Scarred (the Spellbound Series Book 3) (4 page)

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I almost feel like myself again after seeing my father. It feels like I have a purpose again, which is much more comforting than sitting around and dwelling on everything that’s happened. No, what I’ve been craving is the chance to get back into the world, and set everything right somehow. I want nothing more than to find Lily and break every bone in her body, but I can’t do that. Not yet. I’ve still got some learning left to do.

When I lost to Lily, I learned a few things about myself. Or, rather, I learned that certain traits of mine could be seen as weaknesses. I'm overconfident, overzealous, and violent. If I had asked Krystal and Alyssa to help me fight her, the outcome might have been different. And if I hadn't been too proud to let Michael teach me sooner, I might have been able to take her down on my own
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I can't change what happened. That's a power that's beyond anything I can do. But the next time I see Lily, I'll have Michael's tutelage and the strength gained from earning my wings to aid me. With or without help, the next fight won't have the same outcome as the last one. I won't let that happen again.

The memorial service lasts until well after sunset, and even afterward, the others want to go to a restaurant nearby to drown their sorrows in greasy food and whatever's on tap. But I'm too energized by the thought of what needs to be done. I split from the others, and teleport back to my room. I'll let them know about the trip to Michael's in the morning. From then on, the decision of who's coming and who's staying will be up to them.

When I return to my room, I stand in the middle of it for a moment, looking around at the place I've been calling "home" the past few days. The eggshell walls have become familiar to me, but just as quickly as I've arrived, I have to pick up and leave again. It takes all of five minutes to change out of my dress into boy shorts and a tank top. I toss the dress into a pile of things that I plan on leaving behind. I don't think I'll ever wear it again. It'll just make me want to grieve. But I've had enough of grieving. What I need is to get back on my feet and work on fixing the mess I've made
.
 

I cross over to the dresser, and pick up a thin gold bangle, turning it over in my fingers as I take a seat on the edge of the bed. It looks like any other piece of jewelry, but this particular bangle is one of many that's been enchanted to act as a storage device. Within are things I'l
l 
actuall
y
 
need; guns, daggers, lances, and other items used by hunters to dispatch their supernatural prey. And perhaps, most importantly, the outfit I wore when Lily and I fought. The same one I planned on using when I had dreams of defending the city as a masked vigilante. The leather hoodie and pants help up well, but the black cotton undershirt tore a little. I'll be needing a new one of those, and hopefully soon.

I slip on the bangle, and lie back on my bed, contemplating tomorrow's departure. It's a move that I'm glad to be making, but not one that I'm looking forward to. I'll potentially be leaving quite a few people behind, and when I think of how much they've already lost, it makes me wish I could take them all with me. But I can't, and I'll have to break the news to them in the morning. I try to think of the right words, but they won't come, and I'm exhausted by the time the clock by my bed strikes twelve. I switch off the lights, roll over to my side, and let the weariness pull me down.

At first, I'm only aware of darkness around me. I'm not surprised; my eyes are closed, so it's not like I'd be able to see much. But as I drift further and further from the living world, bizarre things come to my attention. A blood red sky fills up with tiny pinpricks of light, like a corrupted version of the Milky Way. Spires of obsidian rise in every direction, dotting an otherwise barren landscape. Droplets of magma seep out of the ground around me, flying into the sky as if it's raining in reverse. And in time, I notice that I'm not merely observing this strange world; I'm a part of it. I can feel the ground beneath my feet, hear strange inhuman cries in the distance. I turn around to examine the terrain behind me, and realize in that instant that I'm not alone.

Standing before me, in the same charcoal gray suit as the last time we met, is the last person I expected to dream about. Then again, his presence probably means that this isn't a dream. Lucifer. The devil. Michael's brother, and the other player in their sick game to replace God. He's dragged my unconscious self to his own realm. He grins, and his mischievous hazel eyes are positively radiant. He seems to be pleased with everything that's been going on. And it makes me want to slap the smirk right off of his face.

Since we're on his playing field, it would probably be smart to give my uncle a pleasant greeting. But what comes out of my mouth is a gruff, "What do you want?"

Lucifer's smile widens, and I'm sickened by the sight of a single dimple on his left side, just like Nick's. "I wanted to see how you were holding up," he says. "I heard about what happened in New York, and I'm sorry. Losing people is hard."

"You ordered that attack," I remind him.

"Oh, I know. Why do you think I'm apologizing?"

I turn away from Lucifer, fully intent on storming off into the obsidian plains. "You asshole..."

"Don't hate the player, hate the game." Lucifer materializes in front of me, barring my path. "And winning the game is gonna require lots of souls."

"Why? I thought whichever Nephilim could kill the other determined who wins your stupid 'game'."

Lucifer shrugs, and says, "I have a feeling the game won't play out the way we expect. I'm just taking precautions."

"Speaking of souls... what have you done to Nick's?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"I thought Nick died, but he claims he was taken. And I saw him get dragged into Hell. You wanted him for something... what was it?"

Lucifer winks at me, and answers, "Like I said, just taking precautions."

In a flash, I close the distance between us, and reach out to grab Lucifer by the lapels on his jacket. But my hands slip right through the fabric. Apparently, there isn’t enough of me here for us to touch. I back away, and ask, "What did you do to my boyfriend?"

"Nothing he didn't want."

"What...?"

"Poor Nicholas came to me with a single wish; to be able to protect you. So I thought of a way to grant his wish, while benefitting the both of us. It's a win-win for everyone."

I groan inwardly, and fold my arms across my chest. Of course, that's just like Nick. H
e 
woul
d
 
stoop to making a deal with the devil if it meant he could protect me. For the third time, I ask, "What did you do...?"

"I'm sure you'll see in time," Lucifer responds.

"Are there any strings attached?"

Lucifer laughs, and says, "Don't worry. He'll be able to repay his debt and live to tell the tale. I'm the devil, not a crook."

I let out a sigh of relief. This is by far the stupidest thing Nick has ever done, but at least it won't put his life in danger. "One last question," I mutter as I uncross my arms.

"Hmm?" Lucifer watches me with a curious gaze, his head cocked slightly to the side.

"Michael... Can he be trusted?"

"Maybe. Maybe not. I have better things to worry about than your relationship with dear old dad."

"Please, I need to know what I'm walking into."

Lucifer snaps his fingers, and the world around us fades. The obsidian spires vanish into dust, and one by one, the "stars" above us blink out of existence until nothing but darkness remains. "Trust no one," he says. "No matter who, everyone's got a little devil on their shoulder."

***

              Morning brings with it a pounding headache and surprising warmth. I left the air conditioner on last night, but I neglected to get under the covers, so why am I practically sweating? I open my eyes, and fight back a startled scream. Nick’s face is mere inches from mine, his arm draped around me cautiously, as if he expected me to freak out, but couldn’t resist the urge to hold me like he always does.

I have half a mind to shove him off the bed, but instead I slide his arm off of me and race to the shower. I don’t like that he snuck into my room in the middle of the night. I feel inexplicably unclean, and vulnerable. Nick of all people shouldn’t make me feel this way, but right now, he’s still someone I want to keep at arm’s length. Especially after hearing Lucifer confess to altering him somehow.

Nick is awake by the time I’m out of the shower and dressed. He rubs his eyes, and says, “Good morning.”

“Get up,” is all I say to him before grabbing my bag off the dresser.

“I’m sorry if I scared you,” he says quietly. “I didn’t know where else to crash…”

“Whatever. Get packed. If you’re even coming, that is.” I check the room to make sure I haven’t left anything behind, then storm out the door, leaving Nick alone to think about what he did.

I knock on everyone’s door as I pass by, letting them know to meet me in the lobby as soon as humanly possible. And ten minutes later, all the survivors (plus Nick) stand before me, some in pajamas, some fully dressed but clearly in need of caffeine. I don’t think any of them know quite what to expect, and I’m still unsure of how to say what I need to say, so I just let it all out as simply as possible: “I’m heading upstate today. My father offered to teach me and let me live on his property. But I can’t bring all of you. I need to know now for sure who’s staying.”

Unsurprisingly, Nick is the first one to announce, “I’m coming with you.”

Shortly after, Alyssa adds, “I’d like to see you make me stay.”

Jenna’s father says, “We won’t be staying behind… but we won’t come with you either.” The rest of the group turns to him, and he explains, “We’re going to pick up our son from his grandparents’ house in New Rochelle, then we’ll move to a city closer to you.”

I nod, and survey the small throng of people in front of me. So far, this has been an easier process than expected. Then again, I didn’t expect the Chen family to already have a plan in place. It’s almost as if they predicted I would make a move like this… It makes me wonder if they know what else I have planned. I clear my throat, and ask, “Anyone else?”

Emma shrugs, and says, “Jenna’s family is sort of my surrogate family, so I’m gonna stay with them… if that’s alright, of course.”

Jenna’s father begins to object, but Mrs. Chen interrupts him and says, “You’re welcome to stay with us as long as you like.”

“I’m gonna go wherever Landon goes,” Rachel announces. “And see if I can join a real pack.”

Landon shrugs, and says, “The country life isn’t for me, so we’ll probably wind up in Rochester.”

That just leaves my mom. I watch expectantly for her decision, and she ultimately says, “I’m coming with you.”

“Are you sure?,” I ask. “It might be dangerous, and awkward for you, and-“

“And I’m not about to let you out of my sight. You may have inherited your father’s freakish strength and stubbornness, but you still need your mother.”

I can’t argue with that. I shrug, and say, “Sounds like we’re all heading north, just not all at once. Everyone who’s coming with me, I’m gonna need you guys to pack as quickly as you can. Everyone else… I guess we’ll be seeing you soon.”

Twenty minutes later, Nick, Alyssa, and my mom are all showered, packed, and ready for the journey ahead of us. “Where exactly are we going?,” Alyssa asks as she readjusts the duffel bag on her shoulder.

“Some place called Huron,” I respond.

“Never heard of it.”

“You’re not the only one.” I pick up my own bag, and order everyone to join hands. Alyssa grabs my left hand, Nick grab my right, and they both link hands with my mother. I focus my energy on the address Michael gave me, and in a flash, our surroundings shift from empty hotel lobby to vast woodland. I swivel my head both left and right, but no matter what, it seems like there’s nothing but forest on all sides.

I free both of my hands, and pull out Michael’s address, looking it over with a frown. Have we arrived at the wrong place? I spin around, and that’s when I notice the dirt driveway leading up a steep hill. I gesture for the others to follow me, and crash my way through the underbrush until I reach the road.

It doesn’t take very long to reach the end of the driveway, and when we do, a tiny gasp escapes my lips. Michael never said anything about how beautiful it was here. A two story house finished with cherry wood stands just a dozen yards away from a lake, with a dock that extends far into the clear water. The sun beams down on the little house and the clearing around it, giving extra shine to the perfectly trimmed, healthy grass, and glinting off the water like liquid gold. For a moment, it almost feels like I’ve stepped into a fairy tale. There’s no way this can all be real. Places this beautiful only exist in fiction.

A muffled cry snaps me out of my reverie, and I spin around on my heel to see what’s going on. Both Nick and my mom are trying to struggle out of the grasp of two dark suited men who have snuck up on us. I drop my bag, and start running towards the man holding Nick, but he holds a glowing palm to Nick’s face. It isn’t until then that I can feel the power surging through his veins. Similar to that of a spellcaster, but alien. Pure in a way that human spellcasters are not. These men must be angels.