Above The Flames (The Flames Trilogy #1) (12 page)

She continued toward the sidewalk, taking in all the small shops that lined Main Street. Each side looked the same. Blood splatters. Broken windows. Glass sprinkling the street. She saw another body sprawled face down on the sidewalk, a puddle of crimson soaking into the concrete, turning dark brown. It seemed like she was walking through a haunted house, not the town she fell in love with.

Jasmine covered her mouth and she gasped as she passed Mr. Gregory’s barber shop, where Pa always got his hair cut. Mr. Gregory sat with his back to the wall in the doorway; his neck cut open and red streams flowing down it.

Footsteps pounded the asphalt behind her, and she knew the others had joined her, but it didn't register. She rushed to the barbershop and grabbed the barber’s wrist, checked for a pulse, and let his dead arm fall to the ground. It landed with a thud that echoed off the walls in the small entrance. She cringed at the sight of blood coating his skin. Her stomach roiled and she stepped backward until she slammed into the wall behind. She turned her head, not wanting to see what lay before her.

Caim came forward and crouched down next to the body. “His body’s still warm. They can’t be far.”

“Everyone stay close. We don’t know what we are walking into,” Lamia said quietly but firmly.

Jasmine walked forward mechanically, and Beau matched her pace. She took steps, one after the other, like a zombie. Trash littered the sidewalks. Glass shards crunched under her feet as she followed Caim. The coppery smell of blood filled her senses. Dead bodies surrounded her. So many bodies.

Her voice shook. “Is there anyone left alive?” She didn’t know who she asked, or who she wanted to answer. Gemma came to her side and grabbed her hand. When their eyes met, tears filled Gemma’s and she quickly glanced away, but kept holding her hand.

“My power is going crazy,” Gemma said. “All the death around me, all the pain pumping into the air. I feel it. My power wants to help these people, but it can’t. Because they’re all dead.” Gemma’s voice cracked.

Jasmine opened her mouth to speak, but Azzy landed right in front of them, making her jump. “I don’t see any demons. They have to be hiding.” The sound of Azzy’s voice rang through the silence, cutting it like a double edged razor blade.

Caim nodded. “Keep your eyes open and stay alert.”

Jasmine’s stomach knotted as she saw the familiar red, white, and blue sign hanging above the entrance to Ma and Pa’s. She dropped Gemma’s hand and ran, her feet echoing in the silent streets.

“Jasmine, wait!” she heard someone yell, but she didn’t care. She moved as quickly as her feet would go. Her body heaved forward, like she might topple head first into the pavement, just like in training.

She flew up the steps and crashed over the threshold, noting the wooden door split apart and lying in pieces on the old, rickety floor of the shop. Upturned shelves scattered boxes of Cheez-Its and bags of Lays potato chips along the floor. A trail of crimson led down the hallway behind the register, toward the storeroom. Of their own volition, her feet moved forward, down the narrow hallway. She followed the trail of blood, which disappeared under a closed door. With her shoulders squared, she grabbed the handle and pushed it open. Not thinking. Not caring about what stood waiting for her.

Comprehension hit her quickly and her mouth dropped. Somehow she forced the scream back down her throat, but a lump remained. Blood stained the walls, streaks of it everywhere, as if it spurted from various spots. Ma lay in the corner of the room in a pile, unmoving. Her pale, wrinkly skin turned red. Cuts left her throat separated apart, her wrists the same. Her beautiful eyes, once so alive with happiness every time she had looked at Jasmine, now lay open, completely lifeless.

She heard a shuddery breath, then, “J-jazzy. Get o-out. H-he’s waiting.”

She dropped to the ground beside Pa’s body, his chest heaving for a breath that looked almost impossible to pull in. “Pa. What did they do?” Tears streamed down her face, and she let them fall. Her heart dropped to the floor.

“G-go.” A long, shaky breath. “Y-you have to…” Pa’s voice shook with pain as he tried to speak.

She placed a finger over his lips. “Shh. Don’t try to talk. Stay here. I’ll get Gemma. She can heal you.”

Pa shook his head. At least that’s what Jasmine thought he did, but the movement was so weak she couldn’t really tell. “N-no. I’m already g-gone. Help Ma. P-Please!”

Her whole body shook with the force of her sobs as her chest heaved with pain. Pa drew in one last, struggled breath and ceased. All sounds stopped, only the pounding in her temples remained from the strain of her sobbing. Her eyes blurred. She laid her head down on Pa, and finally saw the extent of his wound. His stomach had been sliced down the middle, and bits of intestine peeked from the opening. His wrists and all the way up his arms were covered in scratches and cuts. Blood saturated the ends of her long hair, but she didn’t care.

“
Why?
” she screamed. “Why did you take them from me? Bring them back. Gemma! Someone! Help me!” Why she didn’t scream from the start she had no clue.

“Isn’t this sweet?” a deep, raspy voice asked from behind her, and she raised her head. Her tears stopped running as she stared into fiery red eyes glowing in the dimly lit storeroom.

She rose up, and sunk her feet into the ground. Heat flooded her and she knew her power was asking for permission.
Not yet. Wait.
She glared, her ears drumming to the rhythm of her heartbeat. “Who are you?”

The demon grinned. His red hair matched his eyes, and large ears stuck out from his head. He stepped closer, and Jasmine threw her hands in front of her to stop him. His crooked smile widened, showing yellow, uneven teeth. “Names mean nothing. You may think of me as the one who will kill you.” He leapt at her, but she was quicker. With her hands still raised, she stretched her fingers out, fueling her power with every bit of hatred she had flowing inside. Blue fire sprung forth, but went over the demon’s shoulder.

His evil laughter filled the small room. “Am I supposed to be scared? You can’t even use your power.”

Jasmine scrunched her forehead, focusing, then she let it fly again, and this time blue flames soared straight into the demon’s heart. Or where his heart would be if he had one. Black lines formed on the white t-shirt he wore. The cloth disappeared in a small circular hole on his chest, spreading as the fire hit his skin.

The demon howled. “Stop it. You are nothing but a human with power,” he sneered. “Power that will never be enough to kill me.”

She knew he was right.
Her fire flickered, then sizzled out, jolting back into her body.

Jasmine looked at the ground. His feet inched closer; his black shoes singed so badly his toes stuck out from each one. A ringing started in her ears. Her heart slowed and she made fists, elbows bent at her sides.

“Power may not kill you, but I can.” A deep baritone filled the room, then a sickening pop.

Jasmine’s head shot up. Amon stood right in front of her, holding the head of the demon. The creature’s body fell forward, landing directly on her. Black blood spilled over and covered her face. Her arms. Everywhere. She couldn’t help it, she screamed.

Amon dropped the head and pulled the demon’s dead body off of her. Then he grabbed her and made her stand. “I’m sorry I didn’t come with you.”

She gazed at him, her lip trembling. “You’re here now. You saved me. If you wouldn’t have come…” She left the rest unspoken. They both knew what would have happened if he wouldn’t have shown up.

Amon removed his shirt, this one gray, and then handed it to her. She wiped her face, turning the shirt black.

“You ripped his head off,” Jasmine said, her heart racing.

“As fallen angels, we lost our powers, but not our extra strength,” Amon said, like he just had to explain.

Jasmine nodded, not sure what else to say. She made the mistake of gazing at Ma. She went to her side and fell to her knees again. “Oh, Ma. What am I going to do without you?” She stupidly waited for an answer, even though she knew one wouldn’t come.

The wood floor creaked, and Amon’s hand gripped her shoulder. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

Jasmine didn’t move, nor did she say anything else. She sat on that floor and cried. She cried for Ma and Pa. Tear tracks lined her face as she cried for the other townsfolk, lying in the street like cattle slaughtered for beef. And then, even though she tried not to, she cried for herself. For the life she once had, and never would again. When there were no more tears, she got up. Then she walked from the room and didn’t look back. Amon followed behind her, as silent as the town.

Chapter 13

Protection

Jasmine slumped back on the middle step leading to the entrance of Ma and Pa’s. Could she even call it that anymore? They were dead. Gone. Just like that. Her hands trembled uncontrollably as she reached up, grabbed her locket, and clasped it. Voices spoke around her, but she couldn’t focus enough to know who was talking. Every sound pierced her ears like she was in a tunnel.

Amon moved in front of her. “It isn’t safe here. We need to move.”

She nodded, but she didn’t make to stand up. She couldn’t. Numbness had overtaken her limbs. Her whole body. Even her brain, which didn’t connect her thought of movement to her legs. “I can’t yet,” she whispered. She wanted to sit on this step and hang on to her necklace. The one and only thing she had left to remember Ma and Pa by.

Amon sat beside her, his shoulder touching hers. “I understand what you are going through.”

“No, you don’t,” Jasmine said through clenched teeth. “You were an angel. I can’t see how you could ever understand what I’m going through.” She threw the necklace from her hands and it clunked against her collarbone. “I don’t know you. Not really. I’m supposed to just take your word for it, I guess. But that’s the problem. I don't.”

“Your reaction is natural. Lashing out in anger is a normal part of grieving.”

“Thanks for telling me. Now, can you go?” Her voice was shaky, and when she met Amon’s eyes, they were downcast, but filled with sincerity.

He put his hands in front of him. “You lost people you loved today. I’m sorry we didn’t make it in time to save them. But you must not let it defeat you. Rise above the pain, and use it to fuel your power.”

Jasmine rolled her eyes. “Great. Another training session? Already?”

“Think about it.” He stood and walked away, joining Caim’s side.

She didn’t want to think about it. None of it. If she could forget today ever happened, she would in a heartbeat. Right now she needed to breathe, and cry, and just try to get through this.

Beau came over and crouched in front of her, boxing her in. He stroked the side of her legs. “What can I do?”

She touched her forehead to his. “Nothing.” She sighed. “I can’t believe it’s real. Everything feels so far away right now.”

Beau slid on the step beside her. He wrapped his arm around her back. “I know. You’ll need time. I know you never had anyone care about you like they did. But, remember, you have me. And quite a few new friends. Let us help you through this.”

She pressed a hand to her breastbone and grabbed a handful of her shirt. “It just hurts.”

Beau brushed her hair back from her face. “I know it hurts, Jazzy. It will always hurt, but right now, you need to try to pull it together. We could be attacked any minute. We need to go home.”

Jasmine tried to grin, but she was sure it fell flat. “When did you get so smart?”

Beau shrugged. “Who knows?”

“Let’s get out of here, all right?” Jasmine stood and hobbled over to Amon. She’d been sitting too long and the back of her thighs were tingly, making her walk funny. “I’m ready. And I’m sorry.”

His voice softened. “It’s okay. No matter what you believe, I have been through loss. And I do understand it.”

How would Jasmine know that? Being told something was true didn’t make it true. Just because he said he’d lost didn’t mean he had. She didn’t know him. In fact, had just met him. She did appreciate his words, though, whether they were accurate or not.

“Okay, everyone. Let’s head back to Beau’s vehicle so we can go home. We will discuss our plan there,” Amon said matter-of-factly.

Since the car was still at the light, Jasmine followed the others as they hurried to get away from this death town. So encumbered by sadness, her feet dragged across the asphalt. Her legs were heavy, like lead vests in an X-ray room. Her eyes burned from crying, making her want to blink over and over to bring moisture to them. But the moisture was gone. She was all cried out. At least for now.

The only real family I had left is gone.

Jasmine wished she could cry. She swallowed, the ball in her throat staying lodged in place. Her hands trembled as she reached up and ran her fingers lovingly over the silver locket around her neck.

“Oh, lookie. Everyone has joined the party.” The high-pitched voice made Jasmine stiffen and freeze. Her heart skipped a beat as she turned slowly.

Footsteps clanked against the pavement behind her, the others running to join her side. Bael stood in front of her, almost on top of her, right under a street light which made his thick black hair look like crow feathers. His eyes weren’t red, instead they were the black of midnight.

A crooked smile had formed on his mouth, revealing yellow tinted teeth, pointed sharply at the ends. “Did you really think you’d get away that easily, little girl?” He cocked his head to the side. “If you did, you should probably think again. We have you surrounded, you know.”

Amon and Beau reached her side first, Beau panting loudly.

Amon growled as he stared down Bael. “Get away from her. I think you’ve got enough blood on your hands tonight.”

“It’s never enough!” His top lip curled upward. “You know, I don’t want any of you dead. I just want you to come with me. We’ll sit down, have some tea, and talk about taking over the world. You know, the usual business.” A red glint shone in his black eyes.

Jasmine took a step backward behind Amon. Her heart hammered and a cold sweat broke out along her chest.

Beau slid to where she’d been standing, making sure she was completely hidden from view. Cole and Caim moved to one side of her, Azzy to the other, and Lamia and Gemma walked up behind her, creating a box of safety. Although she didn’t feel safe. The world spun around her like she was thrust inside a tornado of craziness.

Bael’s evil, high-pitched laughter rang out and goosebumps erupted on her flesh. He moved like a snake, creeping around the group until he stopped in front of Caim. “It’s sweet, really, that you all would die to protect this girl.” He closed his eyes and scrunched his face, his hands folded over his heart. “Precious, in fact. But it won’t help you, nor her. I will have her.”

Jasmine shoved her way out, even as hands grabbed her to pull her back. “You want me?” she asked.

Bael grinned. “There’s the brave little soldier. Sacrificing herself again for fallen angels she barely knows. You almost made this too easy.”

“I’m pretty sure I didn’t,” she said. Then she reached for her power. It was already at the surface, knocking to be released. Anytime she’d been around demons it acted crazy, perhaps it could somehow sense them. She didn’t know. But she tugged it out of the box, letting it spread over her body like jam on toast.
Protect us. Keep us safe,
she whispered inside.

Heat warmed her body as her gift coursed through her. Her fingertips tingled as she guided her power there, ready for release.
Now.

Jasmine didn’t throw it from her body like she usually did. This time, she let it flow like water in a well. It listened to her too, weaving a wall of blue fire together, which surrounded them. They were all inside their very own bubble of protection. Energy zoomed through her, making her arms and hands shake with excitement.

She risked a glance at Bael. He was frowning, so she smiled, reveling in her success. “Didn't see that one coming, did you?”

More demons came from the shadows to stand behind Bael. Their heads were tilted toward the ground, as if bowing. Bael pointed at one of them, wearing a white button-up shirt and a big red and black bowtie. “You. Go crash the wall.”

The demon darted forward, but as he hit the neon blue wall, he let out a bloodcurdling scream that twisted Jasmine’s stomach into knots. His skin sizzled like he’d jumped into a bathtub filled with acid.

His body fell to the ground, writhing and twisting in unnatural ways. Jasmine cringed, almost feeling sorry for the pain she’d inflicted. The demon dug his nails into the hard road below him, pulling with all his might, trying to inch his way out of Jasmine’s power shield. Everywhere the fire touched him, his skin bubbled and fizzed, a sound like a two-liter soda being opened after it had been shaken up. But this lasted a lot longer.

Soon, the only part of his body still in the flames was his arm. Jasmine swore she could see part of his bone sticking out. She winced, her stomach flip-flopping. On instinct, her hand covered her mouth.

“For pity’s sake, Belze. Get out of the fire,” Bael yelled. When Belze collapsed, closing his eyes, Bael finally darted forward. He grabbed Belze’s leg and tugged hard. The demon moaned as pieces of his flesh stuck to the ground. Bael then dropped his legs and Belze rolled into a ball, his badly injured arm stretched out to his side. Jasmine shut her eyes tight and swallowed down a choking cough.

“How are you doing this? For the fifth time?” Gemma asked, her tone irritated.

Jasmine opened her eyes, but kept her focus on the ground. “What?”

“We all would love to know how you are managing a protection shield,” Amon stated. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

The moment she looked at Amon, Belze’s melted skin stuck to the pavement came into view. She bent at the waist, gagging. When she stood, Beau’s side of the shield was fading.

She steeled herself and reconnected the pieces, but her eyes were growing heavy. Her shoulders fell too.

“Well, are you going to answer?” Lamia asked.

“Who cares how she’s doing it,” Azzy said loudly. “This shit is awesome! I wish I could pull something like this off.”

“Me too,” Cole agreed.

“I…don’t know. I—” Jasmine couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer. She fell forward, right into Amon’s arms.

“Jasmine. Jasmine.” He lightly smacked her cheek, and she fluttered her eyes. “She can’t hold this much longer.”

“Guys, the demons just ran off. And when I say ran, I mean pretty much disappeared,” Beau said. Jasmine could hear an edge to his voice.

“Good. Then let’s go,” Amon said. He scooped her up in his arms.

“Why don’t you hand her to me,” Beau said.

“We don’t have time for this!” Amon exclaimed.

While they argued, Jasmine struggled to reign her power back inside. She tugged on it like a rope. Piece by piece she got it in the box, but couldn’t get the lid shut in time. It boiled over the top, over and over.

Focus. You have to do this.

She opened her eyes wide and yanked this time. When she finally got every last section in the box, she flipped the lid closed and locked it. Then she let her eyes close and didn’t worry about opening them again.

***

When Jasmine woke, she was in a blue bedroom. The walls, the blankets, even the carpeting were royal blue. She blinked a few times, and then tried to sit up. Her head spun, so she lay back down.

A pounding in her temples made her bring her hands up to rub them.

“Jasmine. Are you awake?”

She opened her eyes to slits as Amon stepped into the room. “Yeah,” she croaked.

“Good. Now for the hard question. How do you feel?”

“Like I got run over by a truck. That same truck decided running me over wasn’t enough, so it backed over me. That pretty much sums it up.”

Amon chuckled. “Well, if you are well enough to joke, I’d say you will be fine in no time.”

Jasmine ran her thumb over her necklace. “Tell me last night was a dream.”

“I wish I could.”

“So it wasn’t? Everything really happened? Ma and Pa are really dead?”

Jasmine sank down as Amon sat beside her on the bed. “They are. I’m sorry.”

A tear slipped down the side of her face, followed by many more.

Amon brushed his fingers over the side of her head.

She started to lean into the touch, but pulled away. Sympathy wasn’t what she wanted right now. Revenge was.

“When can we start our next training session?” She kept her voice hard. Assertive.

“I don’t think you’re ready for that.”

She forced her eyes wide. “I don’t care what you think I’m ready for. I know what I can handle. The faster I learn how to defeat the demons, the fewer people will die. And that’s what’s important.”

“We can start today, then. If you’re up to it.”

“All I need is a glass of water and a couple Advil and I’ll be good to go.”

Amon smiled at her and mumbled something under his breath.

“What?” Jasmine asked.

“Nothing. Get dressed and come down when you’re ready. Today, we will tackle some hand to hand combat and we’ll finish the lesson with some more power control.”

“Sounds good. Be down in a minute.”

He left then, and Jasmine pondered the words he’d whispered. If she didn’t know any better, she would have thought he’d said she was a force to be reckoned with. But that couldn’t be. Could it?