Divinity: Immolation: Book Three (The Divinity Saga) (19 page)

XXIII
. Cam`ael

I
needed more time. This was a bit confounding. There were many things that I didn’t quite understand or trust. This seemed…way too simple. I wondered how Ry and Mac were faring.

“Ry, Mac. How does it look?”

“I’ll get back with you in an hour…or four.”
Ry replied.

“It looks really, really good, Cam.”
Mac answered back.

I sighed.
“Be extremely careful and do not get caught up.”
I warned them.

That’s when I heard a faint voice calling out to me.

“Cam.”
It was definitely Starling.

I stiffened.
“Starling? What’s wrong? What’s happening?”
I was instantly on my feet.

Grace stood up and watched me inquisitively.

“What’s the matter?” She asked, tensing in response to my abrupt movement.

Starling didn’t reply.

“Starling?”

No answer.

“Answer me! Are you hurt?”
I was becoming frantic.

Something was definitely wrong. The dark lust that was already swirling in me, immediately shifted into dark anger and it was rising fast at the thought of anything bad happening to her. She
was supposed to be at the hall and that sudden whisper of my name, with no further words or response, meant only one thing to me.

“Damnit, Starling, you’re about to make me break my promise to you if you don’t assure me that you’re ok right, now!”
I waited for a few more seconds.

Still no reply.

Divine Hall or not—this Fallen was about to go full- fucking-fledged demon.

~~~~****~~~~

With guns blazing is a popular human cliché
, but in my case, it meant darkness waiting to be unleashed.

I wasn’t going to go in completely unprepared and clueless though. First, I cloaked myself, and in my spirit form I skirted the perimeter, attempting to find a breach in the protective shield surrounding the hall and the
wide acreage of land around it.

My proximity automatically gained the attention of all the guards and other warriors who were out on the training fields, and all over the acres of land beyond, which housed the grazing and riding animals
, and most of their gardens.

Darkness formed an electric bolt of lightning that crackled and curled along each of my forearms and fists as I wielded my sword.

“Starling! I’m here, please tell me that you’re alright before I do something…very destructive!”
I attempted once again.

All remained silent on her end.

With a roar of anger and rage, I stormed swiftly in between bushes, boulders, and above and in between trees, uprooting and tearing through everything like a wild, invisible tornado and ready to cut down anyone who dared to cross my path.

Curiously, warriors, guards, bizarre white creatures, and many of the older men and women were all crowded together on the North lawn, looking out at something about fifty yards away. Whatever it was, it was hidden beneath a canopy of green leaves. There were three female warriors huddled around a young girl lying on the ground,
apparently injured in some way.

I automatically thought the worst until I realized that she wasn’t Starling. However, the brunette looking in my direction was the same one from the club and from last night. She and a few others, along with the small animals
immediately sensed my presence.

The energy building from my magick was pulsing ferociously, awaiting my direction and release
. and I know that they could all feel it in the air.

I didn’t care.

Remaining cloaked, I purposefully slammed down onto the ground hard and landed in a low crouch. The impact shook the ground with a brief seismic rumble that was surely felt if not heard by everyone, even those on the sanctified land of the hall. The group of unprotected, female warriors behind me were knocked clean off of their feet. I hadn’t meant for them to feel the brunt of my attack and rage but it couldn’t be helped. Trees shook, some falling completely over, and chunks of rocks tumbled from larger boulders.

I fully released all of the pent up darkness in a single, supersonic, vibrating wave that collided thunderously against their invisible barrier of protection. That enraged me even more. I already knew that I wouldn’t be able to get through b
ut it wasn’t going to deter me.

The warriors and the guards, braced and readied themselves by drawing and wielding their weapons to both defend and strike back.

“No!” A female screamed from behind me but I ignored her, unleashing another wave of power anyway. I would keep on attacking until the damn shield gave and possibly shattered if that’s what it took.

The warriors were stunned, unsure of who or where I was, and searching frantically for a signature. I studied them all, one by one —and then, my eyes locked on his.

The fucking Seraphim cocked his head, focusing on my location and studying my signature with his lightning Bo gripped and ready for attack. He began to whisper, chanting magical defensive verses. Slowly, I began to materialize, grinning at him malignantly to incite his challenge. His expression turned into pensive astonishment, interrupting the flow of his words.

“It’s him! That’s him! I knew it! He’s bound himself to Starling and now he’s come for her!” The seraphim exclaimed to the other warriors and elders while pointing at me
with his Bo.

Then, he dexterously began to invoke his weak magi
c with the fingers of one hand while I was gearing up to strike and counter whatever he intended to throw my way. I waited anxiously for him to set one pinky toe outside of the protected, sanctified barrier.

I clenched my teeth as more dark power began to refuel my fury. I was absolutely ready to yank his spine out through his mouth with my bare hands.

The expressions of the elders turned to brief dismay but not disbelief. They didn’t say a word to the seraphim in response and they were all quite calm. Interesting, and I now knew why. The girl had spoken the truth about the other fallen after all.

“You shouldn’t have come.” She
then whispered sharply to me.

“Jamie, what’s going on?” the Asian girl stood up and asked while wielding her weapon, and
then stepping cautiously towards the brunette.

Just then, lightning crashed down, striking the earth in pop of sparks, dirt
, and grass. Aliks appeared between both me and the warriors lined up on the hall grounds beyond.

“Stop this!” he hissed at me, but he was glancing over at all of them as well.

“Where is she!?”
I growled telepathically to him.

“Revealing yourself was a grave mistake! Do not get yourself destroyed. I was commanded to intervene this time, which means that what you are about to do will result in serious consequences for both sides, so put the weapon away and back down!”
Aliks demanded.

“Stay out of this. If you want to continue to stand in between us then be my guest, but let me remind you that I re
ally don’t like you very much.”

“Do as Elohim has commanded
and cease this attack!” He returned out loud in a booming voice that absolutely did not match his slight, physical appearance. His tone took on an authoritative commandment and his eyes began to shimmer brightly.

The glory in his voice, along with the light in his eyes, made me curse and
turn away. Though I was furious and I had no intentions of leaving without Starling, I had no choice but to obey.

The brunette girl was stunned, her mouth hung open as she helplessly watched the scene unfold. The look in her eyes seemed to be pleading, wondering why I allowed them to see who I was, and to beg me to back off for my own safety and the lives of the other warriors. But there was something else going on here. Why were they out here like this
at all while so many others simply watched them from afar? At least allow me beat the shit out of that Seraphim then.

The Seraphim ceased his efforts in conjuring magick, though he was glaring at me and still caught up in the heat
of what would have been a quick fight. He stood in incredulous confusion once Aliks appeared and began to command.

The female warriors behind me joined the brunette, all bewildered. The young, thin, dark-skinned female who had been unconscious initially, slowly began to rouse.

“Where is she?” I asked Aliks in a low, sinister tone. Violence was ebbing in my core, ready to burst forth if he didn’t answer me or bring her out here himself right this instant.

“You’re going to ruin everything! Now get a grip and calm down.”
Aliks answered back mentally and firmly.

I was seething beyond the point of continuing on in a mental conversation.
“I don’t care about ruining any damned thing, just get her for me!”

“How are you even aware that anything is wrong at all?”
Aliks wondered.

Damn. I was giving everything away in my irrational anger. He was right. I’d better calm down. Who knows what I’ve already compromised as it is by appearing in front of them. I was sure that they already knew Starling had become soul-tied to me. Her shunning would absolutely be my fault now but I didn’t care. I’ll take on the full consequences so she won’t have to.

“We don’t know. She was pulled into the trees by something that was apparently looking for her. The others that were here with us all went after her…,” the brunette began to explain with a thumb in the direction of a path that had been roughly disturbed by an imprint on the ground. A trail of some sort.

I immediately thought the worst and a sinking, almost helpless feeling washed over me. Shit! I had no time to waste. There was no telling where she was or who had her. Whatever happened, she had either been rendered silent by a knock-out curse, or she was badly injured. I didn’t want to think about that possibility and I was determined to go to any and all measures to find and rescue her. Her aura should make my search a bit easier.

Judging by the looks on the weary faces of the three warriors and a female Seraphim, who were all emerging from the trees without Starling, I felt another rampage building quickly. Please Elohim, don’t let her be in Morning Star’s hands. I will do anything for you to help me out on this one. She’s carrying our children!

The blonde girl had been crying and the other two males looked devastated. The female Seraphim looked at me with resolute surprise. They were all dirty with the scent of fresh, putrid demon blood, still clinging to their clothing.

They stopped short, ready to defend and attack once again and unsure what to make of both my and Aliks’ presence.

I turned to Aliks just then, my jaw working and my eyes glowing with fury.

“I don’t have time to lose or waste. Tell me where to look for her. Tell me exactly where she is, now!” I breathed deeply. My red anger making me shake in my effort to try and suppress it and remain calm.

I knew that Aliks would be able to pinpoint her location faster than I could, simply because Elohim could see all. He knew and he could tell Aliks.

Aliks glanced at the warriors behind me. “Do not break your oaths,” then he turned to regard at the line of guards, warriors, and elders who stood watching pensively in hushed conversations among each other. “You have my word that there is no imminent danger or threat. You stand within the protected hall grounds, so do not retaliate or attack. That is a direct order.”

“Yeah, but we’re not.” I heard the red haired one whisper.

“We aren’t in any danger either.” Jamie told them all though her eyes remained fixated on me in fascination.

The rest of the small group behind us remained befuddled and shocked by her assurance.

“How do you know that?” The blonde girl asked her though she kept her eyes on me.

The s
eraphim continued to watch both me and the brunette girl inquisitively, as if trying to figure out a riddle unsuccessfullyThen, like a fool, he stepped out of the protected zone and began to jog over to the group of warriors behind me.

My muscles flexed and twitched, watching him
with the eyes of a hunter on its prey.

“Don’t you even think it much less do anything.” Aliks warned me, already sensing my intent.

The elders were all completely perplexed by Aliks’ declaration.

“What’s going on?” The male Seraphim asked once he joined the others.

“This doesn’t concern you. Return to the hall.” Aliks told him.

He appeared affronted.

“You’d better go, Spencer. We’re all shunned, remember?” Jamie told him.

They were shunned? All of them? But why? Did that mean that Starling had been too? Did they voluntarily do it...for her? The anger began to simmer down in me just a fraction upon realizing what had just taken place.

His jaw was working when he glanced at the girl on the ground, who was fully awake and sitting up quietly now. Then his eyes connected with mine. I hoped that he could read the: ‘I will absolutely fuck you up.’ message blazing in my eyes.