3. A new chapter - Different book
A new chapter - Different book
ANGIE
“Wake up, we need to go,” I voice, jerking her body back and forth.
This park is burned to a crisp, and there is a hole the size of a small wolf’s den where her body lies.
Distant voices travel down to us, signaling our need for departure.
I place a hand on her bare chest, and cold skin kisses my palms. Her heart…
beatless. What the hell happened here? The remains of dirt, trees, and shrubbery are sprawled around.
The situation is dire, and with my attention back on her, the environment seems pleasant in comparison. She is riddled with stab wounds, and her skin is half melted. I retrieve my phone and press call.
“What is it, Angie?” a velvet tone answers after one ring.
“It doesn’t appear good. She’s not moving, and this place resembles a war zone. Are you sure you want me bringing her in?” I ask with hesitation. Not entirely sure what’s going on.
“Your mission is to reclaim her by any means necessary. The state she’s in matters not, so long as she’s breathing when you return,” he demands, and I almost lose my shit .
“That’s just it. She’s not breathing, and people are congregating,” I bite back with a hint of softness. Though my eye roll begs to differ.
“You know what to do, Angie.”
“Yea. Well, you know what happens when I do that. Are you sure it’s a good idea?”
“Get it done. I’ll be expecting you within the hour.” He hangs up, and I damn near throw my phone out of irritation. A half assed plan is something I didn’t sign up for.
A loud noise draws my attention up top, and I quietly scale the crumbling sides of the hole, peaking my head over. Vehicles park with red and blue lights blinking, an entire fleet pointing my direction while those standing by gasp at their surroundings. “Fuck!”
Running back and placing both hands over her chest, my aura begins flowing into her, past the charred organs beneath her ash filled skin.
Seconds race without change, which spells disaster if I come back empty handed.
“This isn’t enough.” Conviction pushes me to do better.
My concentration is stretched between her and the chaos above, which won’t work.
This isn’t like regular healing where multitasking is optional. I’m performing something called Life Bargain, and that depletes most of my energy alone. So being here in the mortal realm may be fatal. I can’t replenish the magic I use.
Regardless, more of my power ingresses her body as untethered static blends and warps reality. Searching for a moment in time before she passed, I finally feel an energy call out. I venture days into her past until I find that little ball of light. Along with an interesting beverage.
I seize her energy and bring it into this point in time. Merging it within her body, the pull of my magic births a sharp cramp throughout my stomach. Shit, it’s depleting me faster than expected . The pain, resembling a blade, slices across my midsection.
The sheer power of her energy is blazingly stubborn.
Like a miniature sun within my hands, slowly burning away the skin.
But with time progressing, its intensity dims. After a moment, the Life Bargain is complete, and a winded exhale passes before I’m sitting back with my legs stretched out, healing my wounds.
Observing the area, I can’t help but wonder what, or who, caused this?
One individual isn’t capable of such destruction.
The entire trail has scorch marks etched in it, and buildings beyond the trees all have gaping holes.
I bite my lip at the unsettling ease of the wreckage, knowing there’s something I’m missing, but what?
A cough snatches me out of reflecting, and I peek over in disbelief. Did it work?
She sits up, wheezing and choking out a breath, and I watch, keeping my movements silent. Depending on her reaction, it’ll tell me if the Life Bargain was successful. If she ages rapidly and dies…well, let’s hope Alex won’t be too pissed.
She places a hand over her chest, pounding against her lungs that are hellbent on disobeying. Still unaware of my presence, seconds expire before her eyes finally find mine, but there’s no reaction. Okay, this is good.
Startled, she stands and withdraws towards the wall of rubble, wheezing harder and losing whatever breath she had found. Fear contorts her expression. Could’ve gone better, but still, no signs of aging.
“W–Who, the fuck are you, and where’s the other one?” she blurts. “Were you sent to kill me next?” Panic settles in her tone.
Relief flows through me, and I smile. The spell was successful. Life Bargain is not easy to accomplish, so I’ll take this victory, even though my magic couldn’t heal her entirely. The fact is this was my second time– Go me. But I can only achieve this once more at the cost of my own life.
“Try remaining calm. I’m not here to kill you. However, we don’t have long before someone else shows up and finishes what ‘they’ started. We need to move,” I suggest, standing and shaking pockets of dirt from my leggings.
“Bullshit, I’m not going anywhere with you. If you try touching me, you’ll find I’m not so easy to kill,” she proclaims .
“Hey–Hey. Keep your voice down.” I gesture towards the top of the crater. “Kind of, not trying to draw attention here,” I sigh. Besides, she is fully nude, and we can’t go anywhere with her like this. She won’t stand a chance against the guys at Rebirth.
Figuring she is traumatized from whatever happened, being naked is the least of her worries.
But what surprises me more is her unawareness that she indeed died.
So yes, you are easy to kill. Regardless, magic channels around my fingers like water over a rock, and my palms rise to conjure clothes. But of course, it can’t be that simple.
“Shit, another shadow killer,” she mutters.
“Another what? You’re telling me someone wielding shadows did this?”
“Pretend all you want. You’re probably the bitch Death herself coming to finish the job.” Her hands make small fists. If who she is mistaking me as holds weight, we should have left minutes ago.
Ker, the Goddess of Death, would never be seen roaming in her true form. Plus, her abilities are more frightening than mere shadows.
Pebbles and dust tumble down the walls of the crater, and both of our attention adjusts towards the source.
“You, down there, freeze!” a male in all-black commands, haphazardly pointing a weapon.
Switching his concern between her and me, he lingers on her nude body a little longer than what’s required.
“Ughhhh, I don’t have time for this.” My tone is agitated.
Flicking a wrist, white light flings from my hand, and another pull of magic intensifies my cramps.
Like I’m on my period along with having contractions.
“You, freeze.” As if he’s made of stone, all his movements cease.
Even the life within his eyes appears frozen. “Asshole.”
I fight the urge to lurch forward and grab my side, thinking of Ethan’s words. “ Weakness is not allowed.”
“What did you do?” she yells, further aiding my annoyance. But I disregard her, picturing her in an outfit more suitable for this moment. Going over boots, shirts, and pants in my mind, I see the little ray of sunshine take up a fighting pose, and I groan.
“Hey now, that’s not necessary,” I chide, slightly admiring how perfect her form is. Or body. Hell, let’s say both.
“Fuck you,” she yells, charging towards me like a shifting beast, and my head dips with disappointment.
With little emotion, I speak, “Freeze,” stopping her body identical to the male above. “This could’ve gone much easier, but noooo, you decide going full psycho is better than being friends. Now you’ll be dressed like a spoiled fayling.”
Using more aura than anticipated, I conjure clothes, then manipulate her body to slide them on.
Exhaustion sends me staggering, and my time here only proves that fay are never meant to mingle in the mortal realm. I heave a few exaggerated exhales and allow my aura to settle. The pain becomes more bearable.
Afterwards, I stand behind her, retreating a pace or two, and am quite pleased with myself. Although she looks like complete shit, deep down, I couldn’t have been prouder.
The uproar above multiplies, and our time dwindles. The last thing I need is another mortal bearing witness . Flicking a wrist, she unfreezes, but my distance remains in case her intentions are other than…grateful.
The soft soil eats away her balance, and she stumbles. “You know, time is of the essence, so, if it pleases you, I’d prefer we leave,” I snort, holding back a giggle.
She turns sharply, revealing a puzzled expression whilst speaking between her clenched teeth, “You do have shadow powers. He used the same damn tricks.”
“No, my ability is better.” Sweeping the loose strands of hair from my face, I reiterate, “And again, I’m not here to kill you. Look down.”
She gasps. “What did you do, and what the hell am I wearing?” She picks at the items with distaste. A baggy shirt, not too tight since she’s struggling to breathe, high-rise, blue jean shorts over a pair of black tights for mobility, and a pair of black ankle boots to protect her sensitive feet.
It all makes sense, right? Plus, this is what mortals wear based on their favorite designer, Kim Kordisan. Or whatever the hell her name is.
“You meant to say, thank you for dressing me, obviously. My best work, may I add.” I relinquish a smile for good measure.
Alex said mortals become less tense when you smile.
How he knows that is beyond me. “Now ask yourself, if I’m here to kill you, why cover you in garments beforehand?
” I muse. But before she answers, another intruder presents himself.
“What the hell–hey, freeze!” he shouts, swiveling between us and the motionless fellow, teetering on the edge. Their interruptions are becoming rather tiresome.