Between (32 page)

“
Send your demons away first to show me you mean it,” Trinity demanded. Fear and anger heated through her eyes.

“
No!” Michael shouted. “Don’t do this. You give her to him and it will be the end of humanity. Is this what you want? Have you lost your ways? The Trinity I knew would never…”

“
I was lost without you, Michael. Heartbroken when I was told you were dead. I died the day I was told you were gone. And now, I will do anything for another chance to be with you.”

“
This is not the way. Let me take you away. We can talk about this.”

“
No! I don’t want to talk.”

“
Trinity, look; I’ve sent the demons away,” Nicholas declared, interrupting, waiting for the perfect opportunity. “Have some faith in me. Now give me what is mine.”

Trinity scanned the cave. All the demons seemed to have disappeared. Just as she was about to release Claudia to Nicholas, however, a demon attacked her from behind, but she managed to swing her sword and kill it, all the while holding steadfastly onto Claudia. Afterwards, she snapped around and exhaled sharply, eyes blazing with anger toward Nicholas, and said, “You flat out lied to me. You pissed me off. You see her?”

“
Trinity!” Michael snapped angrily. “You do this, and I will never forgive you. I will hunt you down and kill you with my bare hands. Do you understand me?”

Trinity looked at Michael. Her eyes flared with emotion he couldn’t identify. His words did not register in her mind, the only thought she had now was to escape. Then she looked at Nicholas. She wanted to prove a point, to show him she was not playing games. There was also Claudia, whom she had mixed feeling towards. There was only one way out. There was only one thing to do.

“
Michael. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble. I just wanted you. What I’m about to do is the only option. Please forgive me.”

Fear emanated through Michael. Trinity’s words meant only one thing. He hoped he was wrong, but he couldn’t just stand there and wonder. He bolted towards her. Nicholas did the same when he realized Michael was on the move. But it was too late. Trinity plunged her dagger into Claudia’s heart and spanned her wings open to cover both of them to disappear.

Michael got to where they had just stood a split second earlier only to find Trinity’s dagger. Leaving behind her dagger was a sign to show she meant no harm. Kneeling down, he cried out in agony. “Claudia!” His body slumped over, drained from having his heart ripped apart, seeing blood spilling from her heart, and the look in her eyes.

Stunned silence filled the room. The venators and the alkins stared in disbelief. And Nicholas was nowhere in sight. Michael finally stood up. His face was long and weary. He turned to the only person he thought would be able to locate her.

“
Vivian, find them, please.” His tone was urgent.

Vivian snapped out of her disbelief and concentrated on Claudia.

Davin was completely speechless while he stood next to Michael. He was thinking of ways to comfort him, but he knew if he opened his mouth, he may say something to make it worse.

“
This is just great,” Austin said. “This is all your fault.” He raked his eyes on Michael. “We should be protecting Claudia and not having to worry about your ex-girlfriend. I knew we couldn’t trust her. I’m going to kill her. You know that, don’t you?”

“
I may beat you to it. I just hope she does the right thing as soon as she comes to her senses.”

“
Her senses? Have you not heard a word she said? She is in love with you and there is no stopping her from killing Claudia!”

“
I heard what she said and I heard what you said. I got it!” Michael scowled.

“
They’re at the Island of Eden,” Vivian said with a look of relief.

“
Island of Eden? Why would she go there?” Austin questioned.

“
Maybe she came to her senses,” Patrick answered.

“
I doubt that,” Austin replied.

“
Let’s go,” Davin shouted. “Yo, Goose, stop talking. You talk too much.” Davin looked at Austin.

Austin ignored him when he realized Michael was nowhere to be seen. “Where’s Michael?”

“
He left without us?” Davin registered that Michael took off as soon as Vivian announced the location.

Trinity gulped a painful lump back down her throat as she lay Claudia on the floor of her room at Island of Eden, then looked at her hands, which were covered in red. “What have I done?” Feeling bewildered, her eyes fell on Claudia on the floor, lifeless. She knelt down and set her eyes on her chest. Heaving a sigh of relief seeing she was still breathing, she placed her hands over the wound, closed her eyes and whispered, “I ask you to send forth your ministering angels, to repair and restore any damage that was caused in her body by the presence of sin, sickness or demonically influenced infirmities. Restore strength to her body and joy to her spirit. I ask that you send forth your Holy Spirit and fill me with your love, light, peace and joy so that I may heal this being.”

At first, a speck of light shone around Claudia’s chest, then it slowly radiated throughout her body. Trinity’s special power was the ability to heal humans and angels; the reason Katherine had saved her and kept her on Earth.

Though Claudia was healed completely, she was unconscious. Trinity stood up, feeling weak and dazed. She knew she had to face the consequences of her actions. Would Katherine imprison her for eternity? Could she ever go back to the venators? As these thoughts ran through her mind, sensing a presence in the room, she turned sharply. “Michael!” she mumbled, backing away in fright. “I…I…I can explain.”

Michael stood there and as his eyes fell upon Claudia, he was filled with guilt. But knowing she was still alive was all that mattered to him. He had arrived when Trinity was healing Claudia and he was not about to interrupt. He felt baffled by Trinity’s behavior. First, she tried to kill her and now she had saved her. Hoping she had come to her senses, he turned his attention to her when she called out his name.

“
Trinity; why?” Michael was filled with anger, brewing even more seeing Claudia on the cold floor, helpless. He wanted to go to her, enclose his wings around her, and whisk her away now that she was healed. But he needed answers and the only way he would get them was by asking calmly.

Michael’s tone quickly released Trinity’s tension. Her pounding heart was now at a steadier pace. “Michael, I didn’t mean to. I wasn’t thinking straight. I wanted Nicholas to think I’d killed her. I know that I can be difficult, but I’m not a…” She couldn’t get the words out and Michael took a couple of steps towards her. In fear of not knowing what Michael would do, she pulled out a sword. “Stop. Don’t come near me.”

Michael remembered Trinity leaving her dagger behind. “Where did you get that sword?” It looked like one of the Twelve’s swords, but he couldn’t tell for sure.
Surely she couldn’t get a hold of one
, he thought.

Trinity didn’t answer; instead, she pointed the sword toward Claudia. “She’s healing, but I won’t hesitate to do it again.”

“
Calm down. I just want to talk…that’s all. Now, walk away from Claudia. I don’t want to hurt you. I want you to tell me everything. Then I’ll let you free. See, I’m walking back.”

After Michael backed away, Trinity walked away from Claudia.

Michael’s eyes narrowed sharply on Trinity. “Tell me everything you know. Then, you must never come back. I don’t want to ever see you again. Speak quickly before the others come.”

It took her a moment to register what he had said. His words stung sharply; he might as well have twisted a dagger in her heart. When she had been told he was still alive, her spirits burst with happiness that they would be reunited. But here she was, alone; he had just told her he never wanted to see her again. “But…where will I go? I’ll be alone.”

“
You should have thought about that before. I told you I would never forgive you. And you should know better than anyone that I keep my word.”

“
Michael, please,” she pleaded desperately.

“
Start talking. Now!” His loud voice startled her, made her tremble. Her blood pressure escalated and her grip on the sword got even tighter.

“
I’m not working with the demons. Please, you gotta believe me. I—,” Trinity said, desperately trying to convince Michael, but he cut her short.

“
Stop lying. No more lies! How did you know about Aliah’s hide out?” Michael asked, anger raging inside.

“
I didn’t know it existed. I was taken there. I was told to bring Claudia there. It was an order by…” Trinity stopped speaking as the rest of the alkins and guardians appeared.

“
Stop!” Michael commanded. He needed to hear Trinity’s explanation.

Everyone halted, except for Patrick. He had just arrived, behind Trinity, and didn’t hear Michael’s words. Trinity whirled around, fearing someone was behind her, and accidently plunged the sword into Patrick’s chest.

“
Patrick!” Holly yelled in anguish, unable to believe her own eyes.

Patrick gasped and drew in his breath with a look of shock. Trinity immediately dropped the sword and froze. Davin raced to capture Trinity, but Michael gripped Davin’s wrist and shook his head to let her go. Davin returned a questioning look, but did as told. Trinity took the opportunity to flee with tears in her eyes, for she knew it would be the last time she would see any of them.

The venators surrounded Patrick, who was curled up on the floor, as they waited for him to recover. When he didn’t show any signs of healing, Michael picked up the sword and realized with dismay that it was one of the Twelve swords, for sure. It looked exactly like Aden’s with the inscription that read ‘Angel of God’; the only sword that could kill an angel. He remembered holding it, remembered how it felt in his hand when he had killed Aden with it. How did she get a hold of it?

Austin looked up to see Michael’s expression as Michael telepathically related the details. Austin’s face paled as he realized the implications, and he too wondered how she’d gotten a hold of it. Michael handed the sword to Austin and headed toward Claudia. He enclosed Claudia in his arms, placed her on the bed and sat beside her.

“
We need to take him back to Katherine,” Holly uttered with urgency. “Why are we wasting time? Let’s go!”

When Austin showed Holly the sword, she stared at it with disbelief.

No one moved, huddled together in silence, grief stricken, for they knew that there was no cure. Even Trinity’s healing powers could not have saved him.

Vivian placed her hand on Holly’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. But all Holly could do was stare at Patrick’s wound, which shed no blood.