Flesh and Feathers (20 page)

 
“It was you. You were the one who came to my apartment that night.” Things were beginning to fall into place, little by little. I could tell by the look on his face that I had guessed correctly.

Faster than I could have imagined, he snatched me around my waist and leapt into the air. His wings beat against the wind. As we flew, the hard rain pelted my face, but then stopped as we rose above the low hanging clouds.

We landed in front of the large stone structure, and with confidence I didn’t even know I had, I proceeded to the front doors with Kano trailing behind me.
      

Inside, two large doors opened at the end of the hall, showing me the way. I took a deep breath at the sight of the blonde woman standing at the edge of the room. It was the same woman who had haunted me in my mirror…, Scarlet. Her gaze was triumphant, and she seemed pleased as she watched Kano lead me to her.

“My payment,” Kano stated, looking at Scarlet.

She smiled cynically. “Of course.” She tore her gaze away from me, turning to Kano. “You have proven to be most reliable.”

Scarlet held out a white bow that had unusual etching engraved on it. Moving a few steps towards her, Kano took the bow. He swung it over his back and started to walk past me. He turned, making eye contact. My eyes focused hard on his. “Are you finished being her errand boy?” I said, with tightened brows.

He didn’t respond, only leaving the room instead. It was bizarre. I was more fearful without him here. I’m sure that was because I had been afraid of Scarlet for so long, the thought of being alone with her terrified me.

“Tobias will be pleased with your arrival. He has been waiting for you,” she taunted.

Chapter 16

Lifeless

“W
e need to move now. It’s only a matter of time before he finds her,” Kale said, with a frustrated tone.

Tannah scowled. “You are not the one in command here. I will say when it is time,” she snapped at him.

“No. But if I was, this would all be over with by now,” Kale countered.

Gage spoke up as the voice of reason. “If you were in command, she would already be dead by now. Look what has happened so far.”

 
The three of them had returned to the island. They had learned the location of where Tobias was hiding. This had taken more time than anyone could have expected. For centenaries, Tobias had been able to remain in the shadows, eluding them. His resources were endless, and those who did know anything, were too afraid to double–cross him.
   

Kale’s impatience to attack Tobias was more than just keeping Az safe. It had been his fault that Kano had found Az that day outside the diner.

Although it was Kale’s decision to leave, Tannah wanted to keep them apart for many reasons. He had endangered Az’s life with his reckless behavior, but the prevalent reason was because the bond between him and Az had grown too strong. Tannah knew that Az and Kale’s relationship could tilt a delicate balance and change everything.

There was a congregation of fallen angels that lived outside of the city. They didn’t represent all the fallen, only the ones who had chosen to live out their existence on earth together, obeying man’s laws and had no relation to the
Angels of Treason
. Kale had worked his way into their circle, and although he still disliked the choice they had made, he knew this was the best way to get to Tobias. Only, he had made a mistake.
 

Kale had befriended a fallen named, Vega, who was a loner. Vega claimed to have information that would lead Kale to Tobias, but in the end, it only led him to a dead end. Kale had been deceived by Vega, who instead helped Scarlet track Kale back to Azaleigh. Vega was rewarded for his services by becoming a preferred for the
Angels of Treason
.
 

Gage had a connection of his own with a fallen named, Jocelyn. Vega and Jocelyn had fallen together. Vega had promised her that their lives would be more bravura lived out on earth. Jocelyn loved Vega more than anything, but he had betrayed her as well. Gage knew that she would greatly appreciate the opportunity for vengeance. She had said that there was nothing left that Vega could take from her that he hadn’t already.

Gage had set up a meeting with Jocelyn. She was the one who had told them where to find Tobias–but that wasn’t all. She also told them that Tobias had acquired Qeres.

“I do not mean any disrespect, Tannah. I’m just not clear why we are waiting,” Kale said, as they opened the doors to the castle and proceeded inside.

“Kale, we can’t just rush in and take over. Tobias has a number of followers who are very willing to die for him,” Gage said.

Kale turned to face Gage. Anger caused heat to rise from his body. “The only reason you are here is for egotistical purposes. You do not care about Az’s safety.”

Gage arched his brow, watching Kale. His voice remained calm. “I think you would like to believe that because it would be easier for you if I didn’t. I think it eats at you knowing she might want me instead.”

“I have heard enough.” Tannah’s voice echoed through the hall. “This is not about either of you. This is about something bigger than all of us. Gage, I may not have dominion over you, but while you are here, you
will
conduct yourself in a manner that is respectful. Do you understand? And Kale, you need to accept that Gage is on our side, and he is
not
going anywhere. You wanted a reason why we cannot move now? This is it.” Tannah stormed up the stairs and disappeared down the hallway.

Kale and Gage walked up the stairs together in silence. Kale ambled ahead towards Az’s room. He knocked softly, but she didn’t answer. He wouldn’t have bothered her normally, but since they had been gone overnight, he wanted to check on her. He opened the door and peeked in. Her knotted up covers lay on the bed and her nightshirt had been tossed in the corner of the room.

A few doors down, Kale went to Jen’s room, but she wasn’t there either. He decided to go change before looking for them. He paused at his door to see Gage standing in his room.

Gage looked up with a stern face. “Looks like you get your wish.”

He handed Kale the crumpled piece of paper. After reading Az’s note Kale said, “We leave now.”

***

Az had spent–what seemed like hours–looking for a way out of the room she was being held in but with no luck. The single window carved into the wall was barred, and the huge metal door had been locked from the outside. All that she could do was wait. Wait to be rescued…, wait to die…, wait for the end.

Her mind drifted. She began to think of Kale, and how she had wished she had been kinder to him at the castle. She began to regret not telling him how much she loved him and what he meant to her. It was now–all too clear–what he had done for her. He had left her, not to try and drown his feelings for her, but to keep her safe. Leaving was his way of protecting her, and he had come back for the very same reason.

 
She wondered how hard it must have been for him, knowing that she was unable to remember him all that time, and him, having to carry her memory around. It was then that she realized there was nothing else she wanted more than to be with him… and now… it was possible that would never happen. This is where she would die. She knew this was the truth, and she didn’t need special powers to know that. Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach as the realization of the end came to light.

Regardless of what they were going to do to her, they couldn’t take her thoughts. So she dreamed. She dreamed of what life would have been like, had her and Kale had been given a real chance. What it would have been like if for one day–one day only–they could have lived like a real couple, just two people who loved each other. She closed her eyes and lost herself in the moment, deep inside the locked doors at the back of her mind. Dreaming of him was the only freedom she would ever have again and she was going to saver every precious second.

Somewhere in her daydream, Az hadn’t heard Scarlet enter the room. Az snapped out of her daze abruptly at the sound of Scarlet’s foot tapping the floor.

“Dreaming of Kale? Typical of your kind. Love is a pathetic weakness,” Scarlet teased in a wicked voice.

“I’m sure you wouldn’t know how it feels…, obviously you’re only good enough to be Tobias’ whore.” Az didn’t realize how true her statement was until she saw Scarlet’s face harden like stone.

In a blink, Scarlet, appeared standing behind her. Whispering in her ear, Scarlet said, “After we are finished with you here, I will hunt down all who protected you and kill them one by one. I will be sure to save Kale for last.”

Scarlet placed her hand on Az’s shoulder, slowly dragging her nails across her skin. Az’s breathing was fast as she stood very still. Just then, the metal door made a loud creaking sound as it opened, hitting the back of the wall.

Tobias stood in the doorway. “Scarlet. There is work for you. Begin the preparation.”

Scarlet clenched her teeth, but nodded and left the room. Tobias stood there watching Az. “You must forgive Scarlet. Her manners are dreadful when it comes to accommodating guests.” His comment was only meant as sarcasm.

Az remained silent until she heard Scarlet’s footsteps fade in the distance.

 
“She is evil because of you.” Az knew this, because of Scarlet’s reaction when she had mentioned Tobias’ name earlier. Az didn’t really care about Scarlet; she was simply trying to bide time.

This made Tobias grin. “What makes you think that?”

“The very sight of you makes the color of her skin change,” Az said confidently, knowing that what she was saying was no doubt the truth.

Tobias paused for a moment. “Scarlet has an expectation that she tries to live up to. She will never meet that expectation–no matter how hard she tries.” Tobias seemed to lose himself in his thoughts. “No matter. We are not here to discuss Scarlet’s demons; we are here to discuss yours.” His words sent a chill through Az.

“Did your friends tell you that you had a choice?” Tobias asked.

“A choice?” Az questioned.

“Just because you have been chosen to be the Arch, does not mean that you have to accept it.” Tobias could tell by the look on Az’s face, she had no idea what he was talking about. “I am not surprised you are unaware. They preach about free-will, but never really follow their own rules.”

Az wasn’t really sure why this surprised her. Tannah and Kale had hidden the truth from her before, so to learn that she could choose a different life shouldn’t have shocked her–but it did. However, Az was loyal and felt the need to defend their decision to keep her in the dark.

“Who says I want something different?”

“It doesn’t matter. That’s no longer an option. I simply thought you should know.” Tobias was merely taunting her.

“I have bigger plans for you.” Tobias held up a small vial of pale green liquid. Az watched him carefully. “This is called Qeres. The Egyptians used it during their burial rituals. They believed it helped the deceased in the afterlife. They were idiots,” He said, chuckling to himself. “They didn’t know how to use it. It doesn’t give life after death–it gives life to the dead.”

At this point, Az was visibly shaking, though she tried to poise herself. She wouldn’t let him see her frightened. “What are you going to do with it?” she asked.

His look was sinister, causing Az to turn her eyes away from his. “I am going to resurrect someone. Someone who will make Scarlet look like an angel in comparison…, and you are going to help me do that.”

“I thought you just wanted more time here on Earth.” Az stumbled over her words, and she tried to make herself lucid.
 

“So that is what they believe?” Tobias laughed out loud this time, deep and reverberating.

“So be it,” he said as he left the room with the metal door slamming behind him.

After Tobias had left, Az curled up on the floor in the corner of the room. She wondered to herself if Kale had found her note by now or if it would even matter–she knew that her time had just about run out. Tobias and Scarlet had made sure she knew that. Twenty-seven years was no lifetime. It was simply a glimpse of
what might have been.
 

Knowing you will die does strange things to the mind. You begin to regret things you hadn’t done in your life. And Az did just that. She remembered the time, when she was fourteen, and she had seen her best friend’s boyfriend out with another girl from school. Her friend was extremely happy and Az didn’t want to ruin it by telling her-so she didn’t. Or the time that very same friend tried to console her when Az’s mother died, but Az only pushed her away. Az never spoke to her again after that.
 

I’ve wasted all that time,
Az thought to herself. It was ironic for her to think this way–she had always said, if she had it to do all over again, she would do it the same. However, that was not the truth whatsoever. She always thought that she would never have regrets. That every mistake; had made her who she was today. Now, she wondered if she had made different decisions, would she be better than the person she was at this very moment.

Az tried to clear her mind and not think at all. It would do her no good now to think about what should have been. She began to focus her attention on a tiny piece of mortar on the wall. It was a different color from the rest of the stone and look out of place, much like how she felt.