Her Black Wings (The Dark Amulet Series Book 1) (24 page)

“Amalya, you can’t stay here. You’ll get sick.”

“No kidding. I’m leaving. We’re done here. Our relationship is severed. Personally or whatever. Permanently. You’re off the hook.” She waited in silence hoping he would ask her to stay a little while longer or apologize. When he said nothing, she hobbled over to the only way out. She turned and glanced back at him as she spoke. “Oh and when you start to feel remorse, and you will, don’t try
poofing
to me. I don’t want your help.”

I do. I do want your help, Elliott. Look at me…it might be the last time.

Forcing herself not look at him one more time, she flew out of his life.

CHAPTER

SIXTY-SIX

Elliott

It took all of eight seconds before his remorse kicked in after Amalya departed. Elliott found himself curled into a ball, what Joelle referred to as the fetal position. The only thing he wasn’t doing was sucking his thumb, although he’d chewed his fingernails down to the quicks.

“You’re beyond a moron. You’re a
stupid
moron.”

The wingless angel twisted to get a look at who had interrupted his self-pitying. His eyes widened and he swallowed hard. “Joelle?” He bounced up, throwing his arms around his best friend.

Joelle stepped back. “Yeah, of course it’s me. What did ya think, I was done harassing you?”

“I thought, I don’t know…you were onto the next level and I’d never see you again.”

“Oh, please. I’d miss you too much. And besides, I haven’t seen much of you in the last twenty years.” Joelle squatted at the edge of the pool.

Elliott stood beside him and rubbed his face. “Not my fault.”

“Remember you said that.” Joelle chuckled. He skimmed a finger across the surface of the water, dipped his hand in, scooped water, and doused his best friend.

Elliott leaned over and pushed his friend off balance.

“You mother—”

Splash.

Joelle came out of the water and yanked Elliott into the pool. Jumping up, he shoved Elliott under by the shoulders. The angels wrestled, each trying to keep the other one down, rolling each other over until one gained control. They surfaced laughing.

Elliott wanted to hug the shit out of him. “I missed you, man. Don’t do that, again.”

“Yeah, I love you too,” Joelle said. He spread his wings and shook. Drops of water splattered the pool’s surface.

The feathers appeared a brighter white than Elliott remembered. Pain radiated from the center of his chest where he rubbed. A grimace distorted his features.

Joelle quit chuckling, sobered. “Elliott, you just don’t get it.”

“What don’t I get?”

“She needs you. Reed didn’t beat you and you didn’t fail him. Or Deus. It’s the other way around.”

“Why did you let yourself be stricken from the Earth?”

“Why are you changing the subject?”

“I’m not.” Elliott crossed his arms over his chest.

Joelle stood and threw his hands up. “So Aba would think he had the upper hand. I wanted him to think he messed with your head.”

“Why not just
tell
me?” Elliott smacked the water. His friend had lied, but why? They glowered at one another for a pregnant moment.

“I didn’t know I was going to do that until he showed up. Besides, can’t I have a little fun? And don’t look at me like that…you know me better.” The angel folded his arms.

“I hate you,” Elliott said. He got out of the tub made for twenty-five and dried his hair with a towel left at the edge of the pool.

“Yeah, well, I’m used to it. Now let’s get back to you being a stupid moron.”

“Fuck you.” Elliott wrapped the towel around his hips and tiptoed over the bureau debris searching for some pants, leaving behind a trail of wet puddles.

“Uh uh. Anyway, Amalya needs help.”

“So you do it.”

“You know I can’t
do
that.” Joelle ran his fingers through his long hair. He sighed deeply. “You’re a real piece of work. What do you think is going to happen to her? She can’t do this on her own. What’s wrong with you?”

After putting on a clean pair of baggy linen pants, Elliott faced his friend.

Everything.

“Nothing. She said she wants to help the soul on her own.”

“You don’t love her then?”

Not fair, you…

“I love everyone! I’m an angel!”

Or I
was
…

“Gimme a break, you idiot. No one can possibly love every—”

“Deus does!”

Joelle’s booming laugher bounced off the walls. Elliott knew what he’d said was crap even as he spoke the words.

He threw his head back and yowled. “Fuuuuck!”

CHAPTER

SIXTY-SEVEN

Amalya

How many Hazel Stevens could possibly exist? Amalya needed a phone and a lot of courage. She made it back through the double doors in the basement of Eternity. Immediately, her stomach felt less queasy and her strength returned. Max was right where he’d been, unfazed by her almost instant return.

“Nice trip?”

“How did you know I didn’t just go through and come right back?”

He ambled away smirking. She wondered what he was thinking about, but given her disheveled appearance, it wasn’t difficult to figure out.

Tanner looked up from the laptop. “You’re back, and so soon.”

“Do you think I could borrow a phone?” she asked Tanner.

“What’dya need?” The former mechanic/Guardian angel looked her up and down. Grinned. “You had sex.”

“No,” she blushed. “What are you talking about?”

“Uh huh…nice outfit. Anyway, why do you need a phone?”

“It’s personal.”

“You’re dead. How personal?”

“Nice. I just need to find someone.”

“Whatever you’re thinking, I can tell you it isn’t a good idea.”

“You don’t know what I’m thinking.”

The Guardian puffed his cheeks and blew out a breath. “I’ve been there. Dredging up the past will only get you reassigned.”

“I’m not an angel. There
is
no reassignment in my future. I have no future.”

“Amalya, who’s Hazel?”

“I knew it! You angels can read minds, can’t you?”

“Only some Guardians.”

“‘Cuz he can’t fly, he gets to be special,” Max interjected from across the room. She hadn’t noticed him lounging in a puffy chair, seated sideways with his feet hanging over the arm, head back, staring at the ceiling.

“As I was saying, sometimes I get to hear what I need to. Sorry if that doesn’t make much sense.”

“Actually, I think I get it. Can we just hurry this up, please?”

“Shit!” Tanner stood, knocking his chair over backward.

Max glanced over nonchalantly. “Uh oh.”

“What’s wrong with—” Amalya started to ask.

“My annoying bartender is at it again, I gotta go.”

“What about my—”

Poof.

“—niece?”

Laughter came from Max’s direction. When she turned to glare at him, she felt the heat of his presence behind her.

“I’m with him on this. You shouldn’t look up anyone from your past. However, I’ll help you because…I don’t know, maybe in your case it could be beneficial. And you know nothing about computers or the internet.”

“I died in 1995. I know about computers and I’ve heard of the internet thing.”

He chuckled, leaned over the keyboard, and hit a few keys. “Here, type her name then press ‘Enter’.”

“I think I could have figured out to press ‘Enter’.”

“I assume nothing.”

After doing as instructed, the screen displayed the scrolling white pages results. Four Hazel Stevens’ were listed in Michigan, and only one lived in the area. The address was an apartment not far from Eternity.

***

Amalya pushed her way around the revolving door of Hazel’s apartment building. She lived in a newer mid-rise on the north end of downtown Birmingham, an unfamiliar structure constructed after Amalya’s death.

The décor inside the lobby had a 1920’s vibe. Green marble tile lined the floor. The concierge’s desk had an art deco feel, shiny wood and rounded corners with brass accents. Two mission style lamps sat on each end and a silver sculpture of an old plane took up space closer to one of the lamps. Near the elevator, two armless gray velvet chairs with wing-like backs were positioned on either side of a low circular table.

A woman at the front desk looked up when she saw her. “Can I help you?”

Amalya stared at the floor in front of the counter. “Um, yeah. I was hoping to see Hazel Stevens. Do you know if she’s—”

“Let me see, I’ll buzz her. May I tell her who’s visiting?” The woman picked up a phone, putting it next to her ear.

“A-Amalya.”

Shit.
What am I doing here?

After a brief conversation the woman looked up. “She’ll be right down.”

Halfway between the bank of elevators and the exit, Amalya contemplated whether she should wait for her niece or bolt. The woman sitting behind the desk eyeballed her. The staring, although most likely out of curiosity, bothered her. The exit looked tempting and she started toward the door then halted.

No. You need to stay.
Ding.

Amalya ran.

The revolving door spat her out onto the sidewalk. She paused for a moment to catch her breath. Just before reaching the corner, Hazel called her name. Running away seemed too rude, and
poofing
in front of the poor girl would jack her mind.

Hazel jogged until there were only five feet between them. Amalya still had the urge to flee, although now wanted to know why the girl had followed her out there. Was it a desire to know why she’d stopped by and then ran away or was it more? Clearly, her sister had never shown Hazel any pictures of her aunt. Or had she…since their meeting at Eternity?

They studied each other in silence.

Amalya spoke first. “Do you know anyone named, Brandon Smith?”

“No. I’ve never heard of him.”

“Yeah, that’s what I figured. It was a long shot anyway.”

Hazel pulled her head back slightly. “Is that why you came? To ask me about a guy?”

Amalya
actually didn’t know why she’d come. “Yes.” A car horn beeped. She clutched her heart. She took a step and stopped when Hazel didn't move. There wasn’t any danger.

Stupid idiot.

Hazel pulled out a picture from her rear jeans pocket and handed Amalya the matte print. “Is this why you came?”

Amalya’s eyes nearly popped out of her skull. Gazing out of the picture was her smiling high school junior year self, taken right before she dropped out. The smile had been forced. Awkward. She’d gone shopping with Genevieve for the top she’d worn on picture day. Her sister had picked out the ugly sweater. The fight they had in the middle of the department store over the damn thing was her own fault. She decided to wear the cardigan as an apology.

“Amalya…is that you?” Hazel spoke as if she couldn’t believe the question came out of her mouth.

“What?”

“Is that—are you my…aunt? Is that even possible?”

Amalya could see her niece trying to make sense of what she thought to be true. Tears developed in Amalya’s eyes as Hazel debated with herself whether or not she was crazy to make an assumption the woman standing less than ten feet away was her dead aunt.

Implode. That’s what Amalya thought her head might do at any moment.

“I was born Amalya Rivers,” she blurted.

“Stop. This can’t be true—how—”

“Better if I show you.” Amalya glanced around to make sure no one would see what she was about to do. Making a portion of her wings visible, she plucked a solid black feather and handed the plume to Hazel, who stood there gaping.

“It’s black,” she said, smoothing the feather between her fingers.

“I’m not an angel, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

Her niece looked up. “W-what are you then?”

Amalya shrugged. “Dead.”

Hazel shook her head. “But I don’t get—”

“How? I spent the last twenty years in Ne…Hell.” She stopped herself from saying Netherworld, because that realm was easier to explain using the term people were most familiar with. The girl didn’t need to know about the different realms.

“Hell? Are y-you a-a…d-dark angel?”

“Not an angel, dark or otherwise.” Yet she could fly and
poof
.
Mmmm…

“But you have wings…feathers…I saw the…”

“Shhh.” They needed to get off the sidewalk and to someplace private. “Can we go back to your apartment? Do you live alone?”

“No, but my roommate is out of town.”

Amalya indicated Hazel lead them and she followed. They rode the elevator mutely. Once inside the studio flat, she did a full reveal of her silky wings. Her niece gasped when she expanded them completely. Amalya had to admit they were spectacular, shimmering in the sunlight, filtering in through the sheer curtains.

“Wow, oh my God. They’re beautiful.”

“Thanks,” Amalya said. She was actually thanking someone for complimenting her wings. Wings. Elliott never told her that. Her chin quivered.

No…I’m not going to cry.

“Are you all right?”

“Yeah. I’m f-fine.” Folding her wings, she turned away.

“No, you’re not, you’re crying.”

When Hazel stepped closer, Amalya inhaled and exhaled slowly. “I’m fine.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“I guess, although I’m not sure I’ll have an answer you’ll like. Can I ask you something first?” Hazel shrugged. “How come you’re not freaked out about all this? What’s wrong with you?”

“Why did you come to see me?”

“I asked you first.”

“Because after I met you, my mom showed me pictures of you. I was convinced I saw my aunt…you…that night at Eternity. Then when I ran into you again and you escaped in the elevator, I knew something was up. I like to think I’m an open-minded person. Also, I read an article about the little kid that witnessed—”

“His name’s Brandon.”

“I didn’t know that. None of the articles I read mentioned his name.”

“Brandon suffered, everyone thought he was crazy. Hell, I would’ve thought he was insane, talking that crap.”

“So why
did
you come here?”

“It’s a long, depressing story. Basically I’m a fuck-up and wanted to see you again before…”

“Before?”

“Before I’m gone forever.”

“What? What are you saying?”

“I have one shot at keeping myself from going back to Hell. If I fail…well, you get the picture.”

“What do you have to do?”

“Nothing I’m going to tell you about. That’s not why I came.”

“Maybe I can help.”

Amalya had to admire the girl’s optimism. “No. This has nothing to do with you. I should go.” Amalya thought about Max, his pink hair. He was always in the basement at Eternity.

“Can I drop you somewhere? Please?” Hazel begged her.

Oh God.

“Hazel, promise me you won’t waste your life. Especially worrying about me. Just take care of your mom.” Amalya’s bottom lip trembled again. “And don’t tell her I was here. She won’t believe you anyway.”

Hazel opened her mouth to protest then nodded. “You’re right, she won’t.” A lopsided grin lifted the corner of her mouth.

Stepping toward her niece, Amalya wrapped her arms around her in a fierce hug. “I love her, even if I never showed it.” When she looked up, a vase of fresh lavender spider chrysanthemums caught her eye. Nestled between the flowers was a black feather.

What the…no.
She moved away from Hazel as she spoke. “Where’d you get that?”

“Get what?” Confusion crossed the girl’s face.

Amalya pointed. “That!” Flowers spilled out of the vase and onto the dining table when she yanked out the feather.

“I dunno where that came from. Maybe my roommate?”

Amalya swallowed. Shivered. “I thought you said she was out of town.”

“I did.”

“How long ago did she leave?” Thoughts of Aba and those goat-legged bastards raced inside her mind.

Oh God. If anyone hurts her…

“A few days, why?” Hazel crinkled her forehead.

Examining the color and texture, Amalya discovered the plume wasn’t from her but an ostrich, dyed black and store bought.

Thank God. Paranoid much?

Man, she was cracking up.

“I gotta go. But do you know anyone named Damien Stone?”

“No,” Hazel said.

Amalya sighed in relief. “Good, keep it that way.”

“Okaaay.”

The ‘you’re weird’ was implied. Amalya didn’t care, she only wanted her niece safe. Hazel smiled then seemed to remember something.

“Wait, before you go. I want you to have something.”

Amalya held her breath and closed her eyes for a long second. When she opened her eyes, Hazel was leaning over a frosted glass desk with the center drawer open, pawing through the contents. She shut the drawer with a hip check and held a necklace out in front of her. The pendant swung on the end of a black velvet ribbon.