Even Angels Fall (Book 3)

Felix

“There are ten locations where Lucius’ army can breach Earth.” Ema explains, pointing to these access points. On the color-coordinated map, they are bright orange circles with razor sharp teeth. The children sit around the dining table sucking on frozen ice pops. Random bits drip on the floor, but at least it keeps them quiet. “They are protected by Gatekeepers.”

I jot the word down in my private journal. It’s filled with all the random information Ema fills me with on a daily basis.

“They are affiliated with Kio. Unfortunately, they don’t trust people. Their leader, Commander Desna, is a loyal soldier to Tymician. Without him, she will not be our friend but she will continue doing her job. Gate Keepers have the ability to close the Rips. They use maleficium, which is ancient black magic and it requires an abundance of skill.”

“If they belong to Kio, why haven’t I heard of them?”

“They’re an isolated group. They do their job and that’s it. They don’t have political opinions and they certainly don’t get involved in clan affairs.” Ema jumps off the chair and approaches the dining table, climbing up on a new seat to lean over the papers. She pushes a sheet toward me, pointing with stubby fingers to figures written in Old Norse as if I understand them. “This is the final count of Lucius’ army. According to the Grigori, they’ve been sitting in the Third Level for the past couple of weeks just rotting away. Lucius is waiting for something. The Grigori figures he needs amble sacrifice to bring his army to Earth.”

“Sacrifice?”

“Our worlds work in balance. To bring in a high dose of Darkness, you need to high dose of Light. Now, for this amount of Voids, he would need ten Elders.”

“He has Elders.”

“He would need to kill them, drain their Light.”

My pause is lengthy as I sit there. I don’t need to ask if Lucius would do that. It’s an obvious answer but it doesn’t sit well in my stomach. I begin to wonder why the hell I Fell to begin with. Did I even question the man I was choosing to follow? Did any of us?

“Or…” She bites her lip, resting her palm against a chubby cheek. “Someone.”

“Someone?”

Leon sits in the kitchen eating lunch. “Kyla.” He says randomly.

“What about Kyla?”

Ema casually looks over the table before grabbing a piece of paper. I snatch it out of her hand, “I can’t read these. Tell me, what about Kyla?”

Tristan hangs over the edge of the couch, “Connect the dots, Felix. Vetalas, Dion, Isis, the Ruling. Why would they be looking for her? Tymician took her away for a reason.”

“Not because of this.” I protest. “She’s just a girl. A little bratty girl.”

“A hybrid.” I hear Tessa whisper from the stairs.

I get to my feet, “I don’t believe it, not for an instant.” Their looks annoy me, “This isn’t any of your business. Don’t you have lives?”

“We live here.” Tristan mutters.

“I don’t care. Go do something. Tessa, you almost ready to go?” A wave of sadness drenches her features but she nods. “Go wait outside.”

I wait for them to scatter before I sit back down scratching my scalp with dull nails. Ema chews on her lip unsure what to say. I face what apparently everyone else figured out already. “So he wants to kill her?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never met Kyla. I can’t feel her, which is odd, so I have no idea her potential but he seems to think her Light is enough. It’s either that or Elders. He’d rather go the cheaper route. To make Elders requires his personal Light. He doesn’t want to kill them.”

I’m on my feet, looking for someone to hurt, to hit, to insult. All of this is too much. How am I supposed to handle all this crap? Lucius was never supposed to intervene or get involved. That’s why I live on Earth. So I never have to see him or talk to him. “How do you know this? You could just be making assumptions. You don’t know Lucius. You’re just a kid. You have never been to Sheol.”

By the stillness around me, the Peris staring at me, the quiet that is my response, I’ve overstepped and guilt douses my anger. Ema smiles fake and full of sarcasm. “That didn’t take too long.” She jumps off her chair.

“Ema.” I snatch her tiny shoulder. “I’m just confused. I’ve known Kyla for ten years, okay. She couldn’t even access the Source. Her Light was weird and messed up. She’s not who you think she is. You got the wrong girl. Help me fix this, please.”

Her eyes stray to the papers strewn on the table. “If I can meet her, I’ll know if she’s what Lucius needs.”

“How--”

“Stop questioning me.” She demands. “I know that all you see is a child, but I’m the farthest thing from it. I know what I’m doing. Start trusting me.”

Trust, now there’s something I struggle with on a constant basis. I’m the leader because I don’t trust anyone else to lead. I am constantly checking in with all my wards because I don’t trust them to do what they’re asked. I’ve always been overbearing. It’s something Kyla never had a problem telling me.

Ema is different from my kids. She’s stronger despite being so small. She may not realize it, but she is probably the only person I do trust now that Tymician is gone. I dig in the china cabinet to gather all my information I have on Alexander and Kyla and lay it out on the table. I know Alexander and Kyla are no longer together, but I’m positive if I find him, she won’t be far away.

Before her family can prod through it, I’m out the door, “Let’s Go!” Tessa sits on the front steps, depression looming above like an ominous cloud. It’s kind of cute, her brooding.

Tristian hops out of the house while Elisa depressingly follows, groaning at the sunlight as she puts her sunglasses on. “Where’s Eric?” I ask but Tristan avoids it.

Already agitated, I take the stairs two at a time. His door is closed but I shove it open, “Eric, let’s--”

The naked girl on his lap squeals and falls to the mattress, ducking under the covers. I slap a hand over my eyes. “Sorry. Hey, Meghan.”

She weakly replies, “Hi, Felix.”

“Brah, can’t you knock?”

I hold up another hand in apology. “Thought you were going to come with us. It’s fine. Nevermind.” I retreat, slamming the door closed. I stand there for a minute. I really wonder what he can do for her. I guess there’s foreplay. I shake my head. Eric is like my son. I can’t picture anything without shivering in disgust. I’m glad he found someone like Megan though. She is a burned victim too. Her face, hands and throat scarred with third degree burns from a stove fire when she was a little girl. She is perhaps the only one that Eric doesn’t feel the need to hide from. They’ve been dating for 3 years and I’m still not sure if she knows any of us are Fallen. He doesn’t bring her around here very often.

I shut the door to the car and start it.

“Eric busy?” Elisa questions with a mischievous grin.

If she wasn’t an elder, I’d kick her out of the car.

Matthias’ party agreed to meet with me at the King of Prussia mall. There will be too many humans for any betrayal and in such a populated place, no one should give one glance to a hostage exchange.

“Why am I coming again?” Elisa wonders from the front passenger seat. Her naked feet rest on the dashboard, displaying the elaborate flower tattoo decorating her toes and ankle.

“Because I said so.”

Her fingers stretch toward me, running along my neck, “That’s right. I do what you command.” She purrs.

I slap her hand away, glancing in my rearview, catching Tessa’s brief gaze. We both turn away quickly.

“So I got a question.” She goes on. “You have a Cursed Soul, a Special, A binary, a Peris, an Angel, a Scarred Soul, and a missing hybrid all in your modest house, a mixture of oddities. What was Tymician attempting to accomplish with such a collection of Souls I wonder.”

“You’re reading into it.”

“Am it? I was under the impression you were somewhat smart. Huh.” She reaches for the music and turns up the volume.

Tristan reaches up and snaps it off, “Who’s Scarred?”

Elisa acts shocked, pressing a hand to her mouth, “Have I said too much?”

“Elisa.” I warn, “Answer the question.”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? Your quiet little mouse.” She giggles, enjoying our upset, “Oh, is he going to be peeved I’ve ruined his secret?”

Glancing in the rear view, Tristan looks at me. It’s a subtle way of telling me, she’s telling the truth. Leon has a new Scar on his Soul. When did he get it? What happened? Why didn’t he tell me?

It has to be new. I can’t read Souls as closely as she can but Tymician would have told me. Right? Or is this another of his secrets?

“So back to my question.” She pushes. “Why the collection? But better yet.” She looks toward me. “Where do you fit in?”

“There isn’t any collection. We were his family.”

“Yes. His very peculiar family. How coincidental. Do you know Tymician always loved the unique? He found that they were easy to manipulate and more likely to trust him because he himself was exceptional. You think you are his first family, Felix? I wonder what the Peris would say about that.”

Her phone rings. It’s a brief conversation however but whatever is said, ruins her mood. She stares out the window, nearly dejected. The act alone sets me on edge. I may not like anything she has to say but when she says nothing, it has to mean something.

We arrive at the King of Prussia mall. Tessa drags behind but Tristan manages to make her laugh as they weave in between the crowds. It’s not like I want to get rid of her. I have to. For the sake of my sanity. And of course, for the captured members of my clan.

I check my phone. The time is right and yet I don’t see anyone. “Elisa.” I look toward her. “Access the Source, see if you feel anyone.”

She cackles. “You want a couple dead humans on your hands?” My confusion asks the question for me and she exasperates, “I can’t control it.”

“Can’t control what?”

Scratching her knotted brown locks, she admits, “My Light! I can’t control my Light.”

“What do you mean you can’t control it? I brought you in case we get into trouble.”

“Yeah. Not my idea. I’m a new Elder, I told you that. Controlling Elder Light is hard. It takes practice. I haven’t had much of it.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Look, Jock. I don’t need this from a Newborn. I bet you don’t even know how to form a Net.”

“Not yet but at least I won’t kill anyone when I try.”

“God, would you two shut up?” I spin my gaze around toward Tessa. She stalks off toward the shops leaving us behind.

Elisa snickers, “Girlfriend’s mad.”

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Oh, so you’re free then?”

I spin away from her, “Tristan, stay here. If you see anyone, call me. I’ll be right back.” I jog after my escaping detainee, darting through the crowds. Tessa sits in a big leather seat with her elbows on her knees staring at the water fountain. I approach slowly, unsure what I should say.

We’re friends. Just friends. So why do I feel guilty every time Elisa flirts with me? Why is Tessa getting jealous? It shouldn’t be complicated. It’s my fault. I’ve sent her mixed signals somehow during her stay. Perhaps by avoiding her I’ve exposed the fact that I’m attracted to her. She’s a Newborn Angel, she wouldn’t understand how anything remotely romantic between us would be impossible.

My phone rings and I’m almost grateful for the excuse. I’m surprised to hear Ox on the other line however. The worst about it is the words he has for me to hear. Tessa looks back at me and notices the grief spread across my face. She hurries before me as I end the conversation. I lick my lips. My throat dry. My thoughts sporadic.

“Dion’s dead.” Even as the words escape my mouth, I don’t know if I believe them.