Divinity: Transcendence: Book Two (The Divinity Saga) (23 page)

Looking back down at me Spencer said, “Breathe deeply and relax, just like before. Here, take my hand.” He offered, enclosing his strong, warm hand over mine. I was embarrassed for him to feel me trembling but he didn’t appear to even notice. Instead, he gave my hand a firm, supportive squeeze.

“You want to say a prayer first?” Durien asked.

I froze and furrowed my brows, turning to look at him in question. “This is just a branding right? Do I need to?” I asked.

He
shrugged. “It’s up to you. It helps for some.” he smiled.

             
              I paused and looked back up at the skylight opening in the ceiling above. Gabe had moved to Spencer’s side. I closed my eyes for a minute, formulating a quick prayer. I didn’t ask for any protection from the pain that was about to come; I knew it was a small sacrifice.

I simply asked for guidance and patience in
getting accustomed to everything. I accepted, and was thankful for having been chosen at all.

W
hen I opened my eyes once again, I felt a calm and peace immediately envelope me. Durien, Spencer, and Gabe, were all looking down at me with questioning brows.

I licked m
y lips. “I’m ready.” I whispered.

Durien nodded and proceeded to ready his instrument.

“Don’t be offended, we all have on earplugs.” Spencer told me while pointing to one of his ears.             

Before I could reply, let alone ask why they felt the need to put them on
, Durien placed a firm a hand on my left wrist to keep my arm still, and Spencer firmly restrained my right arm. Gabe watched with wide-eyes, slightly cringing.

O
nce I felt the searing, white hot, fiery liquid metal make contact with my skin—I lost it. It didn’t sizzle or burn my flesh as I thought it would, but it certainly hurt like no known pain that I could ever describe to anyone.

The burning trail of torturous pain
it left, as it flowed and followed the patterns of the markings left on my forearms, made me want to rip off my left arm at the shoulder with my bare hands.

My
body instantly jerked, bucking upwards. The guys joined in a concerted effort to hold me still, even though I was half-strapped to the chair. With limited space for movement, I twisted in agony, as tears pooled in the corners of my eyes. Curse words flooded my mind, itching to shoot out of my mouth, but I fought hard against the potentially punishing outburst. The scream that finally did come out of me, hurt my own ears, and left my throat throbbing and raw.

IX: Cam`ael:

T
hough it was fun, I wasn’t finished drowning my sorrows yet. I needed something to assist in my humble apology to Edanai, if she and Rahab came back before daybreak.

Based on what Ry
told me about Morning Star’s obliteration tantrum, I was assuming that a few of those in our rebel legion had been caught up in it. Calling out to several of them telepathically, returned no answers. It was disheartening and angering all at the same time for me.

Fellow fallen that were opposed to Morning Star and his coming regime, were
rare. There hadn’t been many of us to begin with, and now, I just didn’t know anymore.

We all
retreated to my home, and I broke out the hardcore stuff to continue the party. Ry, Mac, and Nay rounded up a few of their female associates, and we turned the new game room into a strip bar.

Though
gorgeous, the appeal of these demonesses didn’t strike me in the same way as seeing a human female body. I’m fascinated with the feel and the scent of mortal women, because they were real, imperfect and untouched by magical means. This was all in good fun anyway; nothing sexually deviant would be going on in here tonight.

T
he others gladly took full advantage of my generosity, though it would be brief.

I
love a good party. I enjoy and take much pleasure in all sorts of mortal music; from Soul, R&B, Jazz, Reggae, Pop, Hip-hop, Dance, Classical, even Opera. Over the years, I’ve collected different styles of music from all over the world, and other dimensions too. Humans would be shocked to learn who their universal neighbors were; how many different races existed, what they looked like, and how they lived. In some places, the resemblances were uncanny but I believe it was Elohim’s personal whim.

T
he females sensuously danced, gyrated, and performed eye pleasing provocative poses for us, both solo and together.

The display should have, and normally would have spurred my desire and
lust but it didn’t. Though I was enjoying myself by simply drinking and watching, inside I was wallowing in anger, frustration, and sorrow.

“Dance with me
, Cam`ael.” A sultry voice purred coaxingly. A dagger-like, manicured, slender hand met my gaze when I turned to my left.

J
erilah smiled at me with playful desire glinting in her citrine colored eyes.

“I’
d much rather watch.” I replied and took a long sip of my crimson drink.

She smirked
and dropped her hand with disappointment. “Not you. That’s odd. Ryziel told me about that girl.” She said as she moved to sit next to me on my crescent- shaped, lion hide covered couch.

I looked at her askance
and narrowed my eyes, certain that she could feel the heat of my power sliding off my skin.

“Hey
, don’t rip my head off.” her eyes went wide and she held her hands up to soothe. “I was just making conversation. No disrespect, seriously.” She smiled to lighten my mood.

“In fact, I admire you a great deal, for more reasons than the glory you still hold.” She then went on to compliment.

I wasn’t flattered and I didn’t want to talk about Starling at all.

“
Love is a beautiful thing, no matter with who or where you find it. You should never let it go or give up, regardless of the circumstances.” She then said.

I raised a brow. “
It’s out of our hands and that concept never applied to us anyway.” I simply stated.

“Why not?
It must mean something. We all sacrificed ourselves to have it when we fell. Love, that is.” She challenged my pessimism.

             
              The extent of my drinking helped a little. I was numb, but I didn’t feel like talking either, at least not about my feelings. I don’t do things like that, nor had I ever with anyone…except for Elohim and Edanai.

I would have with Starling, if I had more time with her.
However, talking about anything, let alone my feelings would not be an option if we encountered each other now. I shut down mentally and my body language followed suit.

I think she got the hint when s
he sighed, and then studied me. “Divine warrior or not, if you love her as you say you do, you will be with her, regardless of universal law. Elohim must have a plan for you. The light you are favored to keep as a fallen proves that nothing is set in stone. He is allowing you to change it, in a way. What that means for the rest of us, well…who knows? Whoever said that love conquers all; was probably speaking from experience. I’ve even caught a few female divine warriors gazing at you with what I would no doubt call—infatuation. Who could blame them?” She smirked.

I paused and gave her a perplexed look. What was

she talking about? I don’t recall ever seeing any divine warrior females, ogling me…past wanting to kill me perhaps. Then again, I never really stuck around long enough for the sake of not being targeted, or having to kill any of them if it came to confrontation.

She only smiled
as she gently touched my arm, getting up to rejoin Ry and the others at the billiard table.

Though I wanted to ponder her words, I shrugged them off.
“
Cam, is everything alright?”
Edanai’s voice entered my mind just then.

“Yes, why?”
I answered back.

“Are you still upset with me?”
She then asked carefully
.

“I was never mad at you.
I’m sorry I lashed out. What’s wrong?”

“Oh
, well good…I guess I can accept your apology, but I still want to know what happened to make you rage like that.”

“I ran into Morning Star, it was the usual scenario.”
Was all I was going to tell her and it was a partial truth.

I knew
she could tell that I wasn’t giving her the whole story
.

“
Mhmm. Alright. Well anyway, you know that shadow that’s been slinking around the base of the mountain? The one that’s just outside of the neutral grounds, in front of your domicile, have you seen it?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know exactly who it is, but the signature seems familiar. It hasn’t done or said anything threatening, but you never know. I figure it may be one of Morning Stars.”
Edanai then said.

So that’s what the implings were trying to tell me yesterday.

“The implings will warn it and then alert the border guardians, like they always do. They’ll take care of it. They probably have already.”

“I suppose
. It is female.”
Edanai added.

“
What’s your point? Do you know something else that I don’t? You seem to want me to investigate.”

“Do what you
want; I’m just making you aware, considering everything that’s happened recently. Rahab and I may not be back until tomorrow. Do you want me to get you anything while we’re out?”
She then asked.

“
No, just be careful. There’s a robed, high-level demon or fallen made of modified crows out there. I don’t know the origin or purpose, so don’t pursue or challenge it. It almost took me out earlier.”
I told her. I shouldn’t have mentioned that last part, but if I hadn’t, she wouldn’t have taken my warning seriously.

Th
ere was a long pause on her end.
“Are you serious? Cam, why didn’t you summon us?”
Edanai began to scold me.

I groaned internally,
“Because I handled it.”
I replied sharply.

“
I don’t doubt that you did, obviously. Was it one of Morning Stars, you think?”

“I don’
t know, just avoid it. If you can’t, summon every single one of us…those that are left anyway.”
I replied.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing. Just be careful.”

“Alright.”
Edanai resigned.

“Hey Ca
m, we’re all going for a swim at the reservoir, you coming?” Nay called out.

I shook
my head no, finishing my drink. “Just clean up before you guys go.” I stated firmly.

I got up and retreated to
my sleeping chambers, catching Jerailah lingering behind for one last glance over her shoulder at me, before ghosting out with the others.

             
              Once I entered my chambers, I flopped into the soft depths of my bed. My eyes immediately traveled upwards to the now bare, stone wall above me. The portrait of both Starling and myself, for the one night we never finished, hung there not long ago. I already regretted destroying it, wanting desperately to just look at her again.

It wasn’t as if I couldn’t make another copy
, it was just pointless. I wanted more…I needed more. Her image was more heartbreakingly tortuous, than simply thinking of her. I suppose I would have to tell her friends that she died in some sort of an accident or something, eventually. Not that it would make it any easier for them to accept. I could replace her phone too, but I didn’t know if I wanted to keep that charade up anymore either.

             
              A sudden soft voice, sounding frail and distant, entered my mind. I sat up swiftly. It was hard to understand it at first, though it sounded somewhat —familiar.

“Cam
…help…can’t….”
The voice trailed off in a vapory whisper of pleading.

It was
female. Didn’t Edanai say that the shadow lingering near the base of the mountain was…female? I wondered.

No, it couldn’t be.

I relaxed and listened again. Nothing more came.

After a few moments,
I lay back down and closed my eyes, allowing the alcohol to wear off. The voice came again.