Wicked Destiny (19 page)

“You
son of a bitch! You have a lot of nerve calling—” she began, but I didn’t let her finish. I cut her off and told her everything. She still wasn’t happy about Crystal, but she was the only one I knew who would come for sure. “If she touches one hair on Shay’s head, I will break a splinter off in her ass.” Seeing Mindy so protective was kind of…sexy. “Don’t even ask what I’ll do if she touches you. Just know that she will have a date with a tree and chains while she watches the sun come up.” All I could do was nod my head in compliance. “Let’s get this over with.” We walked back to the other side of the bar where Shay sat to greet Crystal.

“Well
, if it ain’t my old—” Mindy cleared her throat in warning, so I stopped her before she could finish.

“Cool it
, Crystal. We need you to compel the girl at the bar.” I stood in front of Mindy, trying to block any eye contact between the two. 

“Wow
, straight to the point. No how are you, how have you been, or are you happy?” Crystal was trying me and she certainly got Mindy. Mindy was now next to me and shot me that
try it
look. I knew not to even bother. “You know it works better if I feed from her and…”

“Absolutely
not
! We’ll take our chances,” Mindy interjected, taking over.

“What’s in it for me?”
Crystal cast a smile in my direction.

Mindy smiled. “Not a damn thing.”

“Then I’m bored and going home.” Crystal got up to leave, but I grabbed her arm to stop her.

“You owe me.
I watched and guarded over you for years. Do this for me and I’ll ask nothing of you again.” I thought for sure I was about to lose my arm for touching her. She glanced at me, and then at Mindy. She would do it no matter what just because she’d get satisfaction out of helping Mindy’s friend. What she didn’t know was that the moment she left would be the last time Mindy would even think about her.

“Fine, but should you ask
for anything else, I’ll be expecting…a payment.”  She was smiling again and I felt Mindy’s rage swelling next to me.

“I’ll be sure
to never let it happen again.” Mindy walked off, but motioned for the both of us to follow.

Shay had been trying to get information out of a non-speaking Declan. She saw us walking towards her and she ho
pped off her chair to meet us. I just wanted to get this over with as soon as possible. Mindy handled the introduction.

“Shay
, this is Crystal. Crystal, this is Shay.” They shook hands.

“Declan isn’t speaking.
Is everything OK with Sloane?” Shay asked. We didn’t know what to say to her.

“Shay.
” Crystal walked to stand in front of her and held her hand out for a handshake. This guaranteed direct contact. “I’ve heard a lot about you.  Dale and Mindy were just telling me what a wonderful friend you are.” Shay looked confused, and then her face held a blank expression. Crystal had her. “You are going to take the night off and visit you parents out of town. You’ll call to check in with Mindy before you come back. Is that understood?”

“Yes,” was all Shay could say.

“Good, now go gather your things and be on your way so you don’t run into traffic.” Crystal was finishing up.

Shay mumbled, “OK
,” and then she left. Mindy and I walked her to the door and watched as she got into her car to drive off. One less thing to worry about at the moment was all I could think about, until I spotted Crystal as we returned.

“Get
out,” Mindy spat through her teeth.

Crys
tal grabbed her stuff and left. I knew this wouldn’t be the last time we saw her. She would always find a way to pop up, to make her presence known just to be close to me. She had a problem with letting go, I knew. Although Mindy was mad, I grabbed her and pulled her into a tight hug. 

“Surely you know that the only thing I want
and need is within these arms. Nothing else will ever matter.” After deliberation, she finally wrapped her arms around me, retuning the hug.

Chapter 23

Declan

“Declan
, what do you want us to do?” I stared at Dale and tried to read him, but he gave no emotion.

I
was still sitting at the bar drinking and refilling my glass. It was just Dale and Mindy sitting there with me. I hadn’t known Mindy or Dale until I’d came back to Columbus, but in the short time I’d been here, I realized why Sloane was so fond of them. And I couldn’t help but squeeze my eyes shut every time her name was mentioned or her memory popped into my mind.

“
I don’t know yet.” I sat the glass down, reaching for the bottle to refill my glass, but Dale grabbed it first. “I guess I need to finish what I was sent to do in the first place.” I downed the last drop or two and got up to leave, but Mindy thought differently and she grabbed my arm
.

“You can’t be serious?
This is Sloane we are talking about.” She let go of my arm, but was now blocking my way.

“I’m aware of whom we are talking about
, Mindy, and if I wasn’t so damn weak, I would’ve ended this years ago.” My voice began to get higher with each word. I mean, did she not understand that this was my burden and not hers?
 

“Then why don’t we give it time to
see if we can bring her back?” She was reaching. For what I hadn’t a clue.

As much as
I wanted to save Sloane, I had never seen anyone that had turned away from the Darkness once they gave themselves over to it. Especially if there was a prophecy of the person leading an army of Darkness. There wasn’t a whole lot of light you could shine on the subject. Although it would be great if she could, I knew Sloane then and the Sloane now. The Sloane now had lost sight of her way, and if the truth be known, I’d still trade my wings for her life. But if she had given her full self to the Darkness, I’d rather her not be of this earth. And in truth, she wouldn’t want to live that way if she could think clearly.
 

Even if she couldn’t see it, there were people here that loved her and would fight f
or her. I needed to see Gabby. Before I made any decisions I had to make sure that she was no longer the Sloane they had all come to love. Maybe Gabby could help. I was so confused, and they’d just have to wait and see.

“I have to find Gabby.
If Gabby says there is a way to save her, we’ll try. But understand that if she can’t, I can’t let Sloane go on. You know as well as I do that she wouldn’t want it either if she were in her right mind.” I let out a long breath I wasn’t aware I was holding. 

“I’ll take it, but d
on’t give up on her, Declan. She never gave up on you.” Mindy hugged him tight.

After Mindy let me go
, I immediately went looking for Gabby. I eventually found her sitting in a park watching the kids play. She once told me that this was the closest to Heaven she had been in a while. She had been here for so long that she found it hard to return home. Gabby listened to the prayers of everyone who wanted to have children. She would either grant them
their requests or would show them a different way towards parenting. I thought children were her greatest weakness, or maybe even strength. Don’t mistake her for some helpless cherub. She was something to be feared, a force to be reckoned with. I’d watched her lead arms alongside Michael. 

She never took her eyes off
the children, even though she knew I was there. I sat down next to her on the bench and buried my face in my hands. She let out a sigh. I knew it was coming.

“What disturbs you
so much that you have to come steal my piece of Heaven?” Gabby asked.

“I need your help.”
I turned my face up to hers. “Sloane has—” She cut me off.

“Yes
, I heard. So you want to know if there is any hope.” Gabby then looked at me.

“Yes, I need to know if someone can come back once they have given
themselves over to the Darkness,” I said quickly.

“I have never seen it
, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible. Are you certain she has given herself over fully?”

“I have to assume she has after what her
friends have seen. She wouldn’t have done those things otherwise.” I explained everything Dale had seen at the meeting house.

I
told her everything from start to finish. What my mission was and how I couldn’t go through with it, because I fell in love with her. Sloane was so full of life and she loved everything she touched. I couldn’t see how terminating someone like that could be justified. There was nothing evil there; at least that’s what he thought.

“Well
, Declan you surprised me. I never knew you had it in you.” Gabby smiled at me. “Did you not think this would catch up with you? What is it you want from me?” The smile disappeared. “I answer prayers for people to be parents. I can’t simply put my hand on Sloane and heal her. She has to choose to come back to the light. Remember, He helps those who help themselves. You have to give her something to fight for.” She now turned to watch the kids.

I
sat there in silence and watched them play. I watched as a little boy chased after the little girl and couldn’t help but laugh to himself. It was amazing how early it started. I wanted to reach out to the little boy and tell him to give it time, but it just didn’t seem right. Gabby caught me smiling and patted my back. 

“They’
re fun to watch, aren’t they?” Her smile appeared again.

“What
do you see when you watch them?” I had to ask.

“It’s them being untain
ted by the views of the world. Their pure innocence.” Gabby looked at him. “They show me every day that there is goodness in them all. They just forget it every now and again as they get older.”

Gabby was turning into a philosopher
, which she could be considering how old she was. And then I realized that there was still something good in Sloane. I just needed to help her see it. 

“Do you think it’s worth it? I mean
, people pray for a child and you help make that happen, but yet they grow up to be something other than what they’re meant to be.” I couldn’t help himself for asking.

“Is it worth it?
To see the smiles on their faces when they find out they are with child, or the first time their eyes meet that little person—there in that moment of silence and pure unconditional love—makes it all worth it.” She faced me again. “You wouldn’t know anything about that, I know, but the closest thing I can compare that to is the first time you and Sloane connected. It was when your eyes first met, and in the instant, you knew there was something about her that you had to know. It was the moment she told you she loved you. How did that make you feel when she said it?”

“
My heart wouldn’t stop racing. I thought I was going to spontaneously combust. It was like that free feeling when you’re flying and nothing else matters.” I was smiling, thinking about that day.

“You truly love he
r. I can see it in your eyes and in your smile as you talk about her. Show
her, Declan. Give her a reason to come back to you.” Her hand covered mine.

“What if it’s not enough?
Gabby, I hurt her so bad by leaving I fear her heart isn’t the same. What if it’s so broken it can’t be fixed?” I was starting to doubt already.

“You don’t need me to tell you to fight or to give you a specia
l instrument to change things. She just might surprise you. She’s a strong girl, Declan. Despite what went on between the two of you, she survived the best way she knew how and that’s enough to show you that she’s a fighter.”

She was right.  

“Thanks, Gabby.” We stood and hugged goodbye, and then I gave her a quick peck on the cheek. I tightly hugged her again and thanked her, but in that one moment, my eyes locked with another pair of stormy eyes. It was Sloane.
 

Sloane

I had just come out of the backroom of the Cantina, drunk
off the sudden rush of power. Viktor had brought me here after the meeting house and I had to get some fresh air. Everything started to become overwhelming. I wasn’t sure if I could finish this—finish it right without fully giving in. It was silly to send a silent prayer asking for a sign or some motivation, but that’s when I saw him. Declan was with Gabby and he held her in his embrace. I stopped dead in my tracks. We locked eyes and he was just as stunned as I was. 

I couldn’t move
, and then I heard Viktor coming up behind me. All the high was gone and I felt nothing but raw jealousy. Why was he even here anymore? Was it to torment me? Rage and jealousy coursed their way through my icy veins. I wanted to make the sky fall right on top of him, and her. Viktor slid one arm around my waist and whispered into my ear.

“D
on’t lose focus.” He kissed my cheek and I think he smiled at Declan. Good, I hoped it hurt like hell. The sudden urge to show him I was no one to mess with anymore started to burn me from the inside out and I called to the storm that was nowhere to be found. As soon as Viktor realized what was about to happen, he screamed, “No!”

The next thing I knew
, I was back in my clearing.