up with the situation, I’ll get the Venators ready.”
Vivian pulled a dagger from her boot and examined it. “What about the children we found?”
“Not all are children. Some are teens,” Caleb said. “We should start training the ones old enough to hold a sword. Do you all agree?”
Austin nodded, followed by everyone else.
“Good. We’re all in agreement for once.” I backed away, ready to portal back to Hilo. “Michael, you know where I live, don’t you?”
“I might need more time.”
“Take your time, but hurry up,” I grumbled. “We don’t have forever.”
Michael perked his lips, trying not to laugh. But as always, he pretended to be upset. “Now I have more reasons to take my time.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’ll miss me too much. You will hurry.” I winked at Claudia. “See you when I see you.” Then I shot out of there.
Chapter 4
Eli
“Eli, wake up.”
A soft voice alerted me. I shivered from the cool touch of hands on my face and blinked to focus.
“Eli, you mustn’t sleep.”
“Mom?” I cringed
and bit down on my lip. A shock of sharp pain shot through every nerve, muscle, and bone in my body. I could hardly speak or move.
“Yes, it’s me, my son. Lie still. Don’t get up. What happened?”
“I climbed the highest tree and jumped,” I said nonsensically. It had to be a dream. My mother, bless her soul, had passed away. She couldn’t be real. Or I had lost my mind, and memories of the past invaded my head.
Her dark hair fell on my cheek, tickling me. She smelled like the sweet flowers around our house, jasmine and lily. “How many times did I tell you not to jump? You’re only eight. You could’ve gotten killed.”
“But I want to fly like him, like the man with black big wings. He’s strong and powerful.”
Mother’s eyes grew in fright. “What do you mean? The man with black wings found you?”
“Yes. He showed me what he could do. He turned into fog and flew like a hawk. I want to be like him.”
“No.” Mom gasped and cupped my cheeks. Her eyes showed pure panic, scaring me. “You can’t. You have to stay away from him. He’s a bad man. Do you understand? He will take you away from me.”
I nodded in conviction.
“Promise me, Eli. You’ll do whatever’s necessary not to become him. You mustn’t let him enter your mind. He will destroy you.”
“Okay, Mom,” I whimpered. The seriousness of Mother’s tone frightened me. I wasn’t scared of her, but the thought of being taken by the man with black wings and never being able to see my mom again had me on pins and needles. What if he came back?
Mom placed a necklace around my neck. “This once belonged to your father. It was given to him when Cyrus killed one of the Elementum. Now it belongs to you. When you’re in danger or need to heal from any injury, this sunburst filled with magic will fix you right up. All you have to do is touch the pendant and say: aer, aqua, terra, ignis. If you’re in danger, it will know what to do. If you need to heal, it will call upon anyone who has died if you say their name. Their spirit will come and comfort you and help you.”
“Is that what’s happening right now? Did I call you for help?” My eyes fluttered shut.
“Yes, Eli. I’m always here.” She placed a hand over my heart. “I’ve never left your side.”
Tears pooled in my eyes. Seeing Mom, as if she were really there, brought so many wonderful memories. I thought of the times she had taught me how to cook, how we would sit by the fire and watch movies together, and how she trained me to fight with a sword and use magic like her. And when she left, it would feel like I buried her all over again.
“Don’t leave me.” I tried to grip her wrist, but I couldn’t move my arms. “Mom, don’t leave.” I panicked when she started to fade.
“Chant with me, Eli. Aer, aqua, terra, ignis. Aer, aqua, terra, ignis...” she repeated over and over.
My lips began to form the words. Though I couldn’t hear myself actually say them, I knew some kind of magic had been conjured. Warmth traveled through my body, soothing me, and the pain slowly began to fade.
I flashed my eyes open to stare at the dark gray wall, the metal bars now coming into focus, and a rat scurrying away with a piece of bread it had stolen from me.
“Get up!” a voice roared.
I groaned from the stiffness, the infernal cuffs still around my wrists. Pushing my chest up with my arms, I craned my neck to see Cyrus on the other side of my cell. I no longer felt pain, but my arm muscles ached. Dried blood caked the sleeves of the suit jacket, and I ripped it off, one sleeve at a time. Darker stains spotted my white dress shirt. Maybe I should have kept my suit jacket on.
“Well, well, well, you’ve finally come to visit me. I wondered what took you so long?” I tucked my legs slowly. Each passing second eased the stiffness, and I managed to sit. I flexed my arms to get the blood pumping.
“Where is the second missing page?” he demanded. Wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, he looked like a human, an ordinary man.
I arched my brows in confusion. “Are you not Cyrus? You were there. You unlocked the clue.” I paused. “Wait…you can’t read?”
His shoulders tensed, and his eyes burst from black to red. “Of course I can read, idiot. Where are the angels going?”
I tried to recall the clue, but I couldn’t. “I have no idea, and if I knew, why would I tell you? If you let me go, then I’ll go ask them.”
He hissed in anger. “You play me for a fool?”
I got up and glared at him, keeping my distance. Images of Cyrus killing my mother kept flashing in my mind. Hatred filled me, and I wanted to punch out his heart. No, I wanted to torture him, the way he had hurt so many. “I don’t play you … whatever that means, but I think you’re a coward. A coward who has a sick fetish with the true-cross dagger.”
His black wings burst open, causing me to back away to the wall. I had better stop talking if I wanted to live.
“Scared are you, little boy? You think the bars will keep you safe?” His lips twisted wickedly. “You will tell me what you know, or I’ll have to dig it out of your mind. Hell will be better than what I’ll do to you.”
You mustn’t let him enter your mind. He will destroy you. Mother’s words echoed in my mind. “I’d rather go to Hell,” I spat.
I should have kept my mouth shut again, but I couldn’t help it. Cyrus killed my mother. I would make him pay, getting my vengeance through words until I had the strength to will my sword in my possession.
Cyrus disappeared. Then—poof—he reappeared inside my cell. Shit! I scrambled away, putting my arms in front of me. With my wrists bound and no sword, he could beat me to a pulp.
“I can’t tell you anything. I don’t remember it,” I roared.
“I suppose you’re right,” he said calmly. “I did put you through hell.”
I lowered my arms, shocked by his words. He placed his hands on the wall, rubbing it as if to draw something out. What’s he doing?
“Your mother has hid you well.”
“Don’t talk about my mother,” I gritted through my teeth. “Don’t think about her either. You’re not worthy.”
“No, I’m not worthy,” he said almost sorrowfully. “But she did no justice by you. She raised you as an Elementa and not who you are. You don’t know your potential, Eli. She also made you forget about me.”
“Liar!”
I moved closer to the bars, stumbling over a rock the size of my fist. “I know who I am. I am an Elementa, a Lamia, and I’m cursed by demon blood.”
He stopped touching the wall and gave me his full attention. “And you’re also blessed by dark angel blood.”
“No,” I snapped. “Impossible.”
He took a step forward as I took a step back. “Dark angel blood runs in you. You’ve been blessed to have it all. I can help make you stronger. It’s the reason why your mother hid you from me. She was scared of what you would become instead of embracing who you could be.”
I raised my hands. This was pathetic. How could I protect myself if Cyrus decided to beat the crap out of me? “Stay away from me. I don’t want to become you.”
“Your mom and I were friends once. But she chose the wrong side. She chose your father. She chose love instead of power.”
“Don’t talk about my mother,” I barked.
He let out a mocking chuckle. “She could have been powerful too, if only she chose me.”
“I’m warning you. Don’t talk about my mother,” I growled.
“Too bad she—”
Despite my fear, my temper exploded. I moved with the greatest speed I could summon, calling upon the elemental powers from my necklace, and whacked Cyrus under his chin with the cuffs. His head whipped to the side, but his body stood still.
Holy crap! I was in deep shit. I had forgotten the cuffs made my powers useless. Before I could move, Cyrus gripped my shirt and slammed me to the wall. The pain vibrated through my body. I groaned. If only I could have transformed into my demon form. It wouldn’t have been so easy for him
to capture me.
“You think you can hurt me?” he hissed in my ear. My body still pressed against the rocky structure. “You’re in my domain. You do as I say, boy. I’ve been very kind. Next time, I will show no mercy. And as for you, you don’t want to be like me? It’s too late.”
Cyrus threw me on the ground. I jumped up, still holding fists ready in defense mode. I thought he would come at me again, but instead, the wall started to spin. Spinning … spinning … out of focus. I closed my eyes and welcomed the cool breeze winding around me. Then bam!
I flashed my eyes open to see my barn, my house, my horse Midnight, and apple trees. I turned in circles, submerged in the comfort surrounding where my mom and I once lived. Impossible. How I longed to be there. Raising my hand, I reached for an apple but backed away when I saw Cyrus and a little boy.
“Eli. Come here.”
My eight-year-old self sauntered to him. The Transformer T-shirt he wore brought me back to those years, but I couldn’t recall that meeting.
“Father, you came to see me again.”
His smile grew. I grimaced at the thought of my younger self talking to him, calling him father, and letting him place his arm around my shoulder as if we were close.
“You didn’t tell your mother did you?”
My younger self shook his head. “She doesn’t like you. She doesn’t want me to talk to you.”
He bent to his knees. “I see. Remember, that’s what I told you she would say.”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to make you stronger, faster, and you can travel like me in a mist form. And when the time is right, you can have wings like mine. I will come find you again.”
Cyrus gradually released many of his black feathers, covering the tall tree behind him and blocking the view of the sun. My younger self ran his hand down to the tip of his feathers. Then Cyrus wrapped his massive wings around the boy, and I saw everything he saw. Darkness engulfed him, but his heart raced with the excitement of becoming more.
“Ready, Eli?”
No! I cringed.
“Yes,” the little boy said.
No!