Beyond (49 page)

“
Sorry, we were ea ves dropping. We learn ed that from Davin, ”
she said, holding onto Claudia with tears in her eyes.
“
I ’
m so sorry too, but we would never let it stay that way. I hope you can forgive us.
”

Caleb joined in, hugging both Claudia and Vivian.
“
I ’
m sorry too, Claudia. We had a plan on fixing what we had to do.
”

“
I understand, ”
Claudia said, backing away, wiping her tears she thought wouldn ’
t fall again.
“
I don ’
t remember everything, but like I said to Davin, I remember enough to know how much we mean to each other , and that is enough for me. I ’
m sure it was difficult for all of you, but you had to do what you had to do. I have no doubt in my mind th at you would have done anything to help me remember. Michael told me he suppressed my memories instead of talking them away like he was ordered too.
”

“
I ’
m sure he suppressed the memories of Davin being a weirdo, ”
Vivan teased.

“
What? Then I ’
m sure he did the same for you, ”
he teased back.

“
See, Claudia, nothing ever changed. It ’
s probably better you don ’
t remember a few things about them.
”
Caleb rested his arm around Claudia ’
s shoulder.

Davin
narrow ed his eyes sharply on Caleb and chuckle d .
“
That ’
s my spot. Move out of the way.
”

When Davin pushed Caleb out of the way, Claudia
’
s butterfly necklace was exposed. The three of them were stunned to see it on her, but they didn ’
t ask how she got it . Too much ha d happened and none of them wanted to bring up the past.

Holly and the rest of the venator team
enter ed .
“
Sounded like you guys were having too much fun in here.
”
She looked at Claudia.
“
I ’
m sorry. I ’
m not good with sorrys , so you know it took a lot for me to say it.
”

Feeling great about her memories coming back
, she grabbed Holly into a hug. Holly let her arms dangle. She ’d never hugged Claudia before.
“
Oh what the heck, ”
she said , an d squeezed her back.
“
P
rincess, you can let go now. Pretty necklace by the way.
”

Claudia looked down and smiled.
“
It was a gift.
”

“
Nice gift, ”
Holly replied with a quick smile.

This time Claudia didn
’
t mind being called a princess. In some ways, the simple word made her stand out from the rest. She had to accept it. She was special. She had the holy soul. Only she alone could destroy Aliah once and for all. But how?

“
Now that we are all happy again , I say we rescue them right now, ”
Davin said, urgently.
“
I bet Michael, Austin and Avalon are tied up in Paradisus, waiting for us.
”

“
Whatever it is, w e ’
ll be walking into a trap. How I hate these traps , ”
Holly huff ed .
“
Why does it feel like we did this before?
”

“
Before we do anything, we need to inform Katherine and get some backup…watchers and other venator teams, ”
Vivian suggest ed .

“
Michelle and Gracie, you two inform Katherine and we ’
ll meet you in Paradisus. Don ’
t know where exactly. Just find us and hurry, ”
Holly command ed.

“
After this is over, I ’
m going to eat chips and salsa, ”
Davin blurted, looking around the cabinets , wondering if Austin had any.

“
Chips and s alsa ? What on Earth is that?
”
Vivian asked.

“
See, Holly. I ’
m not the only unearthly one here, naïve about human stuff.
”

Vivian frowned and narrowed her eyes on Davin.

“
Let ’
s go and get this over with so I can throw some c hips and s alsa down his throat, ”
Vivian teased as they transported to Paradisus.

As
the other s took off, Claudia pulled Davin aside.
“
I think I know how to get rid of Aliah.
”

“
How?
”

During the whole conversation as Claudia
explain ed her plan, Davin was shaking his head. When she finally finished he said out loud, “
No!
”

“
It ’
s the only way.
”

Davin tightly
grip ped both sides of her shoulders.
“
Do you even know what you are saying? It ’s insane, Claudia.
I…I mean…we…meaning the alkins and I ’
m sure the venators …
would forbid you to do this. What if it doesn ’
t work? Michael would be devastated , and we would be too. I don ’
t care if Aliah lives, but we care if you do. If it means you would be here with us, Aliah can hunt us the rest of his life. I don ’
t care. We need you. Do you understand? Michael just found you. You found each other. Live happily ever after. This kind of love is epic.
”

“
Living happily ever after only happens in fairy tales.
”

“
No , it doesn ’
t. It depends on how you see it. Living happily ever after is what happiness means to you and the way I see it , this is it . T
here’s the potential to be so much more if you only give it a chance…but my answer is no.
”

“
Okay, ”
she nodded, but she didn ’
t mean it. She only said it to be agreeable. Just as they were about to soar, Claudia felt a sudden rush of energy as if she had been struck by a lightning. She gasped deeply and hard , and she heard her name called in her mind .

“
What ’
s wrong?
”
Davin held her steady.

C
old , danger chills r an through Claudia’s veins.
“
It ’
s Michael. He ’
s in trouble.
”

Davin grabbed Claudia
’
s hand and lightly kiss ed the back of her palm.
“
It ’
s good to have you back , my friend.
Now…
let’s go fine them.
”

Chapter
3
2

No matter what time of day
, Paradisus was always the same. The light shone brightly like the sun even in the absence of it.
B
eing somewhere beyond, time stood still. The air was always fresh, smelling like the vibrant flowers or the scent of the tre e s . The weather and temperature never change d, and it was always perfect. But today, Paradisus reeked of evil , and the air was damp and eerie .

The venator team landed where they had the last time.
Holding their weapons tightly , they carefully searched the surrounding area.

“
What is it?
”
Vivian asked Davin.

“
It ’
s Michael. I think he called out for Claudia. This isn ’
t a good sign, ”
he whispered.
“
Claudia also told me they found out Aliah is still alive.
H
is soul is in Callum ’
s body.
”

“
What?
”
Caleb said in shock .

“
Do es the rest of the team know?
”
Vivian asked , searching for demons when she hear d shuffling from the trees.

“
I don ’
t know. If they don ’
t, they ’
ll soon find out ,” Davin replied.

Just before they reached the hills, they stopped. Everything remained the same, even the huge , black , dark pit , and there were no signs of evil.
“
We don ’
t see anything ; ma ybe the y’
re not here, ”
Caleb said .

“
They are .
Delilah told Michael to come here.
”
Claudia was almost sure that was what Delilah had said, but she was certain now . H
er necklace vibrat ed and turned jet black. She ’d always had her doubt s about Delilah , but couldn ’
t quite put her finger on it. She thought it was because she was always flirting with Austin.
If only she had spoken up ; but wh o would have believe d her?
She had no proof.

“
Let ’
s head back this way, ”
Davin said, leading them on another trail toward the west. Before long, Davin spotted Avalon bound to a tree up ahead .
He waved his hand, motioning everyone to remain at a standstill.
“
See…I told you she ’
s no traitor.
”

“
How would you know?
”
Holly asked, looking around for more demons.
“
Just because you ’
re attracted to her doesn ’
t mean she ’
s off the hook.
”

“
Attracted to her? I—”

“
Oh , be quiet you two , and think of some way to rescue the poor girl, ”
Vivian spat .

Before they could decide what to do, Vivian spotted Michael high up in the tree, tangled with the branches and knocked out cold. When she looked to the ri ght , she saw Austin in the same condition .
“
They ’
re up there, ”
Vivian gestured.

With those words, the branches of the trees came alive, swirling like the arms of an octopus ’
tentacles. One slashed at Vivian. She flipped over, turned sideways and chopped it with her sword. Another came slith ering, looping around Davin ’
s leg. He placed his sword flat against his jean s , slit in between and severed it off him.
“
Hasta la vista, baby.
”

Many branches swarmed, headed straight for Claudia. She could see them clearly headed right for her as if they were in slow motion.
Bel ieve, believe, Claudia said to herself in a continuous cycle as she held her bow right in front of her. E
ye s focused on the target s, she pulled her arm back to shoot multiple times.
“
Bull ’
s eyes, ”
she mumbled as more come toward her from behind.
With an upper lash to the left and then a right, she ducked as one barely missed her head. She flipped over them and slashed another. Claudia found herself close to Avalon.

“
Claudia !
”
Davin yelled . H
is gaze was on Avalon.

“
Got it, ”
Claudia bellowed , knowing what Davin was asking her to do.

When she was close enough, she willed the
bo nds off Avalon. Since the angelic cuffs were originally placed by God ’
s first angel, only a being with a holy soul could unb i nd them. She knew it was up to her.

Once Avalon was free, she massaged the sore areas and willed her bow.
“
Thanks, ”
she said to Claudia , and pushed her out of the way as a demon came toward them. Avalon knew what to do.
Now free, s he whirled in circles around the base of the tree. As it followed her, it ended up tying itself and could no longer move. Given this opportunity, she sho t the silver flames from her bow. It fired up, scorching and collap sing into black ashes.