MIDNIGHT DIVINE (The Helio Trilogy Book 1) (21 page)

Jack's sitting in a chair
on my balcony. Alice and Eric stand around him. His leg's bouncing as he smokes
a cigarette
,
and they
begin to argue with each other.

“There’s got to be some
fucking way to find where Beleth is keeping her!” Jack yells.

“We’re doing our best!
Maybe you should have protected her better!” Eric yells back with fists at his
sides.

Jack erupts from his chair,
pushing it away from him, and gets into Eric’s face, growling. Alice jumps
between them and tries to pull them apart, “This is getting us nowhere. We need
to work together.”

I float above them,
watching the scene unfold. “
Come on, Jack. I’m ok. I’m holding out as long as I
can. Please come find me,”
I try to tell
him.

Jack’s head whips around
the balcony, and he peeks into the room and back outside. His eyes widen as he
calls out to me, “Ivy?”

Alice and Eric look back
and forth from each other to Jack with confusion on their faces.

Did he hear me? How the
hell does that work? I’ve got to be dreaming
. “
Jack, can you hear me?”
I call out.

“Jack?” Alice tries to pull
his attention back.

“I can feel her
essence
,” he whispers. "She's pulling to me."

“Oh, shit,” Eric’s arms
fall to his sides. “Tell me you didn’t bind with Ivy.” Jack doesn’t answer him.

Alice shouts, “Jack! You
know you can’t do that! It’s against the rules! She needs to be able to choose
on her own! You’ve broken a fundamental law! If Michael finds out, he’ll punish
you! He can take your wings! Was it worth the risk?”

Jack’s head snaps, “Yes!
But there was no formal sacrament. The bond isn't complete!” he growls. Alice
rubs her temples.

Eric speaks up, his anger
wavering, “What’s done is done. Maybe we can use this to our advantage.”

“This is the first time
I’ve been able to feel her. We can follow the pull, but I don’t know how long
it'll last.” I watch them take off into the sky. “I’m coming, Ivy. I promise to
find you,” Jack vows.

I jolted awake, splashing
cold water over the edge of the stone tub.
How long was I out? My cuts are
gone.
I begin to tremble from the cold
water
. Getting out and
drying off, I turn thoughts over in my head for clarification.
What did Eric
mean by ‘binding’ with me? We only had sex. If Michael finds out, he’ll take
his wings?

I dress and plait my hair
again to the side. I'm freezing cold and shivering. I start a fire in the
hearth and sit in front of the flames. I light a cigarette and play with my
lighter.
Fire can be a weapon. But
how can I use it against Beleth? What does a
‘
complete binding
’
consist of? How much longer until my complete transformation? What’s
going to happen after I do?
I’m tired of
being locked up with nothing to do except stew.

“Hey, Cassius?” I call out,
hoping he can hear me.

“Yes?” he answers, opening
the door.

“Do you guys have to stand
outside my door or can you come in and keep me company?”

“We may. Is everything ok?”
he inquires as they come inside and shut the door behind them.

“I guess. It’s just quiet,
and my thoughts are loud. I’m tired of thinking.”

“I see. May we sit with
you?” he gestures to the floor beside me.

“Please?”

They both smile and sit
across from me, opposite the roaring fire.

“What is worrying you?”
Cassius voices.

“A lot, actually. What day
is it? I’d like to know how much longer I have until my transformation.”

“It is October fifth.”

“I’ve been here for a week
already!”
No wonder Jack's flipping out.

“Yes. When's your
transformation?” Beckett muses.

“Thirteen days,” I tell
him.

“Do you worry about the
transformation?”

“A little, but I think I’m
ready. I’m tired of not being able to defend myself.” They nod in unison. “What
does it mean to ‘bind’ to someone?”

Their eyes widen, and
Cassius answers me, “A binding… is almost the equivalent of a human marriage.
Except, a binding between creatures is much more intense and eternal. There is
a ceremony performed in which a piece of each being’s essence is taken and
placed inside their mate, binding the two essences together eternally. After
the ceremony is consummated, the two essences bind on a permanent level. They
will be able to feel their mate’s presence wherever they go. They will be able
to share thoughts as well. No matter the distance between them.”

I study the flames in the
hearth as I listen.

Beckett acknowledges my
concentration, “Do you worry of the binding with Beleth?”

My head snaps to him,
“What?”

“There's nothing to be
scared of. You’re connection to Beleth will make you stronger and more
untouchable
—
”

I cut Beckett off and stand
up, “
—
What are you talking about? I’m not binding with
Beleth!”

The two Sentries look to
each other and back to me. Cassius tries to calm me down, “Ivy. Did you not
know?”

“No! I don’t want to marry
or bind to Beleth! I won’t do it! He’s a monster!” I instantly regret my choice
of words as Cassius’ head drops, and Beckett turns his face to the fire. “I’m
sorry. I don’t mean
you're
monsters.”

“No. We are,” Beckett
voices in a bleak chagrin tone. “All of us here are monsters. There are some
who choose to embrace the Darkness, but some of us mourn the loss of the Light.”
His eyes meet mine, and I fall to my knees before them. “Beleth is a creature
of complete Darkness. There's no one who dare not fear him or defy his will.”

“Except you, Ivy,” Cassius
adds with seriousness. “We have been taken aback by your courage to stand up to
him.”

“Stupidity is more like
it,” I roll my eyes.

“No,” he continues. “We
understand why you would not want to bind with him, but you're vulnerable, even
after your transformation. There will be creatures sent to destroy you. There
has never been another being like you. With your binding to Beleth, you also
receive all that is his, and that means us. We will forever protect you.”

“Do I have a choice?” They
both shake their heads. “I’m scared. What if he decides I’m too much of a
threat and kills me?”

“Never,” Cassius
interjects. “We have pledged our loyalty to your safety. That means even if we
have to protect you from him.”

“Can you help me escape?” I
request with my eyes closed in fear of his reply.

“We cannot defy Beleth’s
command unless we are freed from his reign or he tries to harm you. If that day
ever comes, I can honestly tell you we would,” Cassius admits in a whisper.

Tears brim my eyes and
stream down my cheeks, “I can’t tell you the amount of gratitude and love I
feel for you
r friendship
.” My voice is shaky and
uneven.

“Love?” Beckett repeats.

I look up to meet the
surprise on their faces. “Well… Yes. Like brotherly love.”

“How can you feel love for
monsters like us?” Beckett inquires.

“Maybe I don’t know that
side of you. But to me, it doesn’t matter. I see the good in you, whether or
not
you
do.”

“We do not understand,”
Cassius stresses.

“Then, let me try to show
you,” I look to them for permission, and they agree with slight confusion in
their eyes. I try to explain further, “See, one of my abilities is empathy. I’ve
only been able to feel a person’s emotions by touch, but it also lets me see their
soul
s
or essence
s
.
I’ve been thinking
about the possible developments of this ability.
Maybe if I try
,
I can push those
feelings back into you to let you see for yourself.”

They look at me with fear
and awe. Cassius stands. “Ivy, I don’t think you want to do this. We are
creatures of the Dark. We have done things that would terrify you, and I do not
wish to dwell on them.”

“Cass, it doesn’t reveal
your deeds, only true emotion and
being
.”

Cassius nods, “Then, I’ll
go first.” He kneels down on both knees and sits back on his feet in front of
the fire.

I kneel down in front of
him and let out a relaxing breath. “Are you ready?” With his eyes squeezed
shut, he nods. “I need you to look at me.” His gray eyes meet mine.

Without breaking my eyes
from his, my hands come up to rest on his shoulders, tentative with what may
transpire. Cassius’ pupils dilate, and his emotions begin to flow into me.
Fear,
loyalty, courage, loneliness, pain.
His essence is a caged animal trying to
break free. But he would never disobey for the fear of death that will send him
back home to Sheol. I sense his hate.
N
ot for others
, but
for himself. He doesn’t want to be a monster any more
than I do. He's in limbo, enslaved to Darkness as a prisoner.
But, I sense
Light in the Darkness. My protector is capable of
redemption and wants it badly. Needs it.

I retain his tortured
essence and tears streak my face.
He
deserves so much more.
I push the reflection of his being and force it
through my body. My chest tingles. The sensation travels into my shoulders,
arms, palms, and departs through my fingers. Cassius tenses. A light emanates
from the center of his wide, black pupils—a candle in the darkness. The tingle
leaves my chest, and I feel it fade from my body through my fingertips.

Tears brim Cassius’ eyes as
they return to their exquisite gray.
Bringing my hands to each side of his face, I look at
him in knowing, “See? There is good in you, Cassius. Don’t give up. Everyone
deserves a chance at redemption.” He shakes his head and looks down in
disbelief. I lean forward and place a soft kiss on top of his head.

“What was that?” Beckett
acknowledges. I sit back, letting go of Cassius.

“A light in the darkness,
brother,” Cassius tells him with gentleness.

“Are you ready, Beck?” I
offer as Cassius moves over for his brother to take his place. “Try to keep eye
contact with me.”

“Ok,” he confirms.

I note the nervous tension
in his body as I place my palms on
his
shoulders
.
Terror, anxiety, adoration, valor, pride, grief,
sorrow, heartache.
Beckett’s essence feels obligated to protect his brother
and sister, though he constantly feels compelled to break free even if it means
his death. He doesn’t like to be controlled by the Darkness. He wants his
freedom and longs for a soul of his own as a human. Beckett yearns for a chance
at redemption. And there I find a light in the darkness of his essence.

I try to do the same thing
with Beckett that I did with Cassius and push everything back to Beckett, from
my chest to my fingertips and to his body. Beckett gasps when the light hits
his eyes. As the tingling leaves my body, I let go of him. He collapses, shaking,
and I realize he's crying.

I don’t know what else to
do.
I fold my body over
his. “Shh. It’s ok. It’ll be ok,” I rub his back and soothe him until his
shuddering stops. I lift my body off of his back and look to Cassius.

Beckett sits up, “Ivy. What
you did… I could never have seen myself the way you see me. It gives me hope
that one day… maybe St. Peter will reconsider.”

“It’s not
how
I see
you, Beck. It’s what's already there.”

I smile to them and reach
my hands out to help them up, “I’m glad it worked. I’ve never done that before.
I wasn’t sure it would work
at all
.” They each take a
hand and lift themselves up. I pull them into me and hug them both. Without
hesitation, they hug me back. “Alright, guys. That really wore me out. I think
I’m going to get some rest. Thank you for keeping me company.”

“Will you reconsider
binding with Beleth?” Cassius suggests.

“I don’t really know how to
handle that whole situation. Maybe I’ll just sleep on it,” I tell him.

“Right. Well, we are right
outside if you need us,” he reiterates.

“Thank you.”

“It's time, Princess,” I'm
shaken awake and pulled from the same nightmare as the night before, ruling
over a legion with thick tar streaming down our faces. My eyes shoot open, and
my hand seizes the throat of the man hovering above me. Rage pours through my
veins at my attacker. Then, I realize that it's Solas. His eyes wide in shock
as he places a hand on my wrist, requesting his release.

I relinquish my grip at
once and sit straight up. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!” I shake my head with
guilt.

“You're safe here,
Princess. We won't let anything happen to you.”

Images from my dream flash
in my mind, and I shake my head to clear my thoughts. Solas regards me with
confusion. C
an he see my nightmare or only hear my thoughts?
“It was
just a dream,” I attempt to excuse my thoughts.

Solas nods in acceptance
and stands, “I've prepared the Throne Room for your training.” The slight
twitching movements of his wings hint aggravation.

I swing my legs over the
bed and pluck a cigarette from my pack. After letting out a calming stream of
smoke from my lungs, I walk to my dresser and find clothes I'll be able to move
around in with ease. My whole body's on edge from my nightmare, and I’m ready
to let out some tension. I dress in the bathroom and come out to finish my
cigarette as I detect Solas’ uneasiness again, “Is everything ok? You seem…
upset.”

He clears his throat,
“Beleth arrived last night. He'll be watching you train today.” My spine goes
rigid. “He can be ruthless. He'll push you. But from what I’ve seen
,
you'll rise from it even stronger.”

I swallow hard and flick my
cigarette into the hearth before following him. We pass the Dining Hall on our
way to the Throne Room, and I hate the sound of our steps through the silence
as it reminds me I'm a prisoner. Ricocheting off the columns in the cavernous
Throne Room, our footfalls resonate even louder. Beleth's seated on his throne
of obsidian and doesn’t appear very pleased with me. His glare rakes over me
and sends a
n
angry fire through my
veins
. I step to the center of the otherwise empty room
before him, and Solas leaves my side to stand next to his monarch.

“Solas informs me that you
have requested training,” Beleth announces. I don't answer his assessing
non-question and meet his fixed gaze with equal irritation. “I believe it is
time for you to learn what will be expected of you anyhow. I hope you do not
mind, I have requested an audience. My legion contains some of the best
fighters from the underworld. They will be able to critique your form and teach
you a thing or two.”

I become nervous with the
prospect.
I can’t let him get to me like this. I can’t afford to be
unprepared again.

“Bring them in!” he roars
to his left without peering away me. Cassius and Beckett march in, leading at
least fifty Fallen warriors.
Damn.
Each of them take their places along
the walls behind the columns to give me plenty of space. Beleth sneers with malice,
“Let
u
s see what you can do. The best way to see what you
are capable of is to jump in feet first.” Solas’ eyes widen as he reads
Beleth’s thoughts. “Ryker!” Beleth calls in a commanding voice. A bald angel
steps forward from my left and tightly turns to my captor in one swift movement
of military precision. Beleth acknowledges him with the incline of his head.

Ryker loosens his stance
and turns to me with an evil grin. I cringe inside at the size of him, yet
don't let it show. It's evident his unmistakable strength will supersede my
own.
I really don’t want to die today.
“You want him to train me?” I
admonish.

“Train?” he snickers. “No,
sweet dear. I want you to fight. We need to see what you are capable of. As I
said, the best way to do that is to jump in feet first.”

I swallow the lump of fear
knotted in my throat. “Please, don’t make me do this.” Ryker doesn’t appear to
be the type to play nice.
I’m going to die. He’s going to kill me.

The Duke ignores my plea,
“What weapon do you think best, Ryker?”

“Daggers, Your Liege,”
Ryker bows with the sweep of his arm in respect.

Beleth turns to me, “And
you, dear, have you ever used a weapon?” I'm stunned with silence. I don’t know
which weapon I would be best at using. Either way, Ryker's going to kill me.
Solas smiles at me with mischief, and I'm confused. He bends down into Beleth’s
right ear to whisper. “Ah. So you have had some practice with a few weapons.” I
feel betrayed by Solas in this moment. “The Sais it will be. I always loved a
well fashioned Egyptian duel.” He shifts in his seat with excitement and waves
his hand. A set of daggers and a pair of Sais appear at our feet in succession.

Solas’ voice interrupts my
thoughts.
“You’ve got this, Ivy. I've seen what you can do. Ryker may be
deadly, but he's slow. Look for his weaknesses and strike. I’m here if you need
me. Just say my name in your mind.”
I nod to him, concluding
that
Beleth doesn't possess the same telepathy as him.

Ryker begins prancing
around, preparing to teach me a lesson. I step forward to pick up my weapons,
test their balance in my hands, and grip their hilts.

Out of the corner of my
eye, Ryker comes without warning, his daggers in hand as he charges at a
powerful run. I’m caught off guard and twist to leap away, but a blade catches
my back, slicing me across my kidney. I’m instantly in fight mode and pivot
away. Ryker smiles, and the Fallen around us shuffle around each other,
throwing taunts at us.
This isn’t training. This is life or death. No room
for mistakes with this brute.
Ryker assumes I'm weak because he's wounded
me already. He charges me again, expecting a duplicate outcome.
Not this
time, asshole.
I charge back and slide to my knees, folding backwards under
the slice of his dagger through the air. I score a
blade
across his left ribcage. I wonder how fast he heals
as I twist my body and jump into a crouch to defend myself. Ryker’s cockiness
turns to ruthlessness. He stalks around me as I counter his steps, keeping my
distance.

The Fallen warrior begins
taunting me to throw me off, “Too bad your little friend, the traitor
,
couldn’t be here to witness you die. Although, I did
have fun carving him open and watching his insides spill on my boots. Such a
pity.”

My emotions shift from
fighting for my life to the rage of revenge, and I cease retreating. “I'll make
you pay for what you did,” the words seethe through my gritted teeth. His wings
twitch as I hone in on my prey. I track his movements, picking up on
imperfections in his form. All brute and no brains. He spins his knives through
the air, making them whistle with impending cruelty. Catching an opening as he
charges again, I sprint to the column closest to me and use my right foot to
spring off. Reversing my momentum, I propel myself in a calculated arc towards
Ryker. I drive the Sais down, but Ryker sees me coming and pivots at the last
second, avoiding my blades from impaling him. However, he isn’t quick enough. I
manage to slice open his chest before landing hard on my feet in a crouch,
ready for his counterattack.

Ryker swipes a finger
across his bleeding chest and flicks the crimson away as he unfurls his large
insidious wings, “I’m going to cut your fucking eyes out and eat them for
dinner tonight!”

Fuck you, asshole!
He throws a dagger at my chest, but I slice it out of
the air before it reaches its destination.
That’s it. Throw the other one
, and you’ll have
nothing
.
He flies above me, and I panic because he now has the
advantage. He dives down so I have no time to counter. I launch myself to the
column in front of me and rocket from it to the next until I’m towering above.
Reaching the apex, I jump to the opposite column as he dives for me. I swing
around the structure before he can realize what's happening and plant two feet
between his shoulder blades. He falls face first as I land on the ground with a
thud and roll to a stand, absorbing the shock. I charge at Ryker as he rises to
his hands and knees. I pounce on his back and coil my legs around his waist.
Crossing my blades in front of him, I slice his throat. Blood spills as his
legs give out beneath him, and he collapses to the stone ground.

I stand and step over his
body to view the growing puddle of blood, still pissed knowing he'll eventually
heal and the battle will continue. I kick his ribs to flip him over and kneel
with my left knee in his chest. His wings bend at an awkward angle beneath him.
I wonder if it'll kill him if I rip his head off.
Reaching down and
grasping the sides of his face, I let the hate for this monster and what he did
to Trey seep through me.

I hear Solas yelling inside
my head,
"Ivy! What are you doing?"
But I can’t stop.

I’m going to kill him,
I reply.

Ice cold fire shoots from
my fingertips and binds my hands to Ryker’s face. I put my leg over him to
straddle his torso. All of a sudden, my head falls back with a sharp crack, and
my vision changes to a blinding white light. There's a tenacious ringing in my
ears. A tearing pain stretches across my back as if I'm being whipped in
Beleth's dungeons again. My whole body ignites in pain, and I scream with the
intensity of the agony. An uncontrollable shuddering seizes my muscles. The
ringing in my ears is all hear. There's a pull in my chest as the white
illumination leaves my vision, and I behold Ryker state.

His body arcs towards me as
black tendrils protrude from his chest. I can’t pull my hands away from his
face as if we're welded together. The tendrils give way to a large black bubble
akin to a vile, polluted jelly fish. It swims and pulse through the air,
circling before me. I'm in awe and fear of what I'm witnessing. It stops before
my
face, sentient in its blind examination of me. My eyes
widen as it plunges into my chest, and I scream with the torturing affliction
it causes. I can’t focus anymore. The pain overcomes me, and I fall on top of
Ryker’s unmoving body as my surroundings disappear.

The world is cold and gray
without warmth or color. I’m standing in an open field. There's nothing but dry
grass as far as I can see. The dark sky moves swiftly with a ceiling of gray
clouds. “Where am I?” I spin around to find some indication of a landmark. A
man appears far ahead of me in a blur. “Hey!” I start to run to him. “Hey!” The
closer I get I'm able to make out his features. He's very tall with pure white
wings behind his broad shoulders which almost touch the ground at his feet.
He’s covered in gold, knightly armor from head to toe with a sword on his hip.
I rethink approaching him and slow down. His helmet, which belongs on a Spartan
warrior, frames the intense gaze instilling fear in my heart. I stop before
him, and my knees buckle of their own volition. I look to the ground in
disbelief.

“Ivy,” the angel
acknowledges. His tonality washes over me like warm honey, eliminating my fear
and replacing it with adoration.

I behold his presence and
find courage to speak, “How do you know my name?”

“I know every soul and
every essence.”

“Who are you?”

The angel removes his
helmet and holds it against his hip, “My name is Michael.” My eyes widen in
surprise. “Oh, so you have heard of me?” He smiles at his own joke.

“Where am I?”

“This is the Veil. I
summoned you here.”

“I don’t understand. I
don’t understand anything that's happening to me.”

Michael offers me his hand
to stand before him. Peace settles over me with his touch. “That is why I have
brought you here. You have fully transformed. You are a Reaper, Ivy. Unlike any
Reaper ever before you. You have been given gifts which will substantially
impact the war between the Angels of Light and the Monsters of Darkness. You
are the enigma that transcends all boundaries, making you the most powerful
weapon to cut down the haze of pollution in which evil has spread. It is your
responsibility to steward this incredible gift.”

“I don’t understand my
gifts. Everyone keeps saying I'm
a
weapon... I don’t
see it.”

Michael elaborates, “Before
Lilith became a demon, she was an Archangel,
and
a deadly warrior.
Your instinctual fighting skills come from her. She has also given you the
ability of Second Sight, which I know you have been experiencing. What no
t
many
know
is that Lilith has made promises to the Light
that
you will be able to fight against the Monsters of
Darkness and greatly diminish the Almighty’s enemies. You see, He is not
vengeful against the Fallen. He weeps for them. He doesn’t want to see them
destroyed unless it is completely necessary. I agreed with Lilith to let you
live, then appointed you with gifts she could not.”

I can’t believe what I'm
hearing.
My mother made a deal with Michael and basically sacrificed me to a
mission I have no say or power over. I was created to be their weapon. Nothing
else. My life is not my own. It never has been.