Rise of the Fallen (8 page)

He rolled his eyes at my obvious hesitation. “So you met Lilith. What did she say?” he asked curiously.

I didn't know how to answer. Instead, I coughed, causing Soul to laugh loudly. “She said something about me, didn't she?”

“Yes, she said that she thought you knew better than to come back without fully completing the task that she set for you.”

He laughed extra loudly at that. “Yeah, sounds like her.”

In the pocket of my shorts I felt my phone vibrate and soon the ring tone sounded. He looked over at me as I grabbed it.

“Emilie! Are you okay? Why did the operator say that the house phone was no longer in service? Where the hell are you?” Cael's voice sounded stressed and exhausted.

“Uh … good news is I'm alive. Bad news is I burned down the house.” I blushed with embarrassment as Soul chuckled quietly.

There was no sound on the line. “Are you okay, Cael?” I asked quietly.

“Where are you now?” Cael asked, his voice slightly strained.

I spoke after a moment. “With Soul.”

I was reluctant to say it, but I was dying to tell him about the girl that Soul killed. I also wanted to tell him about Lilith, but Soul was right beside me.

“With
Soul
,” Cael repeated.

I sighed, “Yes.”

“And he hasn't killed you yet?” Cael asked.

“Well, obviously not,” I said indignantly.

“Uh huh, I'm coming back tomorrow; I'll see you at school.” “Cael, wait.”

Soul looked at me with a questioning glance.

“Yes, Emilie?” Cael said. He sounded upset.

I stared Soul in the eyes as I spoke. “I love you, Cael, and I'm sorry.”

Anger flashed through Soul's eyes for a second. I felt terrible for saying that to Cael. I hadn't meant it in the same way that he felt, I loved him as my best friend. I just wanted to see Soul's reaction.

“I … I love you too,” Cael stuttered. “Don't worry about the house … we'll find a new one.”

I smiled and said a quick goodbye before putting the phone back in my pocket.

“You love him?” Soul said, raising an eyebrow.

I answered without hesitation, “Yes, I do.”

Soul scoffed and we kept walking. He was just like Dorian. He hadn't stopped lying to me since we first met. It wasn't fair.

“If I told you I loved you, what would you say?” Soul asked all of a sudden. I didn't answer at first, and to be honest, I didn't believe him.

“You don't,” I said.

He laughed, “I do, actually.”

“No, Soul, you love my powers and the rewards they will get you when you hand me over to Lilith.” I pulled my hand away from his.

He stopped. “What?”

“You're using me. Don't act like you're not. You're just like him,” I whispered.

“Like who? Cael?” Soul asked. His voice was completely neutral and free from emotion.

“No, you're like Dorian,” I whispered, barely moving as I said it. “I'm like Dorian?” Soul asked, his voice still neutral.

“Yeah, you are,” I replied.

“How so?” Soul asked.

“You're a liar,” I mumbled.

“Okay.”

I felt self-conscious. I didn't know Soul well enough to know what his reaction to that would be. I had to be smarter about how I handled him, for both Cael and me.

“I'm sorry,” I whispered and reached out for his hand.

His fingers entwined with mine and he smiled, leaning down to kiss me on the cheek. We continued walking for a while before turning around and heading back to his car. As he drove me back to his place he spoke a little about Lilith and Samael and his ties with them, but our conversation quickly turned into a long and awkward silence. From what Soul had told me, Lilith was more dangerous than Samael. He also confirmed that Lilith had the abilitiy to conjure storms, which she pretty much used as a warning to all demonic entities to watch their backs. I assume Soul telling me all this was his way of trying to win back my trust. It wasn't going to work of course, but I wasn't going to tell him that.

CHAPTER 7

As we arrived back at Soul's house, I grasped the sheer enormity of it. From the outside, his house looked more like a castle. Off-coloured bricks formed a protective barricading wall around the large, white brick mansion. The grass outside was pure forest green and at a perfect height, a few trees speckled the yard and a small driveway almost reached the front steps of the house. Soul stopped the car at the end of the driveway, running up the stairs in a relaxed manner that I hadn't seen before. I walked slowly after him, taking my time to admire the magnificence of the outside of the house. No sooner had the front door swung shut behind me than Soul turned around and gazed down at me from the staircase.

“What?” I asked.

He stared at me for a moment then said, “Why didn't you tell me that Dorian had been in contact with you?”

“So is that what you did with my phone?”

“Yes, now are you going to tell me what he said?” He seemed overly interested in any communications that I had with anyone and I had every reason to be suspicious.

“You already know … besides, why do you care? Things not going according to plan?” I asked, staring up at him.

“What's that supposed to mean?” Soul asked indignantly.

“You know what it means!” I said roughly, feeling my temper rising.

“Why don't you just tell me? I know you will anyway. All you ever do is complain!” Soul yelled down at me.

With a burst, my body was engulfed in fire. Soul stared at me in awe for a moment, his mouth ajar. Flames licked over my skin, causing a gentle warm sensation everywhere. I stared back at Soul once more.

“What now?” I asked.

“What are you doing? Why won't they go away? The flames I mean …” Soul whispered still in silent awe.

“Maybe because I'm angry,” I replied, playing with a few embers in the palm of my right hand, watching as smaller ones flew up to create ash as they left the warmth of me. Zacharia slowly walked up behind Soul, who briefly looked at him before looking back at me. Zacharia smiled gently as he watched the flames.

“Calm down, Emilie,” Soul whispered, taking a step back behind Zacharia.

“The flames look beautiful, Emilie,” Zacharia giggled in a high-pitched tone.

“Stop her, Zacharia!” Soul growled pushing Zacharia down a few steps towards me.

“Why should I do as you ask? I happen to like her. She's far too nice to stay around you.” Zacharia threw his head back and stared at Soul through the thick veil of hair that covered his eyes.

Soul glared at him, “I don't care if they find you useful. I certainly don't. I should kill you now.”

Zacharia turned back to me and smiled as he came closer. He stopped just in front of me. His pale skin glowed slightly red with the reflection of the flames.

“I'm not afraid of Soul.” Zacharias' voice was fearless and cold, though somehow he still seemed helpless and weak.

“Oh don't make me laugh, Zacharia. Fire and ice working together; that's a match that's bound to fail worse than water and fire,” Soul said dismissively.

“You're an ice elemental?” I whispered to Zacharia, considering taking a step back.

“Yes,” Zacharia smiled.

Soul was right of course. Fire and ice could never survive around each other for long. As a matter of fact, I could feel the flames dimming with his very presence. I instinctively took a step away. I knew I would feel my powers grow stronger the further I was from Zacharia. I couldn't see his eyes but I felt him staring at me.

“I refuse to hurt her, Soul,” Zacharia said.

He took a few steps forward, reaching out and touching my arm with his ice-cold hand. He winced in pain as the flames burnt his fragile skin but in seconds the flames had disappeared. He let go of my arm then turned around and walked wordlessly back up the stairs, past Soul.

Soul slowly walked down the stairs, not taking his eyes off me. “You really should learn to trust me, Emilie. I'm not your enemy.”

“How do I know you don't just want to kill me?” I retorted.

I was on the verge of both slapping him and actually trusting him again. I had no idea why, but he seemed so honest and I doubted he wanted to hurt me. I had begun to trust that Soul wasn't completely like the others. What concerned me more was that Zacharia was an elemental. Was Soul starting his own little collection of powerful beings?

That wouldn't be totally unheard of. From my short time in the demonic realm, I'd heard stories of many demons having earned the label ‘collectors' for that very reason. Zacharia had the potential to be exceedingly powerful, and he was even more determined to disobey Soul. In fact, it seemed like Soul had no control over the child at all.
Zacharia was simply trapped here, refusing to do anything about it. I looked around and realised that the magnificence of this house was merely an illusion; what lay beneath it was, tragically, nothing but a lie.

It was depressing to be here, in this frighteningly surreal mansion where it seemed the most daunting of things could happen. It amazed and horrified me to think of what would happen if more upper-level demons grouped together. I knew there would be no hope left; absolutely nothing.

It was possible that Lilith and Samael were watching right now – there were more than enough mirrors in the foyer to act as looking glasses. Soul placed his hand on my cheek and leaned down to make eye contact with me.

“I love you. Trust me, I wouldn't let anything hurt you.”

I stared into his almost black eyes and felt afraid as the words left my lips in a soft whisper, “I'm beginning to trust you.”

Soul smiled and touched his lips to mine in a single strained and passionate moment. As we separated, I gasped for air. I knew he had killed an innocent human, using his teeth, like some kind of animal. He took a step back, obviously trying not to crowd me for fear of being pushed away again.

I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him and, reaching up on the tips of my toes, kissed him gently on the neck just below his jaw. He hugged me tighter in response. I rested my head against his chest and listened to his heart beating. It was steady, strong and fast. When I pulled back I asked what he wanted to do.

He smiled, “Whatever you would like to do, Emilie.”

I sighed impatiently but Soul just laughed, “I'm not sure what I want to do.”

“Hmm … What about school tomorrow? Going?” Soul asked coyly.

“Yeah, I want to see if Cael's alright,” I whispered.

He nodded and wordlessly steered me into a room to the right of the staircase. It was strange I hadn't noticed this room before, but I suppose I hadn't really looked. It was dark and cool. Soul flicked on the dim lights and led me over to a long black lounge chair and gestured for me to sit down. Across the room was a large television screen that looked as though it belonged in a cinema. He opened an antique looking cupboard, revealing shelves packed with DVDs.

“So, any requests?” Soul turned to me.

I forced a laugh and shook my head before leaning back and resting on a cushion. Soul chose a movie from the collection and placed it in the expensive-looking DVD player before collapsing on the couch next to me. It was some sort of vampire movie, slightly clichéd but amusingly entertaining nonetheless. Despite the humour in the movie, I was still reminded of Soul's attack on Sophie and struggled to brush the thoughts away. We watched movies much the same as this one until about three in the morning. Soul's head softly fell on my shoulder as he drifted off to sleep and the toll of the grandfather clock in my room was sounding when there was a loud knock on the door.

I jumped, but Soul remained asleep. I got up, letting his limp body fall gently to the couch. I walked to the door and grabbed the handle

– I pulled my hand back instantly. The handle was freezing cold, to the extent that it felt as though it burnt me. I watched as the handle frosted over with a thin layer of cracked-white, misty ice. I took a few steps back and the door swung open soundlessly.

Zacharia stood before me, his face was expressionless and, for the first time since I had met him, I saw his eyes. They were a chilling ice blue, so light they were almost white.

“Zacharia, what are you doing?” I kept my voice low.

He looked at me blankly for a moment before speaking in a voice that sent nervous shivers down my spine.

“If you don't stay with him he will kill you. He's more than
capable and you know it.”

“Oh, shut up!” Soul's hand collided with Zacharia's face. Zacharia stumbled back.

“I should have let Dorian take you! I doubt he would have tolerated your insolence as long as I have.” Soul's voice was harsh, but still warm as he wrapped his arms around me. I turned my head away.

“Can't you see she's disgusted by you? She can't stand to be around you!” Zacharia said, anger laced through his voice.

Soul let go of me and spun me around to face him.

“Is that true? Do I
disgust
you Emilie?” Soul's eyes locked with mine, staring me down.

I honestly didn't know how to answer. Zacharia was right. Soul disgusted me, but it wasn't only him. It was all demons. They had no respect for human lives. They only cared about getting their share of human souls, so how could he not disgust me?

“Of course not,” I lied, looking away.

Soul looked at me, unconvinced, “You are disgusted by me, aren't you?”

Zacharia laughed his chillingly cruel and childish laugh and I took another involuntary step back. “Just tell him exactly how you feel about him. Tell him what he is,” Zacharia said.

“Yes, just tell me the truth, Emilie,” Soul glared, running a hand through his hair impatiently.

“I doubt that matters, Soul … I um … I love you,” I stuttered.

Okay, so I was in a demon's house with an elemental designed to destroy me. No matter how I answered Soul's question there would not be a good reaction. I looked around the dark room and could feel the walls constricting. It was unusual for me to feel claustrophobic, but that was what was happening.