Flesh and Feathers (18 page)

Kano led her to a room down the hall from the main entrance. The room was large, and instead of windows it had a fireplace embedded into the wall. There were only a few items of furniture–a small bed and a single table with a chair. Darkness overshadowed every aspect.

He let go of her, and she walked to the center of the room. Jen placed her hands on her arms holding herself, and faced away from Kano. “What now?” she asked.

 
“Now, we become great friends.” The female’s voice filled the room. Jen turned to see Scarlet standing near the doorway. Her face was pale and porcelain, and the white silk gown that she wore matched the color of skin.

Scarlet addressed Kano. “Exquisite, this one. I wasn’t expecting someone as striking.” She turned back, tightening her eyes on Jen. “I understand now why Mitch was so fond of you.”

Every muscle in Jen’s body tensed, and her fingers coiled firmly into her palms. “Where is he?”

“Dead,” Scarlet responded instantly as if she had been holding it back for far too long.

 
“I am going to rip your fucking heart out, you evil bitch!” Jen seethed.
      

“Aww, only if I had one,” Scarlet replied, mocking her.

“Enough!” Kano growled at Scarlet.

Scarlet held out her hand to Kano, a large diamond ring circling her index finger. “Should I not mention the ring, then?”

“I think it might have belonged to you.” Scarlet brought her focus back to Jen, watching the despair consume her.

“Just curious, what would your answer have been?” Scarlet questioned.

Jen’s wings burst from her back as she lunged at Scarlet. Scarlet smiled, anticipating this and instantaneously removed a silver dagger hidden beneath her hair. Propelling it at Jen, the dagger pierced her wing, pinning her against the wall.

Jen gasped for air as the intense pain ravaged her. She realized that this was one of the weapons Tannah had warned them about–the soul-devouring weapon. The pain it caused was unlike anything she had ever felt–like tiny slivers of glass pushing their way through her skin and eating at her flesh. Jen screamed out as the dagger released its venom slowly into her body, and she could feel the painful pull towards it. Images appeared in small bursts in her mind. The dagger held many tortured souls inside its element, and she could feel all of their pain and suffering. And then there was one she recognized in particular. Mitch. She could feel his agony. Jen wanted to recoil inside herself. No amount of pain that Scarlet could inflict could be worse than feeling Mitch’s. He was gone forever–lost to her–in a world of torment.

Kano spoke up, remaining calm. “Scarlet, I know that it is your nature to thrive on other people’s misery. However, now is not the time.”

“You are all business, Kano. Do you never make time for pleasure?” Scarlet walked over to where Jen was pinned against the wall and ripped the blade from her, repositioning it against her neck. “Next time it won’t be your wing,” Scarlet whispered in Jen’s ear.

The sound of Kano’s steel sword sliding from its holster caused Scarlet to turn to him. He had pulled it out only partially to warn her that her time here was finished. “That will be all, Scarlet.”

“Don’t worry. She’s still in one piece… for now at least.” Scarlet vanished through the doorway, and Kano let the sword fall back into place. Jen closed her eyes forcing tears to stream her face. With her back against the wall, she slid down to the floor.

Jen could feel Kano’s eyes studying her, but she wouldn’t look at him. Her body felt lifeless and lethargic. For her–this was very much the end. “You should have let her kill me.”

He was quiet and didn’t respond. Jen finally faced him. “I won’t help you. There’s nothing left you can do to me.”

“I have no intension of doing anything to you. Despite what you believe, I do not kill for the pleasure of it,” Kano said coldly.

Jen winced in pain as her body tightened. “That’s where you are wrong. Your intentions were just that, when you killed Mitch.”

She watched as Kano pondered this in his mind. “That is what you
would
believe.” He paused for a moment. Maybe he was waiting for her to say something, but she couldn’t be sure. She couldn’t understand–was he saying that he didn’t mean to hurt her or that he didn’t kill Mitch? As she wondered, she realized, she didn’t care. To be a part of Tobias’ panel made him just as wicked as they were.

Kano walked to the door and stopped. He might have turned to face her but thought better of it. Shutting the door behind him, Jen heard him bolt it from the other side, and the room became dark.

Hours passed as Jen sat motionless on the floor. She couldn’t think about Mitch any longer–it was killing her. Her wing had begun to heal but much slower than it would have normally. The venom from the dagger had delayed its mending, and she wondered if it would stop her power of healing others altogether. She was useless if that was the case. Jen didn’t have the power of strength that Kale had, or the wisdom that Tannah carried, nor did she possess the ability to feel emotion the way Gage did. She would be no different from the humans that she had tried to protect. There would be nothing left she could offer.

Somewhere inside her failure, she brought her mind to Gage. Her relationship with him was different than the others. When Gage had decided to fall and live out his existence on earth, it was Jen who had replaced him. Everything she had learned, he had taught her. Although, she was not as close to him as she was to Kale, she had nothing but respect for him. She knew his reasons for falling, and no one understood that more than her.
 

It was then that she knew what she had to do. Gage was the answer. His ability kept the four of them connected. He couldn’t exactly feel her emotions at this moment, but he would be able to feel the break in their connection. She would have to sacrifice herself. That was the only way that she could warn them.

For Jen, this would be easy. Mitch was gone, and her powers seemed to be failing. The only thing was, when she died, she would be reborn as a human. That’s what became of angels when they died. Unlike ones who choose to fall, she would possess no powers… and no memories of what her life was as an angel. In her eyes, it was best that way. There was nothing she wanted to remember.

Waiting in the corner patiently, Jen could hear the bolt on the door shift. Kano walked in, bringing the light from the outside with him. She stood up to face him.

“I want to help you now,” she said. Kano’s face tightened. He was no fool, but he was interested in what she had to say.

Jen stepped closer to him and stopped at arm’s length. “I can tell you where they are… I just want one thing from you.”

Kano move slowly towards her, and Jen’s pulse raced faster. “What is that exactly?” Kano asked, interested in her motive. He was so close now that Jen began to rethink her plan. However, she had to be strong.

Tears filled her eyes. “I have nothing left. I just want….” She paused, and her eyes followed his back and forth. She swallowed hard to work up enough courage to place her hand on his arm. “I just want to see Mitch one last time.” He took a step backwards, and Jen’s hand fell back to her side.

She had managed to surprise Kano–this was not at all what he had expected. “I’m afraid that is impossible,” he said, holding her gaze.

“That’s not true. You can become him.” Jen was almost pleading, realizing how honest it was that she wanted to see him one last time.

Kano breathed deep, the request disturbing him. “I cannot become him.”

“But, at the cemetery… it was you there.”

Fury consumed Kano’s eyes, and Jen wondered why this would make him so angry, but she was determined. She took a step towards him, filling the gap he had made between them.

His voice was almost shouting. “I cannot become him. It is only an illusion.”

Jen relaxed her shoulders, acting as if she had given up. “I just needed to say goodbye… that was all.” This was her final attempt. She thought that learning the location of where they were hiding Az would be all he needed, and he would give in. But she was wrong.
 

Kano’s face changed, becoming harder and cold. “I’m sorry…, but I cannot.”

Jen’s frustration took over. “Can’t or won’t?” she spat out. “You are no better than the breed you serve.”

Kano would not resort to arguing. Her need for closure would not trouble him. There was nothing he could do for her… there was nothing he
would
do for her.

He took his eyes away from her for only a second, but it was long enough for Jen to make for his sword. She pulled it from its holster and she held it out, pointing it at him.

Kano smiled at her keenly. “This was your great scheme? To attempt to kill me with my own sword?”

The sword shook in Jen’s hands as she tried to steady herself. A smile crossed her face, although it was uneasy and not genuine. “Not you…” She turned the blade down, pointing the edge at her abdomen. Her eyes closed as she used all of her might to plunge it into her torso.
 

The blade barely pierced her stomach before the power of Kano’s grip stopped it. Jen opened her eyes to find his hand on the double edge. Blood ran from his fingers and down the length of the steel. If he was in pain–she couldn’t tell–there was no sign of it on his face.
 

“Sorry, but I need you alive,” Kano said. He twisted the sword out of Jen’s hands. She was no match for his strength and lost her grip on it.
 

Jen’s black satin shirt had a hole in it from where the sword had been. Kano watched her as she walked to the corner of the room and faced the wall. Her satiny smooth hair stretched to her waist and shined even in the dark room.
 

“Why did you come here?” she asked. However, he didn’t respond. Jen looked at Kano. She took in his dark features…. His eyes were solid black, and his soot black hair almost matched them. Although she should have been frightened of him, she didn’t have the energy to be.
 

Kano had never met a creature quite like Jen. There were few willing to sacrifice themselves for another, and this bemused him. He continued to watch her. Her hazel eyes fixed on him.
 

“Why did you come here?” she repeated.

Finally, Kano’s eyes turned away. He reached for the door and pulled it closed behind him.

Chapter 15

Signs

A
fter coming to the conclusion that my dream had some kind of meaning, I went to Jen’s room to find her, but she wasn’t there. The breeze from the open window lifted the curtains, causing them to dance in place.

I needed to find Jen and tell her that I remembered what Scarlet had said. Gage’s room was next door, and as I looked in, I noticed his room was just as empty.
Where was everyone?
I walked to the end of the hall and noticed a partially opened door. I hadn’t been down the hall this far until now. Pushing it open, I looked inside. Immediately, I knew this was where Kale stayed. The room smelled like him, and I felt a fluttery feeling inside.
 

I sat down on the edge of his bed. I couldn’t help but be curious about Kale, and now inside his room, I realized there was so much more to him then I could have ever imagined.

When I laid my head back on his pillow, I heard something crumple. I reached my hand underneath of it and pulled out a piece of paper that had been neatly folded in fourths. I started to put it back, but I felt a need to read it. I opened it and saw it was in Jen’s handwriting.

Kale,

Please cover for me. Mitch called asking me to meet him at Hillside Cemetery. He said it was important. Please don’t be mad. I had to go. I’ll be back soon.

Love, Jen

I felt my stomach drop. He had gotten to her before I could warn her. I had to find the others to let them know.

Running down the hall, I took the main staircase to the first floor. I shouted for the others, but no one answered. I searched the East Wing with no luck either. I could be here for hours looking for them, and there was no time.
 

I dashed up the stairs to my room and changed out of my nightshirt into regular clothes. Running back to Kale’s room, I flipped Jen’s note over and scribbled a note of my own.

Kale,

Gone to find Jen. She’s in danger. I hope you find this.

Az

I wrote the word
over
and drew an arrow pointing to Jen’s note with the hope that Kale would find us. It was possible, if he found the note in time, he could beat me there.

Outside the castle, it was extremely bright for the late hour. I was able to find my way to the small fishing boat with ease. I remembered everything Gage had told me that day at the marina. Starting it was no problem. It was figuring out where I was going–that was the challenge. The tiny engine roared to life.

Earlier in the evening, I had watched the sun set behind the castle. I knew if I went in the opposite direction, it would lead me to land. I was full of confidence, until I noticed that the castle had disappeared in the background, and I was now completely surrounded by water.