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Friday, July 3.
In the morning, the entire family eats breakfast together. I break the news to my parents who are sitting around the dinette table drinking coffee.
“Today we’re going to go see the sights in Duluth like Mom suggested,” I say. “Since it’s still raining here, and we can’t go swimming or fishing, we’ll hit the harbor, the lighthouse, and the Glensheen Mansion.” I stuff scrambled eggs into my mouth. My mom always makes the fluffiest eggs, just the way I like them.
“You guys be careful on the drive over and if it’s raining like this, stay away from the shore,” Dad says. “The tide may be ferocious, and we don’t want to lose either of you.”
“Can I go with?” Stella asks.
“No, Honey,” Mom says. “Why don’t you let Zoe and Shay go by themselves.” She turns, addressing me. “Besides, you’ll be back by the end of the day, right?”
“Yeah,” I mumble.
Shay is deep in thought over his bagel.
We pack a little cooler of beverages and snacks. Before I went to bed this morning, I remembered to pack a bag of spare clothes and necessities. We snuck that into Shay’s car.
My sister sees us off.
“Keep them safe, Stella,” I say. “I’m counting on you. If you get any other visions, text me.”
“I will. You just come back alive.” She hugs me, then Shay. “And good luck.”
“Do you think we need luck?” Shay asks.
“You’ll need everything you can get.”
That doesn’t sound good for us. “All right,” I say. “Ready to go, Shay?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
I wave to my parents from Shay’s car window, plastering a smile onto my face. They wave back, and I quickly turn my head, so they can’t see the tears running down my cheeks. It could be the last time I see them. If the battle goes south and we don’t make it ... No. I won’t think like that.
I’m an angel. And my friends are fairies, Nephilim, wolves, and all the Packs in the world are coming here to fight. The Heavens are clearing out and joining us in earth’s realm.
“You’re quiet.” Shay turns his head my way. “I know it’s hard saying goodbye to your folks and sister. But you’ll see them again.”
“I hope you’re right.” I stare out of the rain-streaked glass. “I was just grateful that we got to spend one evening together as if today isn’t the beginning of the end of the world.”
“Yeah, it was a great night. I know you love your family. And they love you.”
“Have you heard from Kieran today?” I fiddle with the radio, but we’re driving in no man’s land up here. Reception isn’t the greatest.
“Yes, he said that most of the Packs are taking private jets into the airfield and will be staying in multiple hotels in the city. They want to spread out just in case they need to do damage control. He and Sidelle are still at home, awaiting word from Oberon and Mab. But Sidelle assures us that they will be there. He’ll meet us once we know where we’re going first.”
I inhale and nod.
The rest of the drive is quiet. We banter a bit but mostly listen to CDs. Before long the two-hour drive is done. I can see the high bridge as we coast down a hill.
Pouring rain is relentless, but we make our way to Canal Park and grab a bite to eat. We stop at a pizza joint. We sit at a round table waiting for our food when Kieran walks through the glass door.
He waves when he spots us in the corner. “Are you ready, Zoe?” he asks.
“For what now?”
“I need to lower the wards around you, so the demons know where you are.”
“Will it hurt?”
“No, you won’t feel a thing. I don’t think.” He frowns. “But maybe you’ll feel a bit of more Light now that you’re an angel.”
“All right. What do you need me to do?”
“Nothing. You can stay seated and give me your hand.”
Warmth spreads through me when Kieran touches my palm. It starts at my head and tingles all the way to my fingertips and down to my toes. It doesn’t hurt but feels more like a wall crumbling, and I hear bricks falling and breaking apart.
“It’s done,” Kieran says.
We eat our pizza then walk around. I’m like a zombie, thinking. Of course, I’m scared for tomorrow and what will happen. But as Shay and I stroll hand in hand on the sidewalk, my sense of dread loosens. We end our amble at the shipping pier. I gaze out at the expansive lake, water as far as the eye can see, even through the sheets of rain.
Next, we visit the Great Lakes Aquarium, then Enger Park and Tower, and finally to the Glensheen, all the while taking selfies and posting on Snapchat. It’s nice doing normal stuff with my boyfriend and best friend to take my mind off why I’m really here. There are moments though when I think I’m going to break down and cry or actually have a mental break down. But somehow I manage to keep it together with a smile covering my face the whole time.
By late afternoon, the winds pick up, and I need to wear a hoodie. It’s crazy weather; the water is freezing and turns to sleet. The roads back to the cabin will be horrible if we had planned to return tonight. I call my folks, and they insist that Shay and I stay in Duluth because of the bad weather. They have seen the reports on the midday news.
Shay books us a room at the Pier B Resort. While he checks us in, I text Sidelle to let her know where we are.
Me: We’re staying in Duluth for the night. Pier B Resort.
As if she is waiting for an update, Sidelle’s response is immediate.
Sidelle: I’ll be there in a second. Room #?
Me: 326
Shay carries our bags to our room, and we wait for Sidelle. She appears in the room just as we step through the doorway.
“I’ve let Vash know that we’re all here now,” Kieran says. “They are having a pack dinner and then later during the night, they will make for the forest and rest there. Some will stay in the city, though.”
“I know you’re probably not okay, so I won’t even ask,” Sidelle says. “Tomorrow if it happens ... there isn’t anything I can say that will prepare you for what you have to do or will see.”
“Just remember that it’s you or them,” Shay says. “And I’ll be by your side the whole time.”
“We’ll be near you,” Kieran says.
“Let’s go to dinner and be just a group of friends hanging out.” Sidelle takes my hand and ushers me into the bathroom. “Why don’t you freshen up, and then we’ll go get food. You look horrible.”
“Thanks, Sidelle,” I say. “It’s hard looking like a hot mess.”
I gaze at myself in the oval mirror. It’s like a ghost is staring back at me. My eyes are a bit bloodshot, and my skin is pasty white. My long brown hair is coated against my cheeks. I didn’t sleep well last night, and I doubt I’ll be relaxed enough to get any tonight. Splashing cold water on my face and then running a brush through my hair, I lift my lips into a smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes and leave the room.
“I’m ready,” I say. Everyone else is staring at me like a booger is hanging from my nose. “Are we ready?”
“You’ve been spotted, and Knights are converging on the city,” Kieran says.
“That’s good though; that’s what we wanted to happen.”
“Yes, it is. They have higher numbers than we initially thought. It’s like they’ve cleared out all of Hell. They aren’t doing anything as of now. So we’ll let them be until they start messing with the Ordinaries.”
“I would send them all if I were Sammael,” Shay says. “Leave nothing to chance his freedom.”
“Are we skipping dinner and going demon hunting?” I ask.
“No, you’re staying here, while we call some Pack members.” Shay pulls me to the couch. “Kieran and Sidelle will go. You need to eat, rest, and if you can, find sleep tonight. They’ll report back so we can be ready for tomorrow.” Kieran and Sidelle nod, then disappear from the room. “Now, what would you like to order for dinner? Anything on the menu.” He opens the three-ring binder of hotel information.
It’s my last night before the end. I have no idea what the morning will bring. Kieran and Sidelle didn’t return to the room, leaving me snuggled next to Shay in the large, king sized bed.
“Are you scared?” Shay asks.
“I’d be lying if I say no.”
“You have every right to be. You’ve never been in a battle to the death. I was born for this. Gabriel raised me to know what to expect, while you’ve only learned about all this a few months ago.” I burrow deeper into the covers and press myself next to Shay’s warm body. “I’ll be at your side tomorrow. You have me and my sword to protect you.”
“I know and I’m grateful. You are my center and my rock, and I will draw courage from that. No matter what happens, you know I love you.”
“Yes, I love you, too. Now try to sleep, Zoe.”