Eli Fletcher: Mark of the King: Book 1

Chapter Six

Tentatio Buys Me a Frappuccino

After a restless night and almost no sleep, I sneak out of the building before anyone is awake. I just need some time alone. Too much has happened and too much has changed in just a few short weeks. It feels like just yesterday I landed in Colorado, knowing no one; now I have a friend, a bully and a little girl who seems to look up to me like a brother. Nothing like this has ever happened at any of the group homes I’ve lived in.

I wander the grounds of the campus and wind up at the kickball field. In the middle of the infield is a bright red ball; Mr. Reese must have missed it somehow when we finished the game yesterday. I step onto the field and cross the dried grass to the ball and stare at it for a moment. Then my eyes wander to the backstop where the catcher would be waiting to retrieve the ball if the kicker missed. I take a step back from the ball, pick a spot on the chain link backstop and then slam my foot into the center of the ball. It bounces back towards me and I catch it as it hits me square in the chest.

The exertion of the kick felt good, as if it released pent up energy and frustration inside of me. I drop the ball and kick it again, the galvanized wires jingling each time the ball strikes. I kick that ball over and over again, thinking about everything that’s happened in my life. The teachers, or Watchers, I’ve lost; the kids who have picked on me and teased me for being the new kid; the stupid golden orb I touched when I was six that changed my life forever; the fact I’ve been given powers to kill the demons that have been trying to kill me for almost seven years; the fact I’ve never met my parents; the offer Tentatio made to take me to them…

When I remember his tempting offer, I stop kicking the ball, wondering if he’d meant it despite what Michael warned me. I take a seat against the backstop; what’s the worst that can happen? Tentatio kills me and another Sicarius is chosen? Would that really be so bad? I mean, if my parents are already dead, it’s not like I’ll get to meet them in this life anyway. If they’re not, maybe he’ll let them go after I’m gone. Nah, that’s not likely; he’ll probably kill them too if he hasn’t already. What would happen if I ran away? What if I just disappear and never look back? Would Tentatio leave the orphanage alone? Would everybody be safe with me out of the picture?

No, he’d probably use them to lure me back; I can’t leave. My only real options are to stay and protect this place, or to let Tentatio kill me and end it all. Could I do that, though? Could I give up my life to protect the others? Fiona and Abby cross my mind; I’d do anything to keep them safe, especially Abby being so little.

Suddenly across the field I see Tentatio standing with his arms behind his back, a sly grin on his face. I stand up and take a few tentative steps towards him, clenching my fists. I don’t have a weapon to fight with, but I’m supposed to have some sort of powers to face him with. My hands feel hot, so I look down and see them glowing. That’s when Tentatio turns on his heel and disappears into the groupings of trees behind the homerun line; beyond that is downtown Colorado Springs.

What do I do? Do I find Miss O and tell her? Do I call for Michael? Or do I go after him? I set my jaw and march toward the trees. I have to face him whether he can reunite me with my parents or not. It’s what I’ve been chosen to do, right?

Once I make it to the trees, I discover a wrought iron fence protecting the grounds of the orphanage. Climbing over the black fence, I drop down to the other side and officially leave the campus for the first time since I arrived. Across the street, Tentatio is waiting for me in a neighborhood of rundown houses. Still showing off that cocky grin, he turns and continues to lead me further away from the group home.

Without a second thought, I follow after Tentatio, unsure and uncaring of where he’s taking me. A pothole-ridden street slithers its way between two, heavily cracked sidewalks. Hurtling my way, two boys on bicycles hit one of the A-frames of sidewalk slabs and launch themselves a couple of feet into the air. I step aside before they can slam into me, and watch as they continue to ride like motocross racers.

My mind returns to Tentatio as a fleeting thought of this possibly being a trap crosses my mind but I shake the thought away; even if it is, I owe it to my parents to try and rescue them if they’re still alive. It’s not like they have powers like I do to be able to escape or even put up a fight against Tentatio.

Soon I find myself nearing the center of downtown Colorado Springs. Just a couple of blocks in front of me is a park. As I draw nearer, an Acacia Park sign in the center of a block wall becomes visible. On the ground, just below the sign, a bright blue sleeping bag stands out against the wall. Next to that a travel pack belonging to a bearded man in an orange beanie shuffle slightly in the cold air. He’s asleep, but I can tell that’s not going to last long seeing as there’s a police officer checking the parking meters.

When she discovers the homeless man sleeping, she nudges him with her foot and he stirs. They begin to talk, and even though I can’t hear what they’re saying, I can tell she’s trying to tell him he needs to leave and he doesn’t look entirely thrilled about it. I sigh and scan the area for any sight of Tentatio, but he’s nowhere to be seen.

Look in your pocket, a voice tells me.

I turn on my heal, searching for Tentatio again; I know it’s him speaking to me.

Just, look in your pocket, he repeats in an annoyed voice.

I reach into both pockets and in my right is a wadded up twenty dollar bill.

Meet me at the coffee shop down the street; my treat! Tentatio continues.

“And why would I get coffee with you?” I ask under my breath.

If you’d like to know more about your parents and where they are, you’ll join me, he adds.

Watching for traffic in both directions, I push the button to cross the street and wait for the light to change. The police officer has already escorted the homeless guy away from the park and returned to checking meters, though I swear she looks at me out of the corner of her eye.

“Where’s the coffee shop?” I wonder out loud until I see its green letters announcing its presence. I open the front door and step inside.

“Why don’t you get yourself a Frappuccino?” Tentatio suggests and I turn to face him.

He sips from a large, brown cup of coffee before flashing that same, toothy smile at me.

Instead of getting a drink, I sit across from him at the small, round table and toss the twenty-dollar bill back to him.

“You know, it’s rude to turn down a gift,” he says.

“Unless the one who gave it to you is the devil,” I argue.

Tentatio chuckles and then waves his hand, a medium-sized drink in a clear plastic cup with a green straw appears. “Boy, I know Coquo already told you I’m not the devil; I’m just one of his friends.”

“He also told me you two are technically equals,” I add. “You’re just a lackey.”

His smile fades for a moment. “I’m going to let that one slide since you’re new around here; Tentatio doesn’t take orders from anybody,”

I sit back and smirk at him. “Whatever you say.”

“You’re pretty confident having just received your powers; you don’t even know how to control them yet,” he snaps.

I shrug. “I’m not the one losing his temper,” I say coolly.

Tentatio smiles again. “You’re a lot like your father,” he says. “Arrogant, sarcastic…foolish.”

“You say that as if it’d insult me. I never knew my dad, so why would that upset me?”

He takes a sip of his coffee. “Fair point,” he agrees and then we stare at each other for what seems forever. Tentatio taps his fingertips on the table gently as if waiting for me to speak. I sit back with my arms crossed over my chest, waiting for him since he’s the one who invited me here.

“I wasn’t lying yesterday,” he says finally.

I shrug. “Do you want a metal or something?”

His eyes flash red for a moment before he allows his mouth to spread into a smile.

“So, that’s a no on meeting your parents then?” he asks.

“Not if it means losing my life to do it,” I tell him.

Tentatio sighs, shaking his head. “Eli, Eli, there’s no need to kill you first; I have them locked safely away.”

I narrow my eyes, trying to read him. “You’re lying,” I say bluntly.

“There’s only one way to find out,” he says. “Join me and you can set them free.”

“And become your slave? I don’t think so.”

“What have you got to lose?”

I stare at him, waiting for him to answer his own question.

“Right, I assume they would turn on you if you did that. But, if you join me, I could teach you how to use your powers and make you even stronger! You wouldn’t need them!”

“Need? Who says I need them? I’ve pretty much been on my own since day one; I don’t need anybody. But, I care about my friends and I’m sure once I got to know my parents, I’ll love them; if they’re even still alive.”

“Believe me, they’re alive,” he says, repeating his lie.

“Right,” I say flatly. “Well, thanks for the drink,” I say without touching it as I rise to my feet.

“You’re not even going to try it?” he asks offended.

“I’m not thirsty.”

“Your loss,” he says, picking up the drink and taking a long drag from the straw.

“Right,” I say, edging closer to the door.

Tentatio raises his hand and snaps his fingers. The lock on the door clicks locked; the blinds fall shut; and the lights go out. The only light is the small amount of sunlight pushing through the string holes of the blinds.

“You didn’t think I’d let you just walk out of here, did you?” Tentatio says, a red glow growing around him.

I stare at him unsure of what to say. My heart begins to beat faster and louder in my chest; I can feel it in my ears. I reach for the door, but when I touch the handle, an unseen force hits me in the chest, sending me flying into the wall. I land face-first on the cold, hard linoleum floor, painted plaster from the wall landing on my back in large chunks. Air is knocked from my lungs and when I finally suck air in again, I choke on the dust from the debris.

My body lifts off the floor like a bullet from a gun, slamming into the ceiling twelve feet above me. I’m held there by an unseen force until I see Tentatio slowly appear beneath me, aiming a palm at me.

“Your story ends here, young Sicarius,” he says with a threateningly, suave voice.

Suddenly the same blur that attacked Tentatio yesterday slams into him and pins him against the wall. Michael, in his true, angel form has Tentatio against the wall, pinning him by the neck in the hole my body created a few moments ago. I begin to fall to the floor, but my momentum slows and I land safely on my feet.

“Michael?” I whisper, but this isn’t Michael anymore. His lanky arms and legs are now rippling with bulging muscles; his dark skin has gone to that polished copper color again, glowing with rays of light from every inch of him. White, feathered wings expand out of his back; light from the coffee shop reflects off the tips of some of those feathers, revealing their razor-sharp edges.

Then Tentatio growls and his body begins to take another form as well. His skin turns blood red with black accents, a deep red glow emanates from him like the golden rays from Coquo’s body. His arms grow larger than Coquo’s and large, black wings missing their feathers expand from behind him. They’re something like a cross between a bat and a dragon’s wings. The smell of sulfur fills the room and my lungs.

“You can’t defeat me, Coquo,” he taunts the angel.

“It’s not my place to,” he replies and then backs away from the demon, pointing the biggest sword I’ve ever seen at his neck. “I suggest you let us leave before it becomes my place.”

With one last glare at Coquo, Tentatio vanishes before my eyes, as do the employees of the coffee shop.

“Where are the real employees?” I wonder out loud.

Coquo sheathes his sword and quickly steps around me and then the counter to the large refrigerator door. When he opens it, I see three coffee shop workers huddling together for warmth.

“It’s okay, you’re safe,” Coquo says gently.

The baristas cautiously stand and exit the large refrigerator. Once they’re all safely out of the cold, Coquo waves a hand over them, a bright light glows all around them. Their bodies relax as if they’d suddenly entered a warm room after being caught in a blizzard; they stare at us blankly as if we aren’t even in the room and then they get to work, preparing their work stations.

“Can I help you?” a short, cute one with the light brown hair pulled into a ponytail asks.

“No, thank you, we were just leaving,” Coquo says, back in Michael form.

“Have a great day!” she chimes and then returns to helping her co-workers behind the bar.

“Ready to go, Eli?” Michael asks.

I nod silently and then follow him out of the coffee shop. Once we’re safely away from the building, he turns quickly to face me.

“What were you thinking?” he demands angrily, though he keeps his voice at a low growl.

I sigh and let my head fall, staring at my feet. “I don’t know,” I admit. “I was just trying to clear my head because of everything that’s happened the past couple of weeks, and especially after our run-in with Tentatio yesterday. I was just kicking the ball against the backstop and then he suddenly appeared, so I…I followed him.”

“And I followed you,” Michael says.

“I never saw you.”

“It’s kind of my job to be stealthy,” he says.

I grin; maybe this angel has more of a personality than I gave him credit for.

As we approach the orphanage a few minutes later, we find a couple of police cars at the bottom of the front steps with their lights flashing. Behind one of the police cars is a dark gray car with a ford emblem on the back of it; Crown Victoria is what the labeling says on the other side of the trunk.

“What’s going on?” I wonder out loud. “Did Miss O call the cops because I was gone?”

Michael shakes his head. “No, I told her I’d handle it,” he tells me, seemingly also confused.

I hurry up the steps and walk through the already open front doors of the orphanage. Four uniformed officers stand in the hallway while two guys in old-looking suits, one gray and one brown, are inside the administration office, talking to Miss O and Mrs. Katz.

“Hold it right there!” one of the uniformed officers says to me, holding his hand out. He looks mean and ready to cuff me while one of the other officers throws an arm in front of his chest.

“Relax, Bill, I’m sure they live here,” he says, stopping the angry one. “What’s your name, kid?” he asks as he steps up to me.