Divinity: Transcendence: Book Two (The Divinity Saga) (22 page)

My fingers clasped
around the handles of each weapon tightly, even though I desperately wanted to drop them. My fingers absolutely would not uncurl or let go. It was equivalent to nerve reaction during an electrocution…times a thousand.

The invasion was excruciating
. It infiltrated my skin, racing into each vein like sharp, jagged rocks, wildly forcing and ripping their way through. In my mind, images began to take form. Twin, double-sided blades about the length of my forearms each, with small, sharp spikes, or thorns edging the tips, like serrated teeth, became clear.

As they spun
, the blades glinted as if diamonds were embedded in the metal. They were both engulfed inside of white fire, resembling flaming torches.

Tears stung my eyes.
I clenched my teeth so hard, my jaw felt bruised. I trembled against the force of the power being cleaved into me. The pain was so intense, that it felt as if I were roasting my own arms inside of a blazing fire. When was this going to be over? I wondered. I couldn’t take this anymore. It was too much!

I had spoken way too soon.

Suddenly, a powerful shock of pain, feeling like a saw edged icepick, digging and grinding into the base of my brain, took me off guard. The treacherously racking agony, traveled throughout my entire body, and every single nerve ending responded simultaneously. For all my tolerance, I couldn’t stop myself. Finally, a scream erupted out of my throat.

I fell to my knees, trembling as
warm tears began soaking into the blindfold. It pressed wetly against my eyes and cheeks.

Just as quickly as t
he pain had crippled me abruptly —it was suddenly over. At least, I hoped it was.

             
              I gasped, catching my breath, and seeing the image of the twin blades make one final turn in my minds’ eye before dissipating altogether. The searing burning along my palms and arms, dulled to a throbbing ache, finally beginning to subside, slightly. I didn’t dare try to move them or flex my hands, if I even still could. I was no longer physically holding onto the blades. They were simply —gone.

             
              I didn’t hear anyone move or speak for a moment, and then footsteps slowly began approaching me. There was someone on either side of me, gently helping me to my feet.

“Please…please tell me it’s over.” I whispered
and sniffed.

“It’s done, well…that part anyway.” Came the reply.

It was Spencer’s soothing voice.

The blindfold was removed
. I blinked rapidly, having to refocus my vision through the lingering tears. My first curiosity being, what my trembling hands and arms must look like now.

My first
assumption was that of raw shredded meat, as I slowly raised them up for inspection.

I wanted
to scream again.

At first glance, the
markings resembled random, reddened, dark, jagged lines, slashes, and shapes. It was as if an angry, vindictive tattoo artist had taken out his anger on them. I nearly freaked out and fainted, staring in horror at my forearms, and my hands splayed out in front of me.

“
In case you were wondering where your weapons went, you’re looking at them. Amazing huh?” Spencer pointed to my new crazy markings.

“
They’re pattern outlines written in ancient, symbolic coding. The glyphs are what forms your weapon, like a recited recording. Now, you’ll be able to will them whenever you need to. The infusion of consecrated metal is needed, so that it can forge itself within your body, which is why warriors are branded. You’ll never lose, or be without your weapon. It will always return to you.” Spencer explained.

“
You’re already healing as we speak, which means that they’ll disappear altogether soon if we don’t start now. There’s only one opportunity for the weapon choosing process. So, unless you want that to have been for nothing, let’s do this.” Durien added with an enthusiastic grin while rubbing his hands together.

Do I
even get a moment to rest and recover? I honestly think that my soul was more in bruised shock than my actual skin, and I was still reeling from it internally.

“
This is amazing! Congratulations, Starling.” Diana said as she moved in front of me with an excited smile.

“You did great, Starling.” Lorelei complimented.

“For sure. You have the highest threshold of pain I’ve ever witnessed. I’m impressed.” Scarlet bowed at me.

Everyone
moved in closer behind me, to get a closer glimpse of the markings.

“What is it? What weapons were they?” I asked with a
nother sniff.

They all looked at one another for a moment.

“A challenge for me
, I’ve never done them before.” Durien noted.

“
Deific blades. You’re the only warrior known thus far, to have had them cleave to.” Diana answered.

I didn’t remember seeing them on the wall.

“Deific blades are extremely rare, powerful, and deadly.” Lorelei commented.

“I’
m jealous, those are wicked blades.” Gabe added.

Anthony nodded. “One of the best if not the best. You’ll be able to cut down and kill anything of darkness without effort.”

“Huh, well
now it’ll really be cool to see what your essence is gonna be. I can’t wait.” Crystal said.

“She co
uld just have a talent.” Scarlet said.

“Times wasting, we need to hurry and start.” Durien cut in.

“Alright, well, I’ll let you two get started quickly, seeing as this may take a while. I’ll go grab Sean to come witness. I’ll be right back, Starling.” Diana said to both Durien and Spencer, and then looked at me with a smile.

“You guys staying? This is going to take quite a
while to do.” Spencer asked the others.

“I’m gonna freshen up, I’ll stop back by later
Starling. I can’t handle this level of what I call sadistic voyeurism. I can’t wait to see them when they’re finished though.” Lorelei said excitedly.

“Yeah,
you definitely handled that like a pro for sure. I’ll come back later too.” Anthony replied.

“I’ll stay, I gotta see this
part.” Gabe added with a grin.

I wai
ted to hear Jamie offer to stay and watch too. When I turned around, I saw that she was gone. I wondered if she had been asked to leave. It would serve her right.

“I can’t
stay. I’m like Lira on this one,” Crystal said.

“
Same here. Thank goodness these walls are supposedly sound proofed.” Scarlet said.

I hoped she didn’t mean what I think she meant.

Once everyone
, except for Gabe and Spencer, paraded out and shut the door shut behind them, Durien and Spencer helped me settle, apprehensively into the raised lounging chair. Then they proceeded to gently strap my arms down. The heat coming from the pit began to make me squirm. The divine elemental creature was back on its cushion once again, but watching intently with its alert, human eyes.

“
Man, the deific blades are legendary. I take much honor in this branding.” Durien said.

“Are they really that special?” I asked.

“Special is an understatement. Like Diana said, no one has been chosen by this weapon. You’re the first.” Spencer replied.

I admired his gorgeous eyes when he spoke.

“Are you gonna be able to do them?” Gabe asked. He observed curiously, as they both began to prepare the instruments.

I shifted uncomfortably in the chair. I couldn’t back out now. This had to be
finished and done.

“We’ll find out. This is gonna take quite a bit longer than all the others have, and I hate to be the bearer of bad news Starling…but what just happened —isn’t the worst part by far.” Durien told me painfully.

I wanted to bolt
out of the chair right then, my gut twisting with anguish and fear. What could be worse than the weapon cleaving experience?

             
              I watched Durien work meticulously. He kept referencing back to an old book that sat on a bookstand. He began mixing an alloy of different metals into a stone dish, which was set on the metal platform over the fire pit. I couldn’t read the language that the book was written in. It all looked like ancient hieroglyphic scrawl to me.

The
hot scent of molten fire and liquid hot metal, was strong when it hit my nose.

“Is that what Crystal mean
t by saying that she was like Lira on staying? I mean, they stayed for the first part. How much worse can this be? Please lie to me.” I replied.

Sp
encer flashed a swoon worthy smile. “Relax, I know you can handle this. You’re a tough one. There’s a reason that these sacred blades chose you. We’re both here, you’re not alone.” He said.

I instan
tly melted at his tone, surprisingly finding myself relaxing. It was as if I was being sedated somewhat by his words alone.

“S
ince you’re the first, I’m really curious now. The only essence that I know for a fact, no one else has yet, is hallowed fire.” Durien said, examining some metal pen looking tool.

I didn’t confirm it or ask
about it, but I think my lack of response may have been telling anyway.

“Man
, now that would be extremely bad ass.” Gabe commented with raised brows.

Spencer nodded,
“There’s a first for everything. Maybe that’s why Starling took so long to rise.” Spencer winked at me. He slipped on the same headgear that Durien wore, onto his own head.

“You can’t tell?” Durien asked Spencer.

Spencer’s uniquely, hypnotic eyes met mine, and he took a moment to gaze deeply. He made me blush and my pulse race. He smirked as if he could hear my heart beat speeding up.

He
shook his head, “I’m not a hundred percent. My guess would be as good as all of yours are. There are many things that unfortunately, I am no longer privy to.”

How would he know anyway?

Durien was positioned on my left and Spencer was on my right. Gabe remained above my head, looking down at my arms with curious interest.

“Are you ready?” Spencer asked me.

I swallowed, my heart continuing to pound wildly. My body was already tensing to brace myself against another onslaught of excruciating pain.

I nodded.

“Just focus on me and look into my eyes,” Spencer offered.

That wouldn’t be a problem, I thought to myself.

He smil
ed, and then —his beautiful, ice-colored eyes… began to sparkle, like a galaxy of slowly swirling stars. It was both soothing and hypnotizing, reminding me of something I couldn’t quite place. Though intriguingly odd and amazing, my mind went to curious alarm.

I know we wer
e immortal now, superhuman even. Even though I was new here, that didn’t strike me as—normal. My brows knitted together in confusion.

“What are you?” I whispered to Spencer.

“A flirt.” Durien blurted, with a chuckle and a shake of his head.

Spencer gave a sly smirk
. “I’ll tell you after.”

“No.
I wanna know now.” I replied.

His very touch maintained
a calm cocoon over me. I did feel slightly sedated.

He ra
ised a brow, with an adorable half-smirk at my insistence. He was probably even a little surprised that I had noticed so soon.

“You’re an angel, aren’t you?” I breathed. Though relaxed, my pulse quickened at the revelation.

Durien snickered. “Not quite.”

Spencer looked at him wryly. “Actually, I’m a
n Elite Seraph, or Earthbound warrior angel. Angels have different levels and tiers, just like you guys.” He answered.

My mouth fell.
I was both enchanted and impressed. I studied and admired his face even more in depth this time. The angle of his solid jawline, and his light rose colored lips, were flawless. His skin was ivory beige, slightly glowing beneath the surface of his flesh. His long, dark lashes fanned thickly over each of his gorgeous, celestially imbued eyes.

“Don’t fall in love.
” Durien snorted.

“Yeah, don’t let the title fool you.
Elite Seraph simply translates into, supernatural playboy.” Gabe told me.

“What?” I replied, confused.

“Don’t discourage her.” Spencer quipped, flashing me a smile.

Durien prepped and
repositioned my left arm first, and then sat down beside his equipment table.

“Just do what you do be
st and leave all that out of it.” Durien replied.

“Don’t hate, D
.” Spencer chuckled.

Durien shook his head and pursed his lips, and Gabe sighed with a roll of his eyes.