Aetherial Annihilation (37 page)

I dropped to the ground and buried my face in my hands. The day I found a stray black cat being attacked by a dog replayed in my mind. Before I even knew she was Seraphim, Nightliss had helped me save my father from a vampire stronghold. She'd healed the damage to Elyssa's memories after Daelissa tried to wipe me from her mind and destroy our relationship. She'd touched all of our lives and kept me alive long enough to defeat her evil sister.

I can't believe it. How can she be dead?

Cephus, Serena, and anyone else involved in this would pay dearly.

Several days passed as we cleaned up the mess in Antarctica and disabled every crystoid but for one in northern Australia. With the Three Sisters once again operational, we tried to send an expedition through the Alabaster Arch, but the arch in Seraphina didn't respond. Crystoids on the other side were most likely to blame. Though the other Alabaster Arches worked, they all led to Brightling controlled territory. Without Ketiss and his Darkling army, we couldn't hope to take on the enemy forces.

We devised a plan to use the sky portal above the lone remaining crystoid to scout Tarissa and find a way through. From there, we could destroy the crystoids on the other side and activate the skyway.

When at last we had gathered the dead, many in our army gathered in the horse pasture at the Templar compound to commemorate the fallen heroes of the Battle of Antarctica. I sat on the platform in front of the crowd with the other leaders, Commander Borathen, Captain Takei, Colin McCloud, Kassallandra, and even Komad Rashad. I tried to keep thoughts of Nightliss from my mind as each leader delivered a eulogy.

I went last.

As I stood behind the podium, stomach twisting, throat tight, my gaze wandered to the caskets of our comrades and tears blurred my vision. I took a deep breath and spoke. "We stand here today thanks to the selfless sacrifices of those we honor today." My voice sounded weak and hollow. "Many of us lost comrades and family." I paused to clear the knot in my throat. "I lost my dear friend, Nightliss." I squeezed shut my eyes and gathered strength to speak. "Unfortunately, one war and thousands of lost lives were not enough to win peace."

"Nightliss was more than my friend. When Daelissa abandoned the Templars who stood against her, Nightliss came to our rescue." I wiped at my eyes. "She was proud—so proud to become the Clarion. She was a beacon of hope in a world threatened by darkness. In every sense of the word, Nightliss was our guardian angel."

"Bless the Clarion!" The Templars roared as one.

I looked up and pointed a finger into the distance. "Out there lies another threat, another war to be won. This latest conflict proves that until we complete the task ahead of us, Eden will not have her peace. We must bring order to another realm. We must risk our lives." I bared my teeth. "We will prove our fallen did
not
die in vain."

I looked at the neat rows of coffins and summoned all my strength when I saw the one with the symbol of the Templar Clarion. Nightliss's coffin. "Once again we will unite against a great threat. Once again we will prove our dedication to freedom. No army will break our spirits and no realm will subjugate our people." Thoughts of Nightliss's sacrifice gave strength to my voice. "Together we fight for Eden. Together we fight for peace." I pumped my fist in the air and shouted, "Seraphina awaits!"

The assemblage burst into roars. Templars pounded their fists against their chests, chanting, "To Seraphina! To victory!"

Lycans burst into animal forms and howled. The massive felycan, Saber, shook the air with a massive roar. Even the Red Cell vampires raised a cheer.

The strength left my body, and I sagged.
Goodbye, my dear sweet Nightliss. I'll miss you so much.
I left the stage and walked past the throngs, seeking the solace of the only one who could give it to me.

Elyssa rushed from the Templars and hugged me fiercely. The tight dam of sorrow broke and my heart poured out. I sensed others gathering around me and looked up into the teary eyes of my loved ones. Shelton wiped at his red eyes and offered a weak smile. Bella wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. Mom and Ivy huddled nearby. Even my father's eyes were wet.

Our heroes would not be forgotten.

As the days passed, the Templars gathered their ranks. Houses Assad and Slade sent word to all Daemos to join the fight. The Arcanes brought forth their battle mages and Blue Cloaks. The lycans and felycans readied their claws and fangs. Our army swelled with other supernaturals, all ready to fight for the peace we so desperately wanted.

Onward to Seraphina.

Onward to war.

Onward to victory.

The sleeping giant had awakened. It was time for the mortal realm to put the angels in their place.

###

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Liked this book? Try the Overworld Underground series. Here's a sample from Demonicus, out now.

Demonicus Chapter 1

The last person I expected to see after a nice, relaxing vacation was George Walker.

I nearly dropped my purse at the sight of my enigmatic handler for the Custodians. "What's wrong?" My heart skipped a beat.

"Apologies for catching you so soon after your return, but we need your help, Miss Glass." He motioned toward a sleek black sedan. "If you don't mind, the situation is rather urgent."

Tyler wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "I don't know how you do business in the Custodians, George, but a text or a phone call would have been nice."

"I tried to reach her, but never received a response." George seemed to take no offense to Tyler's stern tone.

"It's okay." I took out my mobile and looked at it. "I put my phone on airplane mode and forgot to switch back to normal."

"What's the emergency?" Tyler asked.

George regarded him calmly. "That's for Miss Glass to know."

Tyler shrugged. "Then tell her. I promise I won't listen."

I held up my hands. "Let us put our luggage away and we'll come, George." I pointed toward his car. "Please go wait there, and I'll be down shortly."

George nodded and walked to the car.

On the way up the elevator, Tyler cornered me with a kiss. "We're not home ten seconds and you're already off on another adventure."

"Indeed." Despite all the intimate time we'd spent on holiday, I could hardly get enough of this lovely man. The thought of taking off on a Custodian mission without him left me feeling empty. "I want you to come."

"
Moi
?" A corner of his mouth lifted into a lopsided grin. "Whatever will your handler say?"

I pecked a kiss on his lips. "Absolutely nothing, if he knows what's good for him."

George raised an eyebrow when the two of us approached his car.

"We're both coming," I said.

George glanced at Tyler. "Mr. Rock isn't a Custodian."

A tall man emerged from the passenger side of the car and narrowed his eyes at Tyler. Mr. Sticks didn't say a word, but it was more than obvious how he felt about me bringing a playdate.

"Does he talk?" Tyler bobbed his head toward Sticks. I had, of course, told Tyler all about the people I'd met during my work with the Custodians, including the ever-silent Mr. Sticks.

George smiled pleasantly. "He
communicates
if that's what you're asking." He turned to me. "I suppose Mr. Rock may ride along. Are you ready, Miss Glass?"

I took a deep breath and nodded. "Let's go."

Tyler ran his eyes across the sedan. "What kind of car is this?"

"A custom model," George answered.

Mr. Sticks held open the rear door and motioned me inside. I slid across the seat so Tyler could climb in beside me. The smell of new leather pleased my nose. Once Tyler was seated, George climbed into the driver seat.

Tyler leaned forward. "Who makes your custom models?"

George touched a handle on the steering column. Soundlessly, the car accelerated toward the exit. "This is the latest out of Science Academy."

"Science Academy?"

Mr. Sticks glared over his shoulder at Tyler.

"You really must attend an orientation soon," George said. "It would answer many of your basic questions."

I pulled Tyler next to me. "Let the man drive." My stomach fluttered with anxiety. Since saving Tyler from the Exorcists nearly three months earlier, I hadn't been on any missions for the Custodians. Tyler and I had taken a long overseas vacation to make sure he was safe and to give my sanity a chance to recover.

He ran a hand across the leather and looked around the car, obviously wanting to talk more about it, but finally relaxed and slung an arm over my shoulders. "Sorry, Em. I've just never seen anything like this."

"Boys and their toys." I tried to give him a serious look, but couldn't stop from smiling at his enthusiasm. "I didn't realize demons were into automobiles."

He squeezed me tight. "I acquired the taste from one of my previous hosts."

This turned Sticks's glare toward us once more.

"Perhaps it's best if you don't discuss Mr. Rock's true nature right now," George said amicably. "Mr. Sticks is a stickler when it comes to the rules and is none too happy that I promised to let Mr. Rock be."

"He's really a very nice demon," I told Sticks. "Once you get to know him."

The man shook his head and faced forward.

George pulled into traffic, drove a couple of blocks, and turned into a blind alley I'd seen him use before. Excitement replaced the anxiety. Before I'd discovered the true nature of my work for the Custodians, George had always blindfolded me before we traveled anywhere. Considering how quickly we made it across town, I knew there must be something special about the cars they used.

I wasn't disappointed.

At the press of a button, the outside of the car blurred and faded until it matched our surroundings. George pulled a lever and the car lifted from the ground, rising quickly until we were above the city. I gasped.

Tyler's hand tightened on mine. "I think I'm in love," he said.

The early morning sun hovered behind the Atlanta skyline, dividing the city into shadows crisscrossed with corridors of light. My sense of wonderment fled, replaced with worry gnawing at my insides. I didn't know what prompted this abrupt shift in my emotions.
I haven't been on a mission for a while. It's probably just nerves.

"How much do one of these cars cost?" Tyler asked.

George pressed the accelerator and steered the car until the brass compass in the dash pointed north. "They're for official use only, I'm afraid."

"Damn." Tyler braced his elbows on the front seats and peered out of the window, much to the obvious chagrin of Mr. Sticks.

I contented myself to look out to the side as buildings flashed past beneath us. We soon reached a single story office building and circled overhead. A pattern of black lines across the flat roof caught my attention. They resembled burn marks, though they appeared too neat and precise to have been made by a fire. "George, what are we investigating?"

He brought the car in for a landing in a loading zone behind the building. "We received a tip that this place was being used as a cover for illegal vampire operations. We'll pose as customers and go inside while you use your special abilities to sense the truth."

A wave of heat washed across my skin from the direction of the building. I swallowed hard and nodded. "What if they catch on?"

"I have a team on standby." He looked back and smiled. "I don't anticipate any trouble. If you confirm there are vampires, we'll have to be sure they're up to illegal activities before we can raid them."

Tyler's arm tightened around my shoulders. "Don't worry, I'll protect you."

I melted into his reassuring embrace and just as quickly stiffened when I remembered there were others present.
Don't act like a frightened ninny!

George drove the car to the front of the building and pulled into a parking space between two other cars. The warm sensation followed us the entire way, though nobody but me seemed to notice it.

Tyler slid out of the backseat. I followed and stood in the parking lot next to him. It was plain to see through the glass windows that the building lobby was empty. The sign above the door read,
Tri-Cross Blood Donations
.

Tyler chuckled. "Well, if this isn't the perfect place to run illegal vampire operations, I don't know what is."

"Technically, vampires running a blood bank isn't illegal," George said. "In fact, since vampires aren't supposed to feed directly on noms, something like this is a necessity."

I grimaced. "How awful. They're taking vital blood from normals who might need a transfusion someday."

Sticks didn't frown, which probably meant he agreed with me.

George looked at me. "Do you feel anything, Miss Glass?"

I closed my eyes and opened my senses. I sensed the low simmer of Tyler's presence, and glimpsed the brilliant white energy at the cores of Mr. Sticks and George. The radiating heat from the building intensified. I usually enjoyed warmth, but this sensation brought me no comfort. Instead, it sent chills skittering down my back.

"I don't feel vampiric auras from here," I said. "Just an odd warm feeling."

George nodded. "Let's go inside."

The moment he opened the door, a blast of rancid air hit us in the face. I staggered back, coughing and hacking and spitting. It smelled as though someone had left a truckload of eggs in the hot sun. The only one of us who didn't seem adversely affected was Tyler.

His forehead pinched and his green eyes looked deeply troubled. "This isn't good."