Magic and Alphas: A Paranormal Romance Collection, page 133
“No way! You can use your healing for that?”
Jonah laughed, wiping moisture from his hands onto the leg of his jeans. He pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket, and I looked at him in disbelief as he handed it to me.
“I’m sorry—what century are we in again?” I teased him as I dabbed at my face. The truth was that I couldn’t have cared less that he was carrying such an old-fashioned item—I was thoroughly impressed.
“Oh, come on. Sweat gets in my eyes when I’m fighting the monsters of the Underworld. I tried a headband, but I looked like a total dork.”
“You could never look like a dork,” I said quietly. I looked up at him, that invisible thread between us, rooting me in place. “But, seriously,” I said more loudly, breaking the tension, “How did I not know this?”
Jonah shrugged, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. “And you asked me what century we were in?”
I laughed. “Yeah, yeah. Thanks for sharing that with me.”
“You’re welcome.” The moonlight cast his eyes into deep shadows. In profile, I saw the fullness of his lips, and then kicked myself for noticing.
He moved his fingers up to his own head, but then looked at me hesitantly. “Want to try?” he asked, and we both knew it was an invitation for contact as much as an invitation to test the magic.
“Yeah,” I replied eagerly, and he chuckled. I placed my fingers on both sides of his face, mimicking the way he had placed his on mine.
“It’s detoxifying, so just focus on the specific chemicals you want to target,” he instructed. I was so close to him that I could smell the alcohol on his breath, and the proximity made my lips tingle.
“Like we do for poisoning,” I replied, and he nodded. I closed my eyes, focusing, and soon I felt beads of liquid spring about underneath my fingers.
“You’re a natural,” he said, sounding genuinely impressed.
I wondered if he was messing with me, but I realized that I didn’t care. I handed him his handkerchief, but before he could take it from me, he turned his head abruptly as though he could sense danger.
“Rumor, do you feel that?”
I looked at him in confusion and saw that he was scanning the area around us, his brow furrowed in concentration. I looked around uneasily, sensing nothing and then it hit me. My mind was suddenly filled with images of monsters, a sense of urgency flowing through my veins as the darkness inched closer, its inky fingers invading the space between us.
“Dark magic.” I heard the worry in my voice. Jonah drew a breath, his voice low in the dark.
“Yeah. We need to find it and destroy it. Now.”
Chapter Three
We walked in silence, moving toward the location of the dark energy. It would have been much easier to spread our wings and fly, but there was too great of a chance that we’d be seen by humans. Only under the cover of darkness, far away from the city limits, were we able to fly freely, and even then, we were always cautious.
The path took us from the road and into the nearby forest. Our ears were alert for any sounds other than our boots on the dry leaves. Dread settled into my chest, the weight becoming heavier the closer we got to our destination.
Jonah reached out and squeezed my arm, and when I looked at him I could see that the streams of dark energy were affecting him as well. He grimaced, and I knew he was fighting off the demons that threatened to invade his mind.
Dark magic was one of our most brutal enemies. It had a way of seeping into our hearts and invading our souls. Though supernatural, our origins were tied to humans and if we weren’t careful, the darkness would find those human weaknesses and use them against us. And unlike a vampire who could only hurt us in a physical sense, dark magic was infectious. If we weren’t vigilant about keeping our minds blocked from the energy, it would find a way in, and we’d be lost to it forever.
We reached a clearing, with only a thin line of trees standing between us and the source of the darkness. We peered through the brush cautiously, silently planning our attack.
A woman stood in a clearing with her eyes closed, her long, black hair blowing wildly in the breeze, the tendrils caressing her face. Her outstretched arms moved in circles, as though she were nothing more than a harmless scarecrow, weaving back and forth, as she chanted the words needed to conjure the dark spirits. We didn’t need to see the circle of power that she stood in, or the black-hilted knife in her hand streaked with her own blood, to know that she was a dark witch.
“I invoke and conjure thee, powerful spirit, fortified with the power of the Supreme Dark Lord…”
Jonah leaned in close, whispering in my ear. “Take out your dagger.”
I knew exactly what those words meant, and what he was going to do. Our daggers, when tipped in the blood of an Angel, were the most powerful weapons against a dark witch. Before I could protest, and offer my lifeblood instead, he had taken his dagger from its sheath and sliced across his palm. Clenching his fist, he held the blade beneath it, covering it in crimson.
“Now, yours.”
I nodded, reaching out with my dagger and holding it beneath his closed fist. It vibrated in my hand as each drop of Angel blood made contact with the glistening steel.
“Ready?”
I nodded. “Ready.”
Her eyes widened in shock and fear when she saw us, and then they narrowed in anger, as she realized who we were and what we were here to do.
“Angels,” she hissed, her face mottled with rage, and she took a menacing step forward, but Jonah was quick. I caught the silver glint of his dagger as it flew by, whistling through the air, slicing into the witch’s chest. She screamed in pain, stumbling back from the force, but a swirl of angry shadows wrapped themselves around her and she regained her footing.
The witch let out a deep growl, the haunting sound of a soulless creature that had long ago traded her humanity in a merciless pact with the Devil. Her face twisted, and I knew that she would soon shift from her human shell to that of her true nature, a dark and possessed demon. She pulled Jonah’s dagger from her chest, tossing it on the ground quickly, the hilt burning her hand.
She moved forward, her body low with her arm moving back and forth, slicing her own blade through the air with a soft hiss. “Come on, Angels. Let’s see if your God will protect you.” The knife slashed the air again, as the witch began circling the clearing, moving toward us.
The swing of her arm was almost hypnotic, the ebb and flow of her movements slow and steady, and I found myself fighting against the dark forces that surrounded her as my concentration faltered. Images of my parents flashed in my mind, calling out for me to join them in Heaven, to let the witch claim my body and send me home. The longing I had to be reunited with them was strong. It was fueling the darkness urging me to surrender. I closed my eyes, the sensation of being swept away in a torrent of shadows growing stronger.
Suddenly in my mind, I heard Jonah’s voice, and it brought me back. “Keep your mind strong. Don’t let the darkness in, Rumor.”
I shook my head as I pushed the invisible demons away, feeling a heavy weight lifting from my chest. The witch advanced another step. “Don’t you want to see your parents again, Rumor?” Her dry lips curved into a wicked smirk, her sharp teeth barred.
Anger swelled in my chest at the mention of my family and I launched myself at the witch, tackling her to the ground, and pinning her to the forest floor. I brought my dagger around in a shining arc, embedding the blade deep within the witch’s neck.
She screamed, the piercing sound echoing through the forest. Her eyes blazed with fury, and the hot, coppery scent of her blood hit my nostrils. There was a brief moment where I held her gaze, surprise and shock registered on her face as she thrashed beneath my weight, struggling to get away. The knife came free from her body, flying to the ground and I reached for it, but it was just out of grasp, my fingers inches from the handle. I shifted, leaning forward, but I couldn’t lean far enough without taking my weight off the witch and potentially losing my hold on her.
Jonah appeared by my side, lunging for the knife. The witch’s jaw elongated, revealing thick, sharp teeth as her true self took control. Her fingers bent and twisted, and her arms and legs contorted as she shifted into a dark beast with bloodlust swirling in the depths of her red eyes. I heard the crack of bones as the beast took form, a swirling shadow of darkness moving beneath her skin—skin that suddenly stretched with muscle and bulging veins.
Time seemed to stand still, as the horrific transformation occurred, but we had only drawn a few ragged breaths in the time it had taken.
“You could join your parents in Hell,” the witch-demon roared, the voice no longer that of a woman. “They are waiting for you… slaves of the Underworld.” She laughed, licking her lips with the long, gray tongue of a demon.
I felt the sting of magic in my palms, the white energy coming to the surface, mixed with the firestorm of anger that burned wildly through my body. I let the energy loose, and it blasted into the witch’s chest like a gunshot from a revolver, pinning her to the ground.
“Slaves?” I knew better than to engage the witch, or to let her know that she had gotten into my head, but it was too late. The word tumbled from my lips before I could stop it.
“Yes, slaves,” the demon-witch growled beneath the power of my Divine Purity. “Did you think the Lords of the Underworld would just kill them and let their souls return to Heaven?”
My chest tightened as my mind flashed back to the last time I saw my parents. They were getting ready to head out on yet another mission, but this time, I had the feeling that I would never see them again.
“There’s been an insurgence, honey. They’re calling all of us into the Legion. We don’t know how long it’ll take, but we’ll send word as soon as we can. I love you.” Mom kissed my forehead, her lips cool against my skin.
“I love you, too. Will you be okay?” I knew I was too young to go at almost sixteen years old, even though I had already started my official training. Any other time I might’ve pushed the issue, but I could tell how dire the situation was and now wasn’t the time. Though I also knew, somehow, that I’d never get the chance again.
“We’ve really got to go, sweetheart,” Dad said, his eyes filled with tears. He bent down and drew me into his arms. He hadn’t hugged me like that in years. I felt tears spring to my eyes, though I didn’t know why at the time. “I love you, Rumor. Stay here, and stay safe. And keep training. You’ll soon be ready.” The last was a command that I knew, no matter how rebellious I’d been before, I absolutely must obey.
“Yes sir,” I replied dutifully, swallowing back my tears. “I love you, too.”
I came back to the present, curled around the pain that lashed through my heart at the thought of my parents being enslaved, gasping, as my vision was suddenly covered in a blood-red haze.
The demon-witch’s struggles grew weaker beneath me, and when my eyes regained focus, I saw Jonah grab her by the hair, wrenching her head back. The creature knew what was coming, but still, the coldness of the blood-tipped blade surprised her, causing her eyes to grow wide as it sliced across her throat, a fiery trail exploding along the blade’s path. Her blood gushed from the opening, running in crimson rivulets onto the forest floor. She tried to scream, but all that came out was a weak, wet sigh.
There was a moment of nothing, no feeling, no sound. My body numbed and my inner pain dulled as I watched the demon-witch fade away. Then, Jonah pulled out the vial of holy water that would turn the witch-demon into a pile of black dust. In that moment, I was so grateful to have met him, and to have fought by his side in a battle that could have easily claimed me. I had never felt so weakened by an enemy, as I had when taunted by this monster, and it terrified me.
I watched the smoke rise from the witch-demon’s remains and I recoiled, unable to forget what she had said about enslaving Angels.
“You okay?” Jonah asked, stepping toward me, but I remained kneeling on the ground beside the pile of ash.
“Yeah. I just—I think I’m just tired.” I couldn’t tell him how much her words had truly bothered me, and how for just a split second, I wanted to let go and be sent home to reunite with my parents.
My assurances didn’t seem to convince him, and he analyzed my face intently as if sensing there was more, though he seemed to know better than to push the issue at the moment. Instead, he moved his hands in front of him in the same way Angels always did when crystallizing a demon’s remains. The deep purple orb hovered in the air before settling into his outstretched palm. I couldn’t take my eyes from it, as he wrapped his fingers around all that remained of the dark creature.
“Ready to get out of here? Go grab a coffee or something?” he asked, clearly trying to pull me from the twisted path of memories that my mind had led me down.
“Do you mind if I keep that?” I asked, ignoring his question and nodding toward his closed fist.
“Of course not.” He held the purple crystal out to me and I stood and accepted it. The conversation with the demon replayed in my mind, mixing in with the last memory of my parents.
“You okay, Rumor?” Jonah asked for the second time, dipping his head to catch my eye. “Hey.”
“What? Oh, sorry.” I tried to remember what he had just said as I dropped the crystal into my pocket. “Yeah, a coffee. Please.” I replied, as he looked at me with deep concern. I probably looked like a raving lunatic to him, and I wouldn’t have been surprised if he bolted.
Instead, he reached out to me, offering his hand. I hesitated before accepting it, wrapping my fingers around his as we made our way back through the forest. The strength in his grip gave me comfort and tethered me to the present, where my mind needed to be.
As we headed back the way we came, he cleared his throat as though he had something to say, but wasn’t sure if he should. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, and saw the solemn expression on his face.
“What’s on your mind, Jonah?”
He hesitated, taking a deep breath and squeezing my hand just a bit tighter. “You don’t have to talk about it… but I take it, you’re thinking about your parents?”
I nodded as his words hit me like a sucker-punch, low and deep. “Of course, you know about my parents.”
We had reached Good Spirits once again, but I pressed on past the neon sign and turned the corner. The little coffee shop I headed toward was not one restricted to supernaturals. We wouldn’t have the privacy we would need to talk about my parents, which meant I would have a little more time to decide what I wanted to say, if I said anything at all. The heady scent of coffee and sugary desserts filled my nostrils as we walked through the front door.
The shop was populated with college kids who had come in for a jolt of caffeine to get them through their late-night studies. Many of them had laptops and headphones, making them completely oblivious to the world around them.
I stepped up to the counter and ordered a large black. I insisted on paying for Jonah’s coffee as well. “I owe you one for what you did back at the bar.” I hadn’t forgotten that he had gotten Lud off my back, perhaps for good.
The barista whipped up our orders with surprising speed, which was probably the result of sampling his own wares. We had our Styrofoam cups in hand a few minutes later, and headed toward a corner booth. But at the last minute I decided that I really wanted to be alone with Jonah, so I could speak freely.
He seemed to read my mind and turned toward the front door “I know just the spot.” A brisk walk brought us down the street and into a dark alleyway. We passed a dumpster and several stacks of cardboard boxes before he finally came to a halt.
“Well, isn’t this romantic,” I quipped, looking around at the garbage bags stacked against the brick wall.
He chuckled as he turned his back to me. “Follow me.” A rushing sound of air signaled that he had unfurled his wings, and I looked back down the alley cautiously, before doing the same. I knew we probably shouldn’t use our wings so openly, but if it would take me away from the world for just a few minutes, it was worth the risk.
We floated up, rising vertically while carefully holding onto our coffee cups, until we were parallel with the building next to us. It was flat on top, and of course, deserted.
As we landed, I caught a good look at his wings, and I nearly stumbled in amazement as I hit the rooftop. Every Angel had beautiful wings, but Jonah’s were absolutely stunning. Each feather seemed to have been individually sculpted from marble, their perfection and luminescence, divine. Just as his hair bore secret strands of silver, lustrous veins of the color streaked throughout his wings. The bottom edges of his wings just barely grazed the ground. He was truly gorgeous.
Looking away, my eyes scanned the space, looking for a good place to sit. A utility box made for a nice bench, and I wrapped my chilly hands around my warm cup of coffee. Jonah sat down next to me, his magnificent wings now hidden. As he spoke, he watched me carefully, scanning my face for answers I wasn’t sure I had.
“I hope I didn’t stir up anything by mentioning your parents,” he began. “It’s not my business, and I know that.” He took a sip of his coffee, obviously found it was too hot, and removed the lid to let it cool.
I took a cautious sip. The liquid ran over my tongue, soothing all the things I wanted to say now that the subject was broached again. I wasn’t angry at Jonah, but I always felt defensive when people asked me about my parents, as though they weren’t sensitive enough to know that it was like scratching open a wound that never fully healed.
“I guess I just didn’t expect you to know about them. I only met you tonight, but you seem to know an awful lot about me.”
