Flesh and Feathers (23 page)

Jen was still exhausted, but she was able to stand. All of her power had been drained, and she wouldn’t be able to use it again for quite some time. She had done the unimaginable–she had saved Azaleigh.
 

Kale scooped Az up, carrying her like a child while Gage went over to help Jen. Bruised and beaten, they finally maneuvered their way out of the monastery. The rain had stopped, and the sun had broken through the clouds that had previously painted the sky. There was an undeniable newfound sense of freedom that everyone felt, even for Az, who lay limp in Kale’s arms. They would all walk away with scars that they would carry for the rest of their lives…, some physically…, some emotionally…, but there was one scar that they would all carry–Tannah’s death. They had lost a mentor, a partner, and a friend. She would be in their memory and hearts, for always.

They stopped suddenly, seeing Kano standing at the edge of the forest. He was holding Scarlet’s dagger, which glinted in the sun. Everyone stood motionless as he approached them. Az could barely lift her head to see why they had paused.

“Why are you here?” Kale asked. His face was skeptical.

Kano held up the dagger–the light reflected in Kale’s eyes. “I am sure you are aware of what this is.”

Kale shook his head. “It belonged to Scarlet. That is all I know.”

Kano smiled, but it was Jen who spoke. “It is a life form of its own. Death would be a peaceful alternative to the horror and pain that it causes.”

Kale stared at Jen as he watched her face contort into pain of its own. Whatever horror she had experienced, showed in her eyes. Jen faced Kale and continued. “It devours the soul of any creature. The souls that are trapped in there live in a world of torture. Good and bad all suffer the same punishment...” Then she turned her gaze back to Kano. “…Including Mitch.”
 

Silence fell on them all. Gage and Kale both stood in astonishment. Neither of them knowing exactly what had happened.

“And now Tobias,” Kano informed. His voice was cold and steely. “This blade holds the evilest of souls. He who possesses it, can inflict pain and suffering beyond imagine.”

Gage asked what everyone else was afraid to. “What is it that you want?”

Kano’s face remained expressionless. “I want the girl.”

“No! I will not trade Az.” Kale’s voice showing the emotion and turmoil he felt, and worst of all, it showed his love for Az.

A smile hinted across Kano’s face as he read into the emotion Kale had just displayed. “It is not her that I want.”

Anger burned through Kale as understanding came to him. It was Jen that Kano was asking for. Kale’s mouth tightened. “We will not give up one of our own to satisfy a treaty. If need be, we will fight any of the evilest souls that are held in there.”

“He’s right.” Jen stepped forward, keeping her eyes focused on Kano. “I know how dangerous it is. I know what’s in there.”

“No, Jen. We can fight anything, together,” Kale argued.

Jen turned to him and then looked down at Az. “You have other priorities. I have to do this.” Kale’s face filled with agony. His relationship with Jen was the same as a sibling. He could not willingly give her up to such a cruel beast.

Stepping forward, Kale started to protest but Gage placed his hand on Kale’s arm, stopping him. “Let her go.

Jen nodded once to Kano. “I need a minute.”

Jen walked over to where Gage stood. She wrapped her long delicate arms around his waist. Her embrace was still weak, and her body looked frail. “Take care of her for me,” she whispered in his ear. Over hearing that, gave Az a nervous feeling of things to come, but she was too weak to be concerned.
 

After letting go of Gage, Jen made her way to Kale. She touched the side of Az’s face and looked up at him. “Remember what I said about staying here?” Kale bobbed his head in response. “It
is
a gift, Kale. There’s magic here…, but I know now, that it doesn’t belong to creatures like us.” Az’s heart sank with sadness for Jen–she had lost a lot. Mitch’s death would not be something that she would ever get over. The guilt she carried was much too heavy. Jen stood on her toes and softly placed a kiss on Kale’s cheek. Leaning in Az’s ear, she whispered. “Hold on tight. There’s a long road ahead. I’ll see you again…, I promise.”

Before tears could start, Jen walked away. She stood within inches of Kano’s face.
 
“After you,” Jen said, and although she spoke resentfully, there was hope in her voice. Kano smiled and hurled the dagger into the ground at Gage’s feet. He then led her towards the forest.

Off in the distance, the sound of thunder pounded the earth. At first it was thought to be the storm returning, but then the sound became louder–coming closer. The ground trembled with the rhythmic beat. Like magic, the most breathtaking white stallion appeared at the edge of the woods. It was unnaturally large in size. Its eyes were the color of onyx, and its mane and tail were twice the length of any normal gelding. Metal armor covered the horse from head to rear, giving it a mechanical look.

Kano leapt onto the stallion’s back, using his wings to give him a boost.
 
Jen followed suit, placing her body in front of his. The horse reared back and took off into a gallop.

Kale squeezed Az closer to him. His face streaked with concern. He looked at Gage. “Kano is not what we had thought.”

“He is the White Horseman of the Apocalypse," Gage said, confirming Kale’s assumption. “It appears we were wrong about a lot of things. What does that mean for us?”

“I don’t know,” Kale said, still looking grim. They watched until the horse vanished in the trees.

Epilogue

I
had lain in bed for a week, refusing to get up. Gage had come to check on me regularly, but I barely acknowledged him. Losing Tannah and Jen had been more than I could take, and Kale had made his self scarce these past few days–when I needed him the most.

Hearing a knock at the door, I knew it was Kale. I was reluctant to open it. Seeing his face would only cause the pain to resurface.

I opened up the door gradually and rested my head against it.

“Can I come in?” Kale’s eyes were heavy.

“Is this a personal or professional visit?”

“Personal.”

I let him in and went over to the couch to sit down. My heart started to ache. I knew what was coming–no matter how hard I tried to deny it.

“I have to leave,” he said.

My fingertips brushed over the wound Tobias’ blade had made. The cut had healed, but it had left a large scar. I assumed Jen was the reason it had healed so quickly.

I readjusted my focus back on Kale. “For how long?”

He let out a sigh and avoided eye contact. “Az, this is a lot more complicated than just you and me.”
 

There was so much I wanted to say, but words failed me. I didn’t want him to leave. We had lost too much time already…, if I could just give him a reason.

“Stay.” It was all I could push out from my lungs.

He sat down beside me. “I can’t.” I could hear the hurt in his voice.

I would have rather been stabbed a hundred times over, then to live without Kale. Although an eternity would not have been long enough with him, I prayed that he would give me this one night. “Then stay tonight?” I asked.

 
“Only tonight,” he said as he kissed the top of my head.

The hours flew by as we lay in my bed. Neither one of us really said much, we just held on to each other. I knew Kale well enough to know that he would leave, but I wondered if he would ever come back.
 

After awhile, Kale fell asleep…, but I refused. I stayed awake as long as I could, watching him until my body finally gave in.

***

The morning sun shone through my window, waking me. I didn’t have to roll over and feel the pillow beside me to know that Kale was gone. And this time, he was really gone. He would not be reappearing, causing my memories to rush back to me like a flooded dam. My memories would be my curse…, my cross to bear–so to speak. Lying there, I couldn’t really remember what life was like before him, and to think about what it was going to be like now, was too much. So I didn’t. I also refused to let my mind drift…, wondering what he was doing or wondering if he was thinking the same about me. I only lay there, letting the sun glide over my body as it filled the window.
 

That day at the monastery I had chosen to follow the path that was selected for me. I had never asked Tobias how it was possible to choose otherwise. Maybe deep down, it was because given the option, I might have chosen differently.
 

I heard my front door open and close, knowing it could only be Gage. I didn’t move as I heard him walk in my room. I lay there facing the wall.

“Az?”

“I’m fine.” But as soon as I said it, I knew it was a lie. My eyes watered, and I began to cry.

Gage crawled in the bed beside me, placing his arm around my waist. It was the first time I had ever heard him speak so serious. “I know where you’re at. I’ve been there.”

I imagined Gage was probably right. Of all the people, he could relate to me better than anyone. “Why did you fall?” My voice was weak, and the words broke in all the wrong places.
 

He was hesitant to talk about it, and I could tell it was subject that had been off limits for quite some time. “It was a really long time ago. It was my choice, but it wasn’t how I thought it was going to be. Everyone you know and love will grow old and die, while you never change–never age.”

“Would you have made that same choice now?”

“The answer is different for everyone, Az. However, this was not your choice. It was Kale’s. I will tell you this; he could have chosen to stay.”

I rolled over on my back and placed my arm over my eyes, causing Gage’s hand to rest on my stomach. No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t control my body from quivering. It moved with the force of my sobs.

“Az…, I’m not going anywhere,” he said. And only for my own selfish reasons, I was glad. I didn’t want him to go. I knew Gage wanted more from me than I could give him– at least for now.
 

I rolled over and buried my face in his chest.

Then for some strange reason a question came to mind. “Gage?”

He looked over at me. “Yes, Love?”

“Who is Anna?”