Chapter 16 #2
I shook my head. “No, you can stay here—”
“My Coven Leaders might beg to differ if there’s work to do—”
“Your Coven Leaders can take it up with me.” I snapped my fingers and pointed to her chair. “Sit. This has been a day of revelations for both of us, Savannah, but at least I am a little more prepared for it.”
“A little?” She scoffed.
I grinned and then leaned over and brushed my fingertips across Everest’s forehead. “Besides, I hate the idea of him lying in here alone. Stay with him.” I winked and smiled at my family, then headed toward Zabkiel at the door.
“Fine, but we’re painting his toenails too,” Savannah mumbled. “He’s brought this on himself.”
I cackled as I reached the door, glancing back to see Savannah and Rae already starting to paint Everest’s toenails the same hot-pink we put on his fingernails. “If he wakes before I get back, you better get a video of his reaction.”
They all laughed and high-fived, so I smiled and joined Zabkiel in the hallway.
“I’m sorry to pull you away right now—”
“No, no. Don’t.” I reached out and put my hand on his forearm. “They need this time alone. They’ve been hiding their true selves for so long. Plus, Savannah—”
“She reminds me so much of you,” he said with a laugh and a shake of his head. “Especially younger you, all full of audacity and rage.”
I frowned. “Thank you?”
“You’re welcome.” He kept chuckling.
“Ya know, the name Riah is very suitable for you.” I pursed my lips. “I think I like it better than Zabkiel.”
He glanced over his shoulders, then leaned closer and whispered, “Me too.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “Perfect. Riah it is then. So what can I help you with?”
He gestured to another room across the hall.
When he didn’t speak, I frowned and hurried inside—then stopped short.
The young woman lying on the bed was a stranger to me.
I did not know her face though I did notice she looked strikingly similar to Royce.
They had the same midnight-black hair and face shape.
I knew when her eyes opened they’d be the same shade as his sapphire blue.
This was a Redd. They tended to look like this.
But none of that mattered because the moment I walked into the room I felt her magic reaching out for me, like hands grasping for a single touch. Goosebumps spread across her skin and it began to shimmer a soft-white glow.
“The Moon,” I said softly.
“Yes,” Riah answered just as softly. “Her name is Henley Redd.”
I gasped as my memories as Frankie kept sweeping back. “Right. Royce’s sister. She was the one who was possessed by the shadow-demon in October and then again willingly after the young kids accidentally summoned it.”
Riah sighed. “Her bravery and selflessness has not gone unnoticed, I assure you.”
“You put her in a sleep state.” I pressed my fingers to her forehead and felt her aura burning against my skin. “Her soul is strong. Why hasn’t she woken?”
“Chloe removed Henley’s soul and held it within Lilith’s locket, which is now infused into Chloe, and she has sort of become that locket—”
“Fucking hell,” I whispered and shivered at the thought.
“—So once Henley’s soul was no longer within her body, Tenn used Michael’s sword to kill the demon and I healed the body.”
“And Chloe returned Henley’s soul to her body.” I groaned and nodded. “That much trauma on The Moon’s soul . . . She cannot wake without me.”
“No, she cannot.” He slid in beside me, both of us staring down at the courageous young woman.
“We knew it was only a matter of time before you returned. You were already in your own coma in that hospital when this went down. But your adventures with Avolire have stalled her return and I am worried—”
“She is almost out of time.” I nodded. “We need to get her to the sea.”
“The Coven is upstairs waiting. I told them we had somewhere to go and to be ready to portal when I returned.”
“Tegan really is convenient, isn’t she?”
He chuckled. “You have no idea. It’s like having one of us, but she’s actually allowed to do whatever she wants.”
“An angel without restrictions? Dangerous.”
“Oh, she is. In the best way.” He bent down and scooped Henley’s small frame into the cradle of his arms. “She is unlike any Aether Witch we have ever seen.”
“Valathame has never Marked a Bishop as the Aether Witch. And she’s descended from Gabriel?” I whistled as I stepped out of his way and into the hall.
“Your aunt is not playing by the rules this time.” He paused at the base of the stairs and gestured for me to go first. “If not for the stakes, it would actually be quite fun to watch.”
“I hope I get to break some rules.” When I opened the door to the main level and stepped out into the open floorplan of Headquarters, I found the entire Coven standing there waiting. Or, what was left of them. There were far too many down in the infirmary. “Sorry for the delay. Ready?”
Tenn nodded. His arms were crossed over his chest as usual. “Riah didn’t exactly tell us what or where . . . but yeah, we’re ready.”
“You shouldn’t need your weapons, but it’s best to bring them just in case.” I heard Riah’s steps behind me, so I moved to the side and gestured toward the open door. “Someone needs our help.”
I knew the exact moment Riah had emerged behind me with Henley in his arms because everyone else in the room took a step toward us with wide, panicked eyes.
Royce was as white as snow as he pushed through the group and sprinted to his sister.
His sapphire eyes scanned her up and down, but his brows scrunched in confusion.
“What Riah did not tell you before, for your own sanity, is that Henley will never wake up without me.” When they all began to shout in alarm, I held my hands up.
“Whoa, whoa. I’m right here, remember? This is why he didn’t tell you that last bit.
I am the Angel of Tides and she is The Moon. Her magic requires mine.”
Tegan walked up and gently pulled Royce back. “Where are we going?”
I smiled. “It’s high tide. She needs the sea.”
Tegan held her hand out to me. “Let’s go then.”
I gripped her hand, closed my eyes, and pictured my favorite beach in the Gulf of Mexico. Even in my first life, this little cove had been my favorite. There were a variety of reasons, but the biggest was that I met Everest there.
Tegan’s portal flashed white light against my eyelids.
Before the light even faded, I felt the powdery sand between my toes.
The warm, salty air swept over my face. I took a deep breath, then slowly let it out with a sigh.
Every muscle in my body felt instantly lighter, looser.
When I opened my eyes, my breath caught in my throat. Tears pooled in my eyes.
Hunter’s warm presence slid in beside me. “Frankie? You okay?”
“Yeah.” I grinned through the flutter in my heart. “I met Everest right here . . . at high tide . . . just like this.”
“You met him here? Like . . . before?”
“Yes. Eighteen-year-old Celina returned to her favorite beach for high tide, to watch the colors of the sunset fade into night against the white sand and gentle waves . . .” It was a thousand years ago, but when I stared at the spot I remembered first finding him, it was like it was yesterday.
I walked over there and stopped in the exact spot.
“He was standing right here with his bare feet in the waves washing on shore, mesmerized by its beauty . . . while I stared at him.”
“Wait, you snuck up on him?” Tenn asked. “I find that hard to believe.”
I laughed. “Young Everest feared nothing and no one. Though that all changed when he turned around.”
The oranges and pinks of the sunset had been breathtaking against his skin and the long white hair that had been the same shade of white as the sand. Granted, it would be another century or more before he had to hide away from the sun to keep his lie to Sweyn.
“Dude, this is our beach.” Mei-Ling stopped next to me, then spun around. She frowned as she took it all in. “Tai, am I crazy? Isn’t this our spot?”
“Yeah, it is.”
Someone let out a broken sigh that made us all turn to look.
Malik stood at the far back of the group with his hands in his pockets and a glisten of tears in his eyes. He noticed us all staring at him, then shrugged sheepishly, a faint blush coloring his pretty brown skin. “I thought I’d never see another sunset again.”
Beside him, Braison sniffled, then cleared his throat. “Nothing to see here but emotions. As you were, folks.”
I grinned. “Yes, let us wake Henley.”
Royce was chewing on his fingernails and shifting his weight around.
“Riah, please?” I held my arms out. “It’s time.”
He carefully slid her into my open arms, then stepped back with a solemn nod. My mortal form would never have been able to carry her like this, but my Heavenly form had impressive strength. With her in my arms, I looked up at the golden crescent moon and smiled. I’ve got her right here.
I took a step forward and felt the first brush of the ocean against my bare toes.
A jolt of energy rolled through the water.
The calm, gentle waves grew taller, crashing onto the shore with the force of a storm.
The water was warm but had that slight cool edge to it to make it refreshing.
The current rushed to me, meeting my every step like an excited puppy when you first walked through the door.
A little chuckle escaped my lips. “I missed you too,” I told the tide. “Sorry I took so long.”
The current swirled around me, carrying me deeper into the water until I was waist-deep with Henley floating on the surface in my arms. The current sent new pulses rushing toward me just as little neon-blue orbs swam toward me. They looked like neon glitter sprinkled in the water.
“Well, hello, my little seaflies—”
“Seaflies?” I heard Tai whisper from the shore.
“Or as the humans of the modern era like to call you, dinoflagellates,” I spoke louder over my shoulder for him to hear.
Mei-Ling snorted.