The Chosen Knights (Read Prequel--The Angel Knights first) (The Angel Knights Series Book 2) (26 page)

“You look—” he started to say, his eyes roaming over me from head to toe.

I got nervous so I interjected, “Yeah...you too.” I smiled shyly, knowing he was about to say beautiful. His tux formed to his body perfectly. Though I couldn’t see his ripped muscles like when he wore a T-shirt, his broad shoulders framed him well. He was firm and fit in all the right places.

“Your dress is perfect. You look like a princess.”

I twisted a loose strand of hair around my ear. “I don’t walk like one in these.” I lifted my dress so he could see my heels.

Eli chuckled. “Those are sexy.” He waggled his brows.

He did not just say that to me. I let go of the dress to hide my heels.

“It’s too loud in here. I don’t want to share you with anyone. Want to step outside for ten minutes? That’s all the time we have until showtime.” Though Eli had asked for my permission, he was already tugging me out the door.

We snuck out through the back exit and the wind softly brushed against me. I knew it must be cold when Eli trembled.

“Is it cold?” I asked.

His eyes grew in curiosity, as he leaned closer to me, evidently amused by my question. “No, I’m not cold. It doesn’t get that cold in Hawaii. Wait, you can’t feel cold?”

“No.” I shook my head. I leaned back and placed my hands on the wall to anchor my suddenly weak knees. “I mean, I know what it is. I can feel it, but it could be freezing and it wouldn’t affect me.”

Eli’s eyes grew playful and twinkled under the parking lot lamplight. “Can you feel heat?” He brushed his lips against my neck.

My body flattened against the wall. “Yes,” I whimpered. My breath fluttered out of me like music vibrating a beautiful melody. “I mean...no. It depends on what you mean by”—I swallowed—“ummm, heat.”

His hands were mounted to the wall above my head, caging me in. “So you can’t feel temperature heat, but you can feel the lust kind of heat?” He moved away from my neck and his lips twisted into a sexy smirk. He enjoyed my coming undone way too much. “You don’t sleep. You don’t really eat. You can’t feel temperature. Kind of cool in a way, girl with wings. So before we have to act like superheroes, why don’t I produce some heat for you to get all warmed up?”

Eli leaned in closer, making me dizzy. All I could think about was his lips on mine. A soft breath fluttered from me when he tenderly caressed my cheeks.

“Promise me you’ll stay by my side. I know you can take care of yourself, but I need to know you’re safe. I’ll be worrying about you the whole time.”

“I will.” I tried to smile, but I was lost in his dark raven eyes. “And you have to be careful too. I know you want your revenge, but don’t let that drive you to do something foolish.”

His eyes became softer and somehow different. Like when you’ve known a person for a while, like a best friend, and you’ve seen their inner pain, shared a dark secret, shared so much. Even when he touched me, the feeling was somehow different from before. When he dropped his hands to lace his fingers with mine, they felt familiar, as if they were my own skin.

“I won’t.” Eli squeezed my hands. “I have something to live for, even if we can’t be together. At least we’ll be under the same stars. For now, I can pretend you’re mine. But you scare me more than anything because if something were to happen to you, it would break me.”

I inhaled a deep breath. His words were like a sweet poem to me. “I—”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to say a word. You remember the plan, right? Stick to the plan.”

My eyes fell to his necklace and then mine, recalling how powerful they were. It boggled my mind how such delicate crystals could hide us from Cyrus and the demons the way they had when Eli and I were alone.

Eli assessed my face as if to memorize it. “My mother would have liked you, you know.” He continued, “She might have freaked out when she found out you had wings though.” Eli chuckled softly. “I don’t believe you are my destruction. You can’t be. It’s impossible; you are my salvation. When my mother died, I was lost. Milani and Brody were there for me, and I’m so grateful for them. But when you came along, something came alive in me. I found another reason to live. I found something good within me. I found hope. I found you, and I found...us.”

“Eli,” I muttered, stroking his hair, loving everything he’d said.

“I need you to know how I feel in case something happens. I know it’s bad to think that way, but life is unpredictable. I regret not telling my mother how much I loved her. I know I promised I’d try my best not to kiss you, but I want to so—”

He didn’t have a chance to finish his words. I took a fistful of his hair and yanked him to me. I had no idea what being in love meant or how it was supposed to feel, but if this was it, then it was absolutely amazing. Now I understood why humans needed this kind of love. My heart was so full, expanding to no bounds. I levitated off the ground and every fiber in me awakened. The sensation was addictive, compelling, and I wanted more.

Our lips danced under the dark sky, perfectly as one. But the sky wasn’t dark to me. The moon glowed golden and full and the countless stars were bursting with brilliance. That was what he made me see, how he made me feel. Everything was beautiful and timeless.

I needed him to know how much I had grown to care for him. And though we had no future together, I wanted to live for the moment, with him. He mattered more to me than I’d thought anyone outside my family could. We shared a level of trust and comfort that was hard to come by. It was easy to be with him.

The sound of someone clearing his throat broke us apart. I didn’t know which way to look.
Oh God, please don’t let that be my uncle.

“Brody.” Eli ran his fingers through his hair, trying to block Brody’s view of me with his body.

Brody scratched the back of his neck, most likely wondering how he should react. “You know I can see Lucia behind you, right?”

“Oh yeah, of course.” Eli took a step to the side, trying to act cool. “What’s up?”

“Have you seen Abel? I can’t find him.”

Eli’s expression turned sour. “He’s been acting weird lately. I’m sure he’s around here somewhere.”

My mind went back to when Abel and I were dancing inside the gym. “Abel said some strange things to me that didn’t make sense. Do we need to worry about him?” I added.

“I don’t think we do.” Eli sounded hesitant.

Brody scrolled through his phone, checking for messages. “Do you think he’s upset with Lucia, or you?”

Eli pulled out his cell and checked for messages too. “No. He told me he shouldn’t have taken Lucia to the dance once he knew how we felt about each other. He said this to me tonight. Right before he left the building.” Eli’s words were slow in coming as he realized that maybe Abel had left. His eyes roamed the parking lot.

“Doesn’t look like he’s around here. Plus, he came in a limo. Don’t worry, he’ll do his part.”

“Okay. He’d better. I also came for another reason.”

“What?”

“It’s time.”

Chapter 32

The beautiful moment Eli and I had shared was pushed to the back of my mind. More pressing matters were at hand. Lives were at stake. Death was sure to come, but to whom?

We had come up with many scenarios at our meeting the night before, focusing on what would be the best defense and offense in every possible situation. But no matter how much we thought we were prepared, it wasn’t even close to being foolproof. The outcome was unpredictable.

Eli, Milani, and I went to the field first, since we had the necklaces that could protect us from Cyrus. Then everyone else would follow but keep their distance. The three crystal necklaces would be just powerful enough to shield everyone. While some of the students were still in the gym having an amazing time, the other half were right behind us, ready for battle. But there weren’t as many as I’d hoped there would be. And where was Abel?

A tall man dressed in black stood alone in the middle of the football field. He could have been attractive from where I stood, but I knew he was no man. He was a monster, a beast from Hell, a nightmare you wouldn’t want to haunt your dreams. Even when he turned to watch the three of us walk to him, his stare was menacing, most likely plotting ways he could torture us. His black wings were behind his back, half closed.

The fresh-cut grass scent had been replaced by the stench of evil. Even the cool breeze I couldn’t normally feel stung my skin like needles. And the surrounding field lights that usually gave off a yellow hue were as red as blood.

“I see you’re not alone.” Even his tone gave me chills down my spine. “You’ve brought the very two I wanted to meet. One who will die tonight and the other who will be the death of you.”

“Shut up.” Eli cursed under his breath, tightening his grip on the rolled-up page. “I swear I’ll burn this.” Little did Cyrus know that the one Eli held was a fake.

Cyrus started to roll up his long sleeves. The monster was well attired in his pressed dress shirt and black slacks. He could have passed for a businessman.

“My, my, my.” He clicked his tongue. “Someone has a temper and it’s not me this time. We’re so much alike.”

Eli took a step forward. His jaw clenched and the paper in his hand crinkled. “I’m
nothing
like you.”

Cyrus crossed his arms and his wings ruffled in back. “Oh yes, you are. You astral travel to watch your mother die in my arms, over and over again. You’re a sick fool, just like me. Just as I enjoy watching myself kill your mother over and over again.”

I placed a hand on Eli’s back. He dropped his shoulders and took a step back, then extended his arm. “I’m going to hand you this paper you’ve asked for. Take it and leave. Leave us alone.”

Cyrus twisted the buttons on his shirt. “How do I know you’re not giving me a fake?”

“Just like I don’t know if you’re going to leave when you get it,” Eli seethed. “I guess we have to trust each other, don’t we?”

Cyrus lifted his chin and revealed his stone-cold eyes full of vengeance. “I don’t trust anyone, so I’m going to need collateral. I think I’ll take that one.” Cyrus pointed at Milani, beckoning her with his finger. He was stunned when it didn’t work.

Milani held a cocky smirk. “You can’t touch me.” She lifted her chest higher in a challenging stance and her fingers flickered with a small spark. Thank goodness her necklace worked.

Cyrus looked down for a second as if to contain himself from exploding with shock and rage, and then glared back at us. “You leave me no choice.” His words were like ice picks, scaling up my back. “Bring him!” Raising his hand halfway, he opened his closed fist, showing all his fingers.

The air moved like waves behind Cyrus. A shield unraveled, revealing countless numbers of his followers. He was prepared for battle, just as we were. But nothing could have prepared us for what was to come next.

Next to Vince was Abel. I recognized Vince because he still wore the same uniform as when I had seen him invade the cottage. I still couldn’t see his face behind the mask. And behind them were Possessor demons in human form, guarded and waiting for the command to kill.

Abel came forth with his followers—Cayden, Vanessa, and even the ones I didn’t know by name that sat with us during lunch. From their expressions I couldn’t be sure if they were captives or there of their own free will. But I knew the answer when I saw a figure next to Abel with his hands bound behind his back and his mouth gagged.

“Jack,” I breathed, feeling my heart race a million times faster.

Abel couldn’t meet our eyes when he spoke, “I had no choice. It was either all of our lives or his.”

“You coward!” Eli yelled. “You only think of yourself.”

Abel glowered in rage at Eli. “And you think too much of others. Someone had to take care of the Lamias, what’s left of us. I did it to protect our kind. You are still part of us. Give him the damn paper and we run. This is not our fight.”

Eli shook his head. “You think Cyrus is going to let us go free? He will own us. We’ll become his slaves in misery, to eternal damnation. You are still part human. You just sold your soul to the devil.”

“No. I bought us a way out.” Abel tugged Jack closer to Cyrus. “Give me the dagger. Let me do it.”

Cyrus scowled, tilting his head sideways. “You must think I’m a fool. If you’re a traitor to your own kind, you are a traitor to all. I’m letting you escape my wrath this time for sticking to your end of the bargain, but don’t think there will be a next time. Now—stick around and see what happens to those who stand against me.”

“Abel, no. What are you doing? Stop.” I begged. I didn’t realize I was inching forward until Eli held me back.

“Bring me the paper, Eli, or Jack dies,” Cyrus demanded.

What would Cyrus do when Jack’s blood on the dagger didn’t reveal the secret message on the fake paper? Would he kill him?

I couldn’t understand how relaxed and uncaring Eli was that Abel had once again betrayed him. Maybe he was used to it. I hadn’t gotten to know Abel that well, and I didn’t ever want to. Was that why he’d said all that nonsense when we were dancing?

Eli tossed the paper. It dropped near Cyrus’s polished black shoes.

“All this trouble for a paper.” Cyrus picked it up. Unfurling it, he brought it up to the sky. He took out the true-cross dagger and handed it to Vince.

Jack jerked and yanked to escape, but there was no hope. Vince grabbed his hand and sliced a line on his palm with the true-cross dagger. Jack winced as he saw the dagger submerged in his own blood. His eyes rolled back, and he appeared as though he was about to faint. Then Vince handed it to Cyrus.

Cyrus’s chest rose and fell in slow steady beats, but the elation of victory in his eyes was evident. As blood dripped from the dagger Cyrus lifted it up, opened his mouth, and let a drop fall onto his tongue. “He is surely the descendant of Jacques. How I wish he could be alive to see this day.” Raising the dagger, he plunged it through the paper.

The sound of something hard hitting a rock echoed through the air as lightning struck and thunder boomed. I had expected Cyrus to go on a rampage, for nothing was supposed to happen. But something did happen. On contact, light so bright, enough to blind everyone, burst through the hole, lighting up the football field. When it disappeared, a flicker of fire sparkled, and then words appeared. But we couldn’t read them. We were too far away. I couldn’t comprehend what was going on. Eli had given him the real one. But why?

It was not the time to ask. Astonishingly, the words I so desperately wanted to read disappeared as quickly as they had appeared. Only three people had a chance to read them. Cyrus, Vince, and Jack. Abel and his friends were surrounded by demons.
Cowards.
If Cyrus had allowed Jack to read the words, that only meant one thing.

Abel was the only one close enough to help Jack, but I knew that wouldn’t happen. I had to do something. When the words disappeared, I leaped forward for Jack. I had no plan in mind. Yes, it was reckless, but I followed my heart. The one thing driving me was to get Jack out of there. My wings provided the speed I needed to move, but they put me at a disadvantage. There was more of me to grab.

No, Lucia!
Zach screamed in my mind.

I didn’t realize the ripple effect I would create. Zach and Uncle Davin dove out of the shield to come to my aid. Jack was safe in Zach’s wings, but I was in the hands of Cyrus. From the corner of my eye I saw Eli struggling to get to me, but Brody and Milani were holding him back.