Divinity: Transcendence: Book Two (The Divinity Saga) (17 page)

In a blink, I was
back in the human realm, leaning against the victims’ car to catch my breath. I was still a bit dazed with both passion and rage. Though I was invisible to regular humans, I could see all of them. There were paramedics already here. Two officers were just getting out of their parked cruisers, lights flashing.

There was plenty of
chatter, about the assailants and the first responding police officer, literally disappearing without a trace. The officers were questioning witnesses about my description. Great.

Briefly, I watched t
he EMS workers quickly surround the man on the ground. The being within him had already exited and fled, that much I could tell.

Though my
injuries had healed, I could still feel a lingering, dull ache where each of the crows had struck me. That ticked me off, but I was even more pissed off at myself for nearly giving into those demonesses.

The image of Starlings
beautiful face, as she meant it, was burned callously into my mind.

                                                                                    ~~~***~~~              

I
was done. Drawing open a portal, I headed straight back to my home. I was putting myself at risk in more ways than just battle. There were many things that I needed to both deliberate, and pray didn’t happen. I was sure Morning Star had a hand in that episode. He may have finally gotten what he’s been wanting from me for a long, long time.

“
Fuck!” I growled to myself. I stormed into the entrance, and past the kitchen without acknowledgement or a word to Rahab and Edanai. They both knew not to so much as even say my name, let alone approach me when I was seething —at least, I hoped that they remembered not to.

I hea
ded straight for my bedchamber. I swiftly sealed the door behind me shut, to further my point of not being bothered, only because I knew Edanai would not be far behind me to ask.

I went to the portrait of Starling
and I together, that hung above my bed. My eyes fixated on her mesmerizing, sapphire gaze, and her bright, beautiful smile.

I frowned as the image that the Succubus took on,
suddenly forced its way into the front of my mind. I closed my eyes to rid myself of the vile association, becoming frustrated and furious all over again.

I thought of Starling once more
—and set the poster sized picture ablaze, frame and all. As it burned, I grabbed the cell phone, tempted to look through it one more time, but stopping myself. I closed my fist over it tightly. Turning my hand, I watched the powdery, red, silver and black ash trickle out of my grip, like sand through an hourglass; disappearing into non-existence.

I love
her but she no longer knows me. She’s being trained to loathe, hunt, and kill beings like me on sight right at this moment. The sorrow and pain of that knowledge was tearing into me like a jagged blade of light, straight into the depths of my soul.

What made the pain
worse, was the fact that Drakael, Morning Star, Edanai, and even Berith —had all been right in predicting this ending. Deep down, I knew they all had a point. I guess I thought that I’d be better prepared for the fallout.

What was I doing? None of my plans mattered anymore.
Why bother even trying to stop Morning Star? I could give two stale imp shits what happened to these mortals. Morning Star could have Earth, and if I were still around, maybe I’d go elsewhere. There were so many other planets and dimensions out there, all I had to do was pick one, or travel among a few.

But I couldn’t
—I love her. I always will, no matter what happens, or where I am. I wasn’t going to leave this planet knowing that she was still on it, even as a warrior. Maybe I’d take her with me, and we’d start a life of our own out there somewhere. It was a foolish fantasy, but not completely far-fetched— at least in my own mind.

I wasn’t helping my cause by
letting every being in the spirit realm know what she meant to me, including Morning Star. That would come back to punch me full on in the face, soon. Starling was going to be the death of me, but I’d be damned if I died at the hands of one of Morning Star’s creations or minions. Only two people would have the power, and the opportunity to slay me— Elohim, or Starling.

I had to calm myself, needing something much stronger than herbal or passionflower tea. I poured a large cup of one hundred proof absinthe and headed outside, still without a word to either Edanai or Rahab. They both continued to watch me curiously, and I ignored Edanai’s attempt to speak to me telepathically.  I knew that she wouldn’t give up though.

I settled in my favorite spot;
the outcropping of rock that jutted out from the roof, high above the opening to my home.

I drank
steadily while staring off into the distance —at the Divine Hall.

I was
playing the waiting game again. Aside from just wanting to be alone, sitting out here had become one of my favorite new rituals since Starlings death. They all knew whom I was waiting for. However, did I even understand why I continued to cause myself more sorrow?

I sighed, the absinthe doing its work slowly but surely, though anger still lingered in the back of my mind. Nearly killed by an unknown demon, a powerful one at that, and seduced by immortal females that I despised the most. I never found out who or what the entity inside that human was, not that I really cared. Now, just knowing that my seminal fluid may be in Morning Star’s hands, made me livid all over again. I hadn’t satiated my own lust on top of everything else, and that remained the most irritating thing of all.

Under the mists of the cloudbank far below, I
spied a dark cloud of shadow. It slithered slowly along the ground, coalescing, and teetering on the very bordered edge of the stone forest and the neutral lands. It wasn’t threatening or even powerful, but its signature gave me pause, seeming familiar. Without communication or a solid form though, it was hard to tell. A few sprite implings fluttered about the mysterious form, leaving trails of glittery, red streaks, apparently with their own curiosity. Is that what they were trying to get my attention about earlier? If so, I wondered why. Shadows came and went all of the time. It was none of my concern or care.

The shadow form
remained silent, no doubt studying me. I began to wonder if it were one of Morning Star’s spies, but— something about it made me feel as if it might just be a nomad. Nomads were outcast shadows, no master or body, and not bound to any particular side. They were simply nuisances at best, causing small mischief and bouts of ironic bad luck for humans.

I was certain
that its hesitance was based on not knowing what I would do, and realizing that I was now aware of and watching it too. Though I was curious, I wasn’t curious enough to investigate. It hardly posed a threat to me as long as it didn’t cross over into my territory.

“Are you finished
with your tantrum and spitting hellfire yet?” Edanai asked from behind me.

I cocked my head sli
ghtly, but I didn’t turn around. I took an exaggerated sip of the absinthe on purpose.

“You’ve got
residual light still lingering on you. Are you gonna tell us what happened? Who did you encounter?” She asked.

I remained silent, staring off into the distance.

I could hear Rahab’s heavy footsteps approach slowly.

“Is everything alright my friend?” he asked.

“Everything is fine.” I replied in clipped words. My jaw worked with tension.

I wasn’t mad at
them, obviously, but they would want to know what happened if I left it open by saying that I was royally pissed off right now.

“Does it have anything to do with your incineration of that shrine
you had in your bed chamber?” Edanai then asked, as she moved in to crouch beside me.             

I didn’t reply, maintaining my focus on the Divine Hall.

She sighed, looking back at Rahab for a moment, and then at me again. “Is her friend okay? You didn’t run into Starling…did you? You couldn’t have, it’s way too soon I would think. I suppose you’re pissed off at me then, is that it?”

             
              If she only knew. Her words made me cringe. I was repulsed and irate all over again at the mere recall of what happened but I remained silent. With an irritated, heavy sigh, I magically produced a brand new bottle of ancient Absinthe, and dissolved the cork.

Edanai
sighed sharply, “Wow. Okay, Rahab and I are going dimension hopping. We’ll bring back some token items, and— apparently more exotic absinthe, providing you don’t go anywhere and do anything risqué.” Edanai then said as she stood up.

             
              For some reason, her scolding grated against my nerves like a rusty saw over a salted, bleeding wound.

I
finally snapped, unable to contain my annoyance any longer.

“I’m very
fucking well capable of handling myself, and if I feel like getting into something perilous or salacious, then I’ll damn well do it!” I blew up and took a healthy, final swig to finish my drink. I angrily crushed the bottle in my hand.

The broken shards
cut into the flesh of my palm and I savored the sting. It reminded me of cutting myself when darkness began to overtake me. This was one of those times. It was an alternate release, and it actually calmed me, somewhat. It was better than what I used to do to burn off my anger.

Better I hurt myself than someone else, proving that
nothing was more terrifying and dangerous, than a pissed off Demon. Every being knew that— mortal or not.

I didn’t even look at her, I didn’t have to. I instantly regretted my tone and my words, but I didn’t feel like apologizing just yet.

“Cam`ael, that wasn’t…”

“Don’t bother
Rahab; misery loves company so let’s go. Sometimes, tantrums need to be thrown in private.” Edanai cut in tersely as she moved away from me.

I he
ard them both retreat slowly. I could feel the heat of both hurt and anger coming from Edanai.

I sighed deeply, looking
down at the cuts on my palm, which were already healing around the pool of wet, dripping, dark blood.

The sting
ing was gone.

I
drank straight from another new bottle of Absinthe. I finished a third of it before finally giving up. Even its strong, nearly poisonous properties couldn’t numb me enough. I tossed it away and it disappeared into the horizon with the speed of a bullet.

With one last look at the Divine Hall, I la
y back, looking up into the heavens that I once knew so well.

The stars moved and twinkled.
I knew what their movements and formations meant. They were both galactic road maps and doorways leading to each dimension, and they marked the positioning of many landmarks on those planets.

Every being in all
of those dimensions, knew how to read the stars in order to travel. The universal language was peace and prosperity among all living beings. It was something that would be interrupted and destroyed once Morning Star gained the human realm on Earth, because he wouldn’t stop there.

Again, I knew it would be useless but I bega
n to pray telepathically anyway.

‘I don’t understand anymore, Elohim. Though I hav
e forsaken you, I remain obedient. I know that is why you still allow me miniscule access to your glory and light. I have never taken anything that you have given me for granted, even your rewards. You gave me Starling and you gave me the gift of feeling her love. What are your plans for her? Why does she stand apart from the other divine warriors? Does it have anything to do with Eve? Is there some sort of metaphysical symbolism behind your purpose? Is that it? Why make her so tempting to the other fallen? If I did not know you better, I’d think there was a reason for that too, a reason Morning Star is apparently unaware of.. Nevertheless, it puts her in grave danger, although I suppose you already know this— just as you know how this will all end, and when.

Why
have you taken the one gift you have given me, and turned it against me? Will she be the one who puts an end to my sentence? I don’t even know if I care for these mortals anymore, let alone if I ever did. At this rate, I think relinquishing Earth to Morning Star may be inevitable.’

I waited. N
othing happened. No sign and no response, naturally.

I sighed and closed my eyes, rubbing a hand over my face somberly.
I never thought I would find myself asking Elohim these questions. I was always confident, and I knew of everything as far as what he planned and how he worked.

“Cam, g
et off your ass and stop sulking, this is pathetic already. Damn, you’re like a forlorn, lovesick, pre-pubescent pussy.”
Ryziel’s voice suddenly projected into my thoughts.

“Ry,
I’m really not in the mood, so would you like me to rip the sarcasm out of your ass now or later? And let me remind you, that it won’t take me but a second to find you too.”
I replied calmly.