The Taking (29 page)
Authors: Katrina Cope
I am confused, this does not sound like Ethan and how would he know any of this information. I am the first one to see him since the confrontation. “Ethan?” I ask again. “What has happened to you?”
His eyes are turning blacker by the second. “I am not Ethan, you deceiving wench. You have killed the wrong demon. Although he had his faults, Separus was one of my best . . .” he smirks, “. . . managers, as the human world would call them.” He steps closer again. “Ethan was infiltrated by one of my minions on that mission to retrieve you and your friends, not one from Separus. You have gone after the wrong demon and in the process revealing your traitorous ways. And for this, I am going to make you pay. You are going to watch your beloved Ethan tear himself apart as I slowly take over his mind, his body.” He pushes me against the wall holding me by the throat. A smile creeps on his face as his eyes drift slowly over my body. “Hmm, a demon sperm mixed with and angelic egg. There’s an interesting combination.”
I knock his arm aside dinting his force of the arm at the elbow. Reminding myself that it is not Ethan, I knee him in the stomach and push him away with my foot, letting out a loud grunt.
“Who are you?” I scream. I want to beat the life out of him, but he is using Ethan’s body. Shortly Ethan may regain control over his soul. I grit my teeth and shove him against the wall. “Who are you?”
I look into the usually pale brown eyes that are now the darkest of blacks. With his voice a sneer he says, “Why don’t you tell your leader you betrayed that Abaddon says 'hi' and see how that goes when he decides your punishment.”
The black eyes are replaced with light brown as I grasp him around the throat. “Aurora?”
I release my grasp and step back.
“You have wings?”
A large sigh escapes my lips. I am completely worn down with sadness. His last comment reminds me of someone with the beginning of dementia. When I speak to him and caress him, how much will be him and how much will be Abaddon’s trickery or true-self shining through? As I gaze at his confused face, I am positive that I am with Ethan. I reach for his hand taking it in mine and hug him giving him a kiss on the cheek. A couple of weeks of stubble has grown into a light beard, and it tickles my lips. “I’ll be back soon, okay?”
His eyes are filled with confusion as I turn to leave. “But you only just arrived.”
“I promise I’ll be back soon. There is something I have to do.” His eyes hold an intense sadness as I touch the door releasing the pulse to open it.
Instantly, I am greeted by Archangel Michael and Zacharias. They peer over my shoulders to look at Ethan and I close the door.
“Well?” Archangel Michael’s piercing blue eyes look deep into mine.
My shoulders slump and I shake my head. Tears of regret trickle down my face. “I am so sorry.” I wipe them away. “At first he seemed to be all better, but as soon as I released my wings he turned into something completely nasty.” I stammer, “It . . . it wasn’t him.”
Archangel Michael’s head tilts in acknowledgement. “Did the manifestation say what it was?”
I nod my head quickly and watch his face. “It told me to tell you that Abaddon said hi.”
His mouth remains shut while the colour drains from his face.
“You stupid, stupid girl,” Zacharias yells. “These days Michael could have defeated Separus on his own, but this one is a different story. He is much more powerful, and because of you, he is angry.” He lifts a hand like he is about to strike me again, but Archangel Michael stops him.
“She has made a mistake, yes. A severe error, but she is already tearing herself up enough.” The sapphires focus on me again. “And she is also about to fulfil her punishment.”
My eyes blink slowly in acknowledgement. I will take whatever punishment they give me without complaint. I have already ruled that I deserve it even before I found out the there is a stronger demon than Separus and now he has his sights set on Archangel Michael. Who knows what he has planned for me.
In the middle of the corridor, Archangel Michael waves his hand, and a large black hole appears. I recognise it instantly. Turning to look at him his eyes are still piercing yet I think I see some compassion flicking around the edges.
“I know you are sorry for your actions, but you still need to take time out to ponder what you have done and how you would improve to do it better next time." The weariness still has a hold of my body, and I exhale.
“How long am I to spend in the abyss, respected leader?”
“Two weeks.”
Fear grips my shoulders, and they seize in place. Two weeks in nothingness is a scary thought. Last time it was only a few days, and it was eating into my mind. I bow to him then Zacharias. “Please know from the deepest of my heart, I am sorry. I would never intentionally betray you or my fellow angels.”
“I believe you.” The archangel’s voice was as weary as I felt. “This is why it is only two weeks, and you did do some good out of it. You saved many humans. For this, I am proud of you, you must not forget that either. But you need to think of better ways without putting your fellow angels in danger.”
I bow again. Leaping into the massive black hole, I already dread every minute of it but I am more fearful of what my reception will be from Ben and Cindy when I finally see them again. Flipping onto my back, I watch the light disappear as the hole closes, and I let the strange buoyancy of floating yet falling sensation take over me.
- Acknowledgments -
I am touched by the enormous amount of support I have received from my immediate family. My husband has been a helpful alpha reader and at times been a wonderful motivator, with hints of ideas to help me through the blanks. The support from my three sons has also been overwhelming. My older two have devoured the book and asked for more. A big thank you to my oldest son for his help in picking/inventing the demon
’
s name
‘
Separus
’
.
Thank you also for my youngest son, though too young to read this book at the time of publishing, he has been full of enthusiasm and support. He is reading my preteen series, ‘The Sanctum Series’. I love seeing his eyes light up as he tells me about what he is reading.
I would also like to thank my good friend and book enthusiast, Julie Hickson for becoming a beta reader. With her enthusiasm to continue being a beta reader for the next book in the series, is inspiring for an author.
A huge thank you to my editor Emily Childs at Emmy Edits,
http://www.emmyedits.com
for her editing and writing tips, and beta read suggestions.
Thank you to all of my readers who have loved my work, and continue to read my stories. Your support is extremely motivating. I would love for you to share your thoughts in a review on one or all of the following:
Amazon
Goodreads
You can follow Katrina Cope at:
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