I knew Azazel hadn’t believed me when I’d told him I had no idea where the spear was located. He’d given me an ultimatum, one I knew damn well I couldn’t deliver on.
Raja the Red had shaken Dorian. For the rest of the night, he refused to leave my side. He grabbed a blanket and spread it out near the fire. We lay down together, and I curled up into his arms. I draped my left wing over him to keep him warm as the night air grew cooler. He finally managed to doze off, and I stayed awake and kept watch from the protection of his embrace.
The rest of the evening was quiet. Nothing but Dorian’s breathing and the crickets in the distance broke the silence. I stared up at the stars and wondered if this had been God’s plan for me all along. To allow my existence in order to fight the Fallen, the Watchers who betrayed him many millennia ago.
The sun eventually rose over the horizon. I retracted my wing and started to wake up Dorian when I heard a noise coming from across the campsite.
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!” Lillith was awake. “Are you two really cuddled up together like a couple of love birds? God, I think I’m going to be sick.”
Dorian opened his eyes and stretched his neck back to glare at his sister.
“Oh, stop being so dramatic, would ya?” he grumbled with a yawn.
“Dramatic? What are you doing, Dorian? You can’t afford to get involved. Start using that head of yours. She’s immortal. You’re not. I can’t believe you just—”
“Cool it already. It’s not what it looks like. We had a guest last night. Raja was here.”
I sat up to allow Dorian to get up from the blanket. He shot me a wink and then turned to face his sister.
“Raja? He was here?” she asked, quickly rushing over to his side.
“In all his glory. I had a vision that woke me. When I sat up, I knew something was going on. I rushed out of the tent, and there he was, squaring off with Skyy, exactly as it showed in my vision. Luckily, she was able to scare him off. But he said he’d be back in seventy-two hours for the spear.”
“But she doesn’t have the spear.”
“You know, I told him the same thing. But strangely enough, he didn’t believe me,” I said, sarcasm dripping from my voice.
“What’s going on?” Sean yawned as he and Sam exited their tent. “You guys are awfully loud this morning. Louder than normal even.”
“Dorian and Skyy slept together,” said Lillith, pointing at the two of us.
“What?” Sean yelled.
“Oh, Jesus.” I closed my eyes and tossed my head back in exasperation.
“You slept together?” Sean wasn’t about to let it go.
“Listen up. Nothing happened. Now can we focus on this Raja guy?” I grabbed the blanket from the ground and hastily folded it up in a huff.
“Fine. But don’t think for one second that we don’t have something to discuss later,” said Sean as he waved his hand at me. “Now, who’s Raja?”
“Raja the Red. He was once a mid-level angel. After the Fallen were put away and imprisoned by Gabriel, Raja decided to become one of Azazel’s followers and was tossed from Heaven. His wings of fire were a punishment placed on him by the other Watchers who had taken the Fallen’s place in watching mankind,” said Dorian. “He isn’t someone you want to mess with. He’s strong, and he’s dangerous. But worst of all, he has no love for mortals.”
“And he was here? During the night? While we were sleeping? Someone could have been killed!” Sean ranted.
“Wow. It’s a good thing you were here to point that out, genius,” said Lillith, flashing Sean a dirty look. “How have we survived so long without you?”
“You’re not the least bit upset that a murderous psychopath was here last night while we slept?” Sean got in his stance and folded his arms across his chest.
“Do you ever stop whining?” Lillith asked, her voice getting louder.
“Do you ever stop being a bitch?”
“Do you ever stop being annoying?”
“Do you ever stop being a complete—”
“Are you two finished?” Dorian barked.
Sean stared at Lillith, refusing to back down. Both were just as stubborn as the other, so it was anyone’s guess who’d walk away first. Eventually, it seemed that Lillith had grown tired of the stand-off as she made her way over to her tent. She pulled out her sword and started to sharpen the edge with a whetstone.
Sean didn’t budge.
If looks could kill, I thought to myself.
“I thought we agreed it was better not to search for it or take the risk of it getting into the wrong hands. He gave me seventy-two hours. What do we do now? Do we look for it? Where would we even start?” I asked. “Say we find it. I use it to stop Azazel and his army. The mortals go on to live happily ever after, blissfully unaware that they were ever in danger in the first place. That’s the best case scenario. But what if we find it and Azazel gets his hands on it? Then what? Every human on this planet will be on his short list. If the Fallen rise, humanity will fall, and I’m not sure I can take that risk.”
“There’s something else you need to know,” said Dorian.
I turned to face him. His face grew somber and serious. He remained quiet as he shoved his hands in his pockets.
“What?” I asked.
“There’s more to the spear than it just being able to unlock the Fallen’s earthly prison. It’s also capable of killing an angel. In fact, it’s the only thing that can.”
“Shit.” I turned and walked away for a moment with my hands on the top of my head. I knew what he was getting at.
“So, we have a choice.”
“Don’t say it.” I moved my hands down to cover my face and held my breath.
“Do we figure out where the spear is hidden and use it to kill Azazel? There’s still the risk of it falling into his hands. Or do we forget the spear, protect the site, and allow Azazel to live?”
All was quiet. I don’t think anyone wanted to be the first to make any kind of recommendation. The thought of the spear getting into Azazel’s hands was a risk I wasn’t sure I could live with. But if we could kill him, the threat would be over.
And then there were the lives of my friends. If I didn’t turn it over, their lives would be forfeit. I’m not sure I’d be able to live an eternity with that kind of guilt.
Sam stood by silently listening to everything that was going on. He tucked his long hair behind both of his ears and stepped forward. “I think we should look for it.”
Everyone’s heads quickly turned to face the boy.
“But if we look for it and Azazel gets his hands on it, then what? That’s it! Then all he has to do is capture Skyy, awaken the Fallen, and unleash them on the world. At that point, humans are as good as dead,” said Sean. “Most of all, I’m not willing to risk Skyy’s life for some stupid spear.”
Sean’s devotion to me was sweet. I knew he loved me like a brother loved his annoying little sister.
“But the alternative is worse,” said Sam. “If he’s allowed to live, regardless of whether or not he gets his hands on that spear, he won’t stop. Skyy won’t be able to stop running. She can’t hide anymore, not now that they realize she exists. And what about you, Sean? Dorian and Lillith won’t be around forever to watch either of your backs. And you can’t protect her. He has to die. It’s the only way that this can end. It’s the only choice.”
We all stood there in an awkward silence, knowing he was right. There was no doubt. Sam was incredibly mature for his age and wise beyond his years.
Not bad for a human.
I glanced over at him, and he shot me a timid smile and shrugged his shoulders.
“Tell me I’m wrong,” he said.
Sam nonchalantly headed for the cooler to dig around for breakfast. We all stared at one another blankly, searching for a way to argue his logic.
Lillith’s eyes narrowed as she stared the boy down. I could tell she was trying to get into his head again but wasn’t having any success. It did seem odd that she couldn’t read his thoughts, but I had other things to think about at that moment.
“He’s right,” I said finally. “Azazel has to die.”
“Uh, one problem. We don’t know where the friggin’ spear is!” Sean said gallingly. He appeared to have become even more agitated as the conversation wore on.
“Sean.” My head snapped in his direction, and I gave him the look. It was my normal look whenever he was starting to get a little too excited or upset. He huffed loudly, grabbed a lawn chair, slammed it into the ground, and plopped down into the seat without a word.
“We don’t even know where to look. Your mother didn’t leave you any clues?” asked Lillith.
“Well, she left me the necklace, although I guess it’s not really a necklace anymore,” I said, pointing to my sword lying next to the ashes of the fire where the blanket used to be. “And she left me a note. But it’s worthless. The only thing written on it are the words Genesis 6.”
“Gee. That’s helpful.” Lillith rolled her eyes.
Dorian suddenly got very excited. “Wait. What did your necklace look like?”
“It was in the shape of a key.”
His face became very serious.
“Can I see your sword?”
“Go for it,” I replied.
He leaned down and picked it up, pulling it out slowly from its scabbard. He waved it around a bit, and then held it in front of him. The sun bounced off of the metal, blinding me for a second.
“It’s a clue,” he said.
“What is?” I asked.
“The sword— the necklace—it’s a clue. Do you see these symbols on the hilt?”
“Sure. They’re the same symbols that were on my necklace before it transformed. Why? Do you know what those symbols say?”
“Yeah. It says ‘Veiled Words.’”
“Veiled words? What the hell does that mean?” I asked, taking the sword from him.
“Not a clue.”
“Well that was revealing.” Lillith moaned sarcastically.
“Seriously. Do you ever stop complaining?” I barked, whipping my head around. I’d finally had enough of Lillith’s mouth.
Dorian choked back a laugh.
Lillith seemed shocked at my outburst and stormed off to her tent, disappearing behind her flap.
“Nice,” said Dorian.
“Thanks.”
Everyone needed some time to absorb all the information about Raja and the spear. And Dorian and I needed time to figure out what the phrase etched on my sword’s hilt meant. Sean and Sam decided to run into town to grab a few more things they needed from the store.
That left Dorian and me alone.
I knew my mom would have had a good reason to leave the clue, but ‘Veiled Words’ made no sense.
“You realize it basically says hidden words. It makes no sense,” said Dorian. “Honestly, it could mean just about anything.”
“But it doesn’t. I know it means something. I just wish I knew what she’d been trying to tell me,” I said, buckling the scabbard to my waist.
“I wish she’d written you a note explaining it all.”
“Sorry. No luck. Just a blank piece of paper. Never understood it either. Just a reference to Genesis 6. Giants, angels sleeping with women, Noah. I mean that part all makes sense now. But it doesn’t help me figure out where the spear’s hidden.”
Dorian closed his eyes and sat very still. I was afraid to disturb him, so I remained quiet and waited.
Finally, he opened one of his eyes and looked directly at me.
“Did you bring that note with you?” he asked.
I cocked my head and gave him a funny look. He looked a bit silly staring at me with one eye. I tried to hide a smile, but I failed tremendously.
“I bring it with me everywhere.”
“Can I look at it?”
I shrugged and wondered what would be the point, but I stood and marched over to my small, canvas bag that lay on the ground next to Lillith’s tent. I uncinched the top and pulled out the Bible that sister Mary Frances had given me. I turned it over in my hands a few times before pulling out the parchment. I slipped the Bible back into the bag and found my way again to Dorian’s side.
“Here,” I said, holding it out while I sat down in the chair next to him.
He carefully unfolded it. It was old, and the paper was wearing thin. The folds had created areas that were extremely fragile, and some parts were ripped. He touched it gently with his fingers. Then he lifted it above his head. It looked like he was trying to make out more with the aid of a little sunlight. He even smelled it, although I wasn’t sure why.
“I told you. There’s nothing there. Just Genesis 6.”
“A key. A sword. Veiled words,” he said quietly to himself.
“Dorian?”
He threw his hand up to tell me to stop talking. His mouth continued to move as he closed his eyes. Dorian was acting crazy, but I respected his wishes and kept quiet.
A few minutes later, he opened his eyes and put out his hand.
“Sword.”
“What?” I asked, completely confused.
“I need your sword,” he said as his fingers wiggled, giving me strict orders to obey.
“Okay?” I drew my sword from its scabbard and placed the grip into his palm.
He turned it over and held it on open palms, re-reading the etchings on my hilt. Then he looked down at the parchment lying in his lap and back at the sword.
Dorian propped the blade up against his shoulder and stood up with my note in hand. He leaned over and placed the paper on the ground at his feet.
“What are you doing?” I asked, growing suspicious of his actions.
He pointed the blade tip toward the ground, grasped the hilt with both hands, and raised his arms into the air.
I jumped out of my chair and could barely scream “Stop!” before the deed was done.
He had thrust the blade downward, piercing the parchment through the word Genesis. My sword stood, sticking into the ground, pinning the note from my mother to the earth.
“What have you done? Are you crazy?” I tried to reach for my sword to take it and my note back, but Dorian grasped my wrist.
“Look.” Dorian pointed at the parchment. Words slowly began to appear, bleeding through the paper, creating line after line of sentences that hadn’t been there a moment before.
I couldn’t take my eyes off of the words for fear that they would disappear.
“How did you know?” I asked, choking back the emotion.
“I took a guess,” he said.
“You took a guess? Seriously?”
“I figured that the note your mom gave you was the key to everything. Your necklace was a key, and then it was a sword.”
“What if it hadn’t worked?”
“I’d be owing you a huge apology right now.”
“Can you read what it says?” I asked. My hands shook. Maybe at long last, my mother had actually left me an explanation to clarify everything.
Dorian crouched down and placed his hands on the corners to keep it from curling up from the force of the sword in its middle.
My dearest Skyy.
It is with the heaviest of hearts that I do what must be done. Think not for a moment that the decision to place you in the care of the sisters at St. Benedict is one that I arrived at lightly. However, my days upon this earth are coming to an end, and with it, so is my time with you. I can only hope that you are able to decipher my clues and are as wise as I believe you to be. Only then will it be possible to read these words.
I pray daughter that you find my words comforting and edifying so that you may know who I was and what it is you must do in my absence. Shamsiel, one of the great Watchers of yore, he who escaped Gabriel’s internment within the earth and gave his life to follow our Lord’s word, blessed me as Protector of the greatest weapon known to both mankind and Heaven. I do not know why I was chosen for a duty of such great magnitude, but I assumed it willingly, knowing the conceivable risks. The Spear of Azazel can both bring about man’s ceaseless destruction or its eternal salvation. The fate of mankind will rest with you, my child. You may find this burden overwhelming and undue, but it is a birthright that you hath nonetheless inherited.
My life hath been spent hiding in plain sight, keeping the Spear of Azazel out of the hands of those who wish harm to the mortals of God’s creation. I now relinquish my duties and present you with the noble task of protecting the spear. However, I do not yet know if my gift of guise will be handed down to you. Therefore, to provide you with the protection you will need from those who wish you harm, I am concealing its true form until that time in which it presents itself when necessary to reveal its deception. Only the blood of my kin can expose its secret, and even then its true form hath been altered to keep it from being discovered. But the mere fact that you are reading these words should reveal that you have already discovered its secret and therefore may already be in danger from the inevitable perils ahead.
My love for you will be eternal. You were a gift that should have been unfeasible, but the Lord granted me the miracle of life the moment you were born to this earth. As you grow, it hath become clear that you are even more special than at first I realized. The wings of an angel have begun to emerge from your tiny, innocent body, though I know no reason for it. Yet I am certain you are destined for great and wonderful things. Please know that you were loved with more depth and feeling than anyone else ever in the history of time. I love you, my little Skyy, my little piece of Heaven.
Go into the world and do grand things. Be fearless and brave. Do not hesitate to love. And above all else, know that you are extraordinary and have purpose in this life.
Forever Yours,
Mother
Dorian stood and pulled my sword out of the ground. The parchment disappeared into the ground, vanishing as if it had never existed. He turned to face me and waited for me to react. But I couldn’t seem to grasp what had just occurred. The letter. My mother.
The sword.
The Spear of Azazel had been hiding in plain sight all along. My mother had disguised it as a sword—my sword—and before that, a necklace. The fate of mankind had been hanging around my neck for centuries. And now it was the weapon which would protect me in battle.
I stared at the ground and tried to wrap my head around it all. My mother had loved me deeply. She knew I would wonder about my origins and why I existed, and she made sure I understood that I did indeed have a purpose. All those years spent wondering, trying to end my life for lack of one, and she had known.
Dorian gently slid my sword into the scabbard hanging from my belt and placed his hands on my hips. I lifted my eyes and met his gaze.
“We can’t tell the others,” he said.
I nodded.
He was right. If the others discovered the secret, it could be used against them by Raja and the rest of Azazel’s Army to get what they wanted. It was my duty to protect my friends.
There was a rustling noise coming from the tents. I focused my attention in that direction and watched Lillith step out of her tent and stand upright. She faced us, unmoving. Her expression was transparent.
She knew.
Of course she knew. She’d heard my thoughts.
“She won’t tell,” said Dorian. “She knows the importance of keeping Sam and Sean safe. And keeping the sword out of Azazel’s hands.”
Dorian’s hands grasped the back of my neck, his thumbs resting on my jawline. He pulled me closer, causing my pulse to race and my head to spin. I was feeling nearly every emotion that a person could feel at that moment. Joy, fear, confusion, excitement, and sorrow. My mother’s letter had instilled it all, but my journey was just beginning. Who knew how any of it would end? How could I defeat Azazel? How could I keep my friends safe?
I lifted my arms and wrapped them around his neck. He placed his hands on my back under my wings and held me close. I could no longer contain the emotion that had taken over. I nuzzled my face into his neck and began to cry. They were the first tears I’d shed in over a century.
“I shouldn’t have brought Sean here. It’s too dangerous. I need to send him home,” I sobbed, finally pulling away.
“It wouldn’t matter,” said Lillith. She stood a few feet away as she buckled her armor in place in preparation for our journey to the site. Dorian placed his hands on my shoulders and forced me to face his sister. “Raja knows who he is. The only way to keep him and Sam safe, and the rest of mankind for that fact, is to kill Azazel.”
“She’s right,” said Dorian, wiping the tears from my cheeks. I nodded to let him know that I understood.
“And none of it’s gonna matter if she can’t keep her mind quiet. It’s only a matter of time before Raja’s Hybrids hear her thoughts.”
“I can’t help it. I can’t control it. Not like you guys,” I said.
“You need to learn.” Dorian grabbed the blanket I’d folded earlier and shook it out, allowing it to float to the ground below. Following a gesture of his hand, I lay down on my back onto the blanket and assumed my normal meditation position. “Close your eyes.”
I complied.
“Now empty your mind and quiet your thoughts. Forget everything for the moment.”
My head was a jumble of flashbacks and information. How I felt about Dorian. Finding out about Azazel and my mother. Sean, Sam, and the impending battle. I couldn’t stop the flow of thoughts inside my mind.
I shook my head.
“I can’t.”
“You have to. Sean and Sam’s lives are counting on it.” I felt Dorian’s hand on my chest above my heart. His touch was instantly soothing.
I breathed in slowly and let it out. I made a conscious effort to clear my thoughts. I pushed it all away and concentrated on nothing. My breathing continued to even out, slowing down my heart rate.
My mind cleared, and I felt myself relaxing.
“Now that you’ve cleared your thoughts, visualize yourself in an empty room with a door in front of you. Have you got it?” he asked.
I pictured a small room with four white walls. The door was also white and was a few feet from where I stood.
I nodded, answering his question.
“Open it.”
I mentally took a step and reached for the doorknob, turned it, and allowed it to swing open.
“Do you see them? There are Hybrids there, hundreds of them.”
“I see them.”
“Now shut the door and lock it.”
I closed it and turned the padlock.
“Now open your eyes.”
I opened my eyes and sat up.
“That’s it?” I asked. “There’s no way that worked.”
Dorian sighed heavily.
“Being able to keep people out of your head is simple. The difference for you all these years is that you didn’t have anyone to show you and tell you what you needed to do. I just happened to make it simple for you. Visualizing a closed door with everyone else on the other side is an easy way for Hybrids to learn to control the information that flows back and forth.”
“Thanks,” I said. I pushed up off the ground and found myself staring directly into Dorian’s eyes.
“No problem. Besides, I had an ulterior motive.” Dorian gently moved a strand of hair out of my face.
“You did?” I asked, my heart beating faster at his touch.
“With Lillith out of your head, she can’t read your mind when I do this.”
Dorian placed his hand on my cheek. His lips met mine. My head started to spin, and my breathing quickened.
He was right. It was a good thing his sister couldn’t hear my thoughts, because if I was on the outside looking in, they would have made me blush.
Dorian pulled away and glanced over at his sister while I struggled to catch my breath.
Lillith glared at us both.
“Her thoughts may have been closed, but if you do that again while I’m around, I swear I’m going to hurl.” Lillith spun around and stormed off.
Dorian chuckled quietly to himself as she walked away.
My fingers touched my lips. I could still taste his mouth on mine.
He turned his attention back to me, and his expression quickly changed.
“Sorry. That was impetuous. I shouldn’t have done that,” he said, trying to look anywhere but directly at me.
“I’m good with anything that pisses off your sister,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. “Especially that.”