Curse of Shadows and Light (16 page)

Vincent’s mouth twitches in an almost-smile, but his eyes remain serious. “Unfortunately, we think your feelings toward demons is what made you a target for the Light-angels in the first place,” he says.

“
Meaning?”

“
Meaning there are those who would wish to acquire your ‘services’ to attack demons, and that puts you, and Lucky, in danger.”

“
Yeah, I know.” I shift uncomfortably in my seat. When did it get so hot? “That’s why we’re here. Hopefully the Light–angels won’t find me under Anastasia’s protective spell, but even if they do, they’re powerless to do anything. And as for Lucky…” I glance at both of them, but my eyes linger on Vincent. “She’s on her own, but I think…
hope
she can take care of herself. And now she has you guys to help her too.”

“
Tell me what happened with the Light-angels before you came out here. Tell me as much detail as possible,” Vincent urges.

I let out a long sigh. I know it’s important, but I’m so sick of even thinking about how I was just being manipulated. It really pisses me off. I stand up and head toward the kitchen to get some water.

“
Well, basically this guy and girl showed up at my school one day, and I started talking to the guy, Tristan. He and his sister were covered with these wicked scars that I thought everyone could see, and I only found out later that wasn’t the case.” I fill up my glass and walk back into the family room.

Vincent nods. “Go on…”

I take a few sips to buy some time. “Well, for a while I became pretty close with Tristan. Which I only realized in retrospect was really weird, because at first I hated him and I was in love with Kieron—”

“
But Kieron was away, right? Imprisoned by the Hlbafa?” Demetri asks, with a hint of a smirk.

I give him a look. “Yes, Kieron was away, but I didn’t know where he was or what was happening to him. And I still loved him! But somehow Tristan just made me feel like being with him was normal… like it was exactly what I wanted. I felt powerless around him, but I only realized how powerless I really was after the spell was broken.”

“
And what did they want from you exactly?”

I shrug. “I guess they wanted this.” I pull out the Boumeaux necklace from beneath my shirt. After everything that had happened, I’d vowed never to take it off again. The next time Light-angels get too close, I want to know. “And I guess they need me to open the portal for them.”

“
Because you, even as a so-called human, can handle the stones needed to unlock the gates of Thiberoux,” Demetri murmurs. “Normally humans who touch them would disintegrate into dust—as would Light-angels.”

I nod. “I guess that’s how they see it. But why can’t they just get some other demon to do their dirty work? Why me?”

Vincent shakes his head. “We explained this to Lucky as well… It is impossible for a Dark-angel to turn against their own Source of Power in any way. It’s coded into their very existence. That leaves you.”

“
Well, if you ask me their plan really sucks, because I’m not really sure where the portals are. And aren’t there some magic words I need to chant? I don’t remember them—”

Demetri shakes his head. “No doubt they have someone who could jog your memory.”

I take a deep breath. “So now what?”

“
Right now we need to make sure that you remain safely hidden until the threat has passed,” Vincent says.

“
And you think the threat will actually ‘pass’?”

They look at one another, silent.

I clear my throat and set down my cup. “Look, no offense or anything, but how can you guys actually protect me from anything? According to Kieron you don’t even have demonic powers… only passive ones, whatever that means. If Light-angels or even some demons come after me, how could you help me?”

The two exchange another glance. Demetri shrugs. Vincent gets up and comes over to stand next to me.

“
May I show you?” he asks.

I nod. I feel his warm hand touching my shoulder, followed by a quick blast of dark coolness. I gulp, but before I have a chance to process anything, I realize we are back outside standing on the cliffs overlooking the ocean.

“
Wha—How— What just happened?” I look around, completely flustered.

Vincent gives a small smile. “I can teleport myself and whomever else I’m touching, as long as they allow it. It’s considered a passive power because I can never use it on another against their will, and it is intended to be used for self-protection. Although I will say that it comes in handy at other times as well.”

I scrunch my eyebrows. “That certainly is a power. Wonder why Kieron said you didn’t have any?”

“
He’s right that I don’t have
demonic
powers. It’s a little complicated. Short version is, many centuries ago prior to the creation of a full time human-demon ambassadorial unit, Guardians from Thiberoux, like myself, were tasked with the additional duty of communicating with our counterparts in Mortal World. We needed to be able to do so under complete anonymity— and completely off the radar. The powers of
Angelus
, Dark and Light, leave a very specific trace for anyone who is looking. So we were each granted a single defensive magical power by a mighty demon witch. Mine is that I can teleport.”

“
Best way to win a fight is to not be there in the first place,” I mumble, and he chuckles.

“
Yes, that’s exactly right.” Then he cocks an eyebrow. “Mind you, that’s only here in Mortal World. Back in Thiberoux I can guarantee I
never
run and hide. Demons flee
me
.”

We share a smile, and I suddenly realize that we’re all alone out here, and still standing unnaturally close. I take an awkward half-step away.

“
What can Demetri do?” I ask.

Vincent clears his throat. “Best I let him show you.” He reaches out to me again, and a second later we’re back in the house.

“
Enjoy your field trip?” Demetri asks.

Vincent takes his seat again on the couch. “Your turn, dude.”

Demetri smirks and puts his hand on Vincent’s shoulder. The next second they are gone.

I glance around the empty room. “Okay… I get it… he teleports too. Okay, you can come back now!” I shout.

A low chuckle comes from the direction of the couch.

“
Vincent?”

“
Right here, darlin’,” his disembodied voice drawls, and a second later they both reappear exactly as they were.

“
You can turn invisible,” I say in awe.

Demetri nods, and Vincent gives me a reassuring smile. “So you see, we’re not completely useless around here. Although you need to stay close by us, for obvious reasons.”

Okay, twist my arm.

But my mood quickly sours as his words sink in. What this all means. The abhorrent reality that we all face.

“
This… everything…it’s all my fault, isn’t it,” I whisper. Unexpected tears spring to my eyes, and I quickly look away. “This is all because I’m weak and vulnerable and helpless. Because I’m human.”

“
You’re not helpless, and you’re not weak,” Vincent says quietly. “But you
are
more vulnerable.”

“
And the only way that’ll ever change is if I’m not a human anymore,” I mutter.

“
But that’s not a possibility right now is it?” Vincent asks.

I let out a deep breath and stare at my hands in my lap. “Maybe it is.”

He frowns and leans toward me. “What are you saying?”

I shake my head, unable to continue. True, I’d already planned on staying here at least until I give birth, but the thought of being a virtual prisoner indefinitely, even in a place as lovely as this, turns my stomach to knots. And what if the Light-angels somehow got through Anastasia’s spell and got to me, and Vincent and Demetri were out of reach? I have no way of fighting back. The scariest thing about Tristan—other than his crazy scars— was how he appeared so
normal
. He made me feel so good, I didn’t even realize I was under his control. Everything felt natural. Like
I
was the one making decisions.

It’s frightening to think I wasn’t.

Demetri taps his fingers nervously on the coffee table beside him. “Liora, darling, I don’t want to scare you, but I also don’t want to understate the importance of what is at stake. The barriers between Light and Dark have existed for many millennia. They need to remain that way for Order to reign. Yes, we are natural enemies with the Light-angels, but we need each other to keep the balance. Our worlds are kept separate for a very good reason. You are a loophole that was never supposed to happen. Now that they know about you, there are some rogues that will stop at nothing to get in to Thiberoux and seize power. And even though it’s just a few, it’s like a dam cracking. Once that crack is made, the walls between worlds will come tumbling down. Dimensions will overlap. Humans will be caught in the crossfire, and either perish or go mad. Demons and Angels will fight to the death, each side pulling in more and more of their kind to join them. It will not end until one side is completely destroyed, and believe me when I say there will be no winners… only losers. Every living thing on this planet will suffer the consequences. It will be the end of ages.”

Tears come to my eyes again. “Oh, is
that
all? And here I thought I’d be the cause of something bad.”

Vincent lets out a deep sigh. “Liora…”

“
What am I supposed to do?” I whisper. “If that happens, it will be my fault.”

“
No!” Vincent shoots Demetri a harsh look and comes over to kneel beside me. “No, not your fault at all. You’re just being used as a pawn in a very old and very treacherous game.”

I think about that for quite a while. I always knew my curse was a curse. I just never thought it could potentially bring about the end of the world. I wipe away a stray tear.

“
What if I wasn’t like this… what if I wasn’t human anymore?” I ask softly.

“
Of course that would be ideal, but it’s not an option, is it?” Demetri replies.

His words are like a slap across my face. It would be better if I wasn’t
me
anymore. If I were more like Lucky.

The very thought hurts. To think that I…
me
… would disappear. My memories. My identity. My hopes and dreams. My connection to Tatiana and Kieron and Corrine, and now to these two lives growing inside of me. To think that could all just be erased as if I never happened… And to know that the world would be a better place for it.

I can’t even think it.

But what are the alternatives? Stay here in an enchanted house like a sitting duck? Continually put others’ lives at risk? Or worse, get captured and be the key that unlocks the destruction of the entire world?

“
I need some time to myself,” I whisper, standing up.

Vincent rises with me. “Where are you going?”

I let out a choked laugh. “Nowhere, right? I mean I’m trapped here.” I frown at his pained expression. I know he’s only trying to help.

“
I just need to be alone for a while… do some thinking. Is that okay? I’ll just be out there.” I wave my hand in the direction of the cliffs. “Just for a while.”

Vincent studies me a moment and nods. “From what I can tell the protection spell is very, very strong, so you should be fine. But if it’s all the same, I’m going to keep an eye on you, just in case. I just want to make sure nothing happens to you.”

“
You mean you don’t want me to unleash Armageddon.”