Few Are Angels (35 page)

“How are you?” he asked in my hair.

I could feel his breath on my head, warm and soothing. “Lonely,” I admitted against my better judgment. I didn't want Kale to worry about me while I was gone, and I didn't want to make tonight any harder than it already was.

Kale tsked and kissed the top of my head. Somewhere in the back of my mind there was a worry about what Alex thought of Kale and my embrace, but as Kale and I stood there his grip got tighter until he suddenly released me. I saw that his eyes were the black pools of oil I’d only seen when there was some sort of danger. I started to speak, but was cut off by Mia’s scream. I turned around to see what was going on, but Kale grabbed me and pulled me into the woods faster than I could take my next breath. I fought the urge to panic, but quickly fell apart when I heard Alex call my name, sheer panic in his voice. Kale held my face in his hands and smiled. His face was strained and his voice was so quiet I could barely hear him above my hearts beating.

“I need you run, Ella.” He held me so tight that I couldn’t shake my head no.

I wasn’t going to run anywhere until I found out what had happened to Mia and Alex. I could hear the taunts and jeers of voices coming from the direction Kale and I had just come from, but they weren’t familiar. Kale shook me to get my attention back on to him.

“Ella,” Kale’s voice shook, and I knew that it was because Laurent’s men had found us.

My stomach ached and my hands shook as I fought the urge to puke. “We have to go back, Kale!” I cried. All the strength I thought I’d had quickly vanished.

Kale shook his head and roughly pushed me farther into the woods. More voices and shouts came from the distance, but I didn't hear Mia or Alex.

“Run, Ella. I will get them out of the way, but those men are looking for you.” He continued to move me backward.

Suddenly my feet were no longer on the ground, and the air felt sharp as teeth as it whipped against my face. Kale had picked me up and run me into the middle of the woods, where he placed me down. I knew we had travelled far because I could barely hear the shouts from the men I thought were the Chorý that Laurent had sent for me. I pushed Kale away and tried to make my way back to the house, but we had come so far out into the woods that I didn't know which direction would lead me back.

“Kale, what are we doing? Take me back.”

Kale roughly pushed his hands through his hair and moved away from me.

I couldn't tell what he was doing, but as he picked up speed I realized he was leaving me there. “Wait!” I called out, but it was too late.

He’d disappeared into the woods. I was there alone, praying the people I loved were safe although I knew that was far from the truth.

Epilogue

Kale

She stands there and looks at me as if I am a ghost—something impossible or unrecognizable as I leave her in the middle of the woods without protection or even an explanation. Her face is pale and sweet and her lips are turning blue, so I know she has little time. I wouldn’t be able to protect her and fight them. I know they are stronger than I, and there is no use denying it. She made a choice that would change everything, and tonight I am forced to do the same. She believes it is for the best and I am inclined to agree, but for reasons much different than her own. She believes we will meet again, but I realize this is not the case. She believes things will be different, but I know the truth. Our history will repeat itself. I know what her plan is because it wasn’t the first time I was confronted with it. Hélène tried the same thing, and I had no problem convincing her of its futility. She trusted me without any doubt. That is where Hélène and Ella differ. I would not be able to stop Ella from sacrificing the life she so desperately wants by asking for eternal life. She and Hélène were both been willing to sacrifice so much, but what had I sacrificed?

I head back to the house with speed that defies my knowledge of my own abilities. Once I arrive at the house, I see the Council members that stayed hidden in the shadows have joined the standoff against the Chorý. They will only see me as a threat if I join, so I scan the area in search of Mia and Alex. A light is on in the house. I haven’t been gone long, so I can only assume we have a few minutes before the police arrive and there are more humans at risk. I scan the area again, searching for a familiar face, but the one I find is of the Chorý that attacked Ella in the mall. I hope to have a chance tonight to show him how I feel about his actions that day. All I can do now is find Jace and stand beside him.

I hear Jace before I see him. His grunting and snarling leads my sight directly to him fighting two Chorý; one is smaller than him while the other is at least twice his size. His melee attacks are swift and precise, but speed is not one of his main powers; it’s his dead-on accuracy that is often a challenge for Chorý. A Chorý can move faster than a younger immortal, and that is why when the second member comes from behind with his sword, it is no surprise the head of the offending Chorý falls to the ground. The teamwork within the Council is what has kept them from being completely eradicated by Laurent’s men. Laurent’s men may be skilled fighters, but I have yet to see them work as a team. The defensive tactics of those who do will be tested tonight. The Council has perfected the art of fighting in pairs and their camaraderie has yet to be rivaled. I fight my way through to Jace, dodging a fist intended for a female Council member. Her tattoos cover at least half of her body, and her arms are larger than mine. She fights with a passion that reminds me of why I stay clear of them. Dedication and thirst for the spilt blood of Chorý is how they are bred. I use my strength and speed to clear a path to Jace. The Council members do not try to keep their hits designated to just Laurent’s men, but I am able to get to Jace without incident. He looks alarmed that I am here and without Ella because it was on his cue that I grabbed her and ran. She didn't see it coming, and I highly doubt that anyone else did.

“You have ten minutes,” I tell him, though I worry she may have less time than that.

She wasn’t dressed for the trek in the snow she was no doubt making, and her anger may be lessening her good judgment. I look around and notice something is wrong. For a battle, it is very quiet, and only a select few of Laurent’s men are fighting while the others stand facing us with their backs to the woods. They are waiting for something, but what? What could be so important that would keep Laurent’s men out of the fray, vigilant and patient?

Alex

I grab Mia and run to the far end of my yard. After eighteen years of living here, I know all the spots where we won’t be seen from the yard. Dudes are out there fighting like they’re in Afghanistan, and while Mia and I hide, I look around for Ella. There are probably ten men out there, and oddly enough, it seems like they are trying not to draw attention to themselves. Why would they want to keep this quiet? I look around, confused and amazed by the fact Ella told us the truth. If these were the people after her, what did she have that they wanted? I feel ashamed that I didn't believe her. I've known her so long, and I can’t remember one lie from her mouth.

“Do you see her?” Mia whispers as tears stream down her face. She is holding her arm and I can see the blood as it drips past the opening of her coat.

I pull Mia closer and throw her an apologetic glance as she winces from the jolt of pain that movement sends through her. I pull up her sleeve to see a wound that looks like something hot tore through her. I haven’t seen many wounds in my time, but it looks like someone has shot her. Though I didn't hear a gunshot, I am willing to bet that’s what it is. I can’t tell Mia this because I am afraid she will have a meltdown if I do.

I look out to the yard again, but I don’t see Ella anywhere. Jace stands above a man that has gone down for the count while another man stands above him with a large sword in hand. It seems like shit just got real. I cover Mia’s face and purse my lips. I have to keep it together and try not to hurl. I know if I freak out, Mia’s reaction will be worse. I see that the guy Ella was hugging before all this went down is out there now fighting with Jace. It amazes me how fast he moves; the dude can’t be a regular person. He must have some special training, but he looks way too young to have served in the military long enough to be so skilled.

“No, I don’t see her anywhere,” I tell Mia. I push her back against the shed. If I saw what I think I just saw, then she would definitely freak out.

Heads don’t come off bodies by themselves. She and I could die out here tonight. I need to find a way to get her into the house and away from this. I still don’t tell Mia what I saw, but I am sure she can see it on my face. She looks as if she is about to pass out. Even though Ella is missing and I want to find her, I have no choice but to stay until I get Mia into the house. I look back and notice the lights are on in Lea’s room. I strain to see if I can see her through the window. I can’t, and that is good because I don’t want them turning their sights onto my house and my family. I pull my cell phone from my pocket, pissed I didn’t think of it before, and attempt to call the sheriff, but I don’t have a signal.

“Mia, give me your cell.” I tell her mine isn’t working and she admits she left hers upstairs in my old room and begins to ball.

Her tears and her breath are so warm that I worry she is sending fog into the air that could give away our position, so I pull her close and whisper reassurances in her ear. I tell her things I hope are true. I tell her my parents probably already called for help and we should be okay. Though I am not sure if I say it to ease her fears or my own. Cedar is a small town, but I haven’t had a problem getting a cell signal. I bet these men have gone so far as to use cell jammers. It seems so unreal. The men are now at a standoff, staring at each other. I think Jace has figured something out, but I’m not sure I want to know what it is. His face is pale and I can sense his concern all the way over here; it must have something to do with Ella. I hope any second now my father will burst through the door with the shotgun his father left him and order us into the house, but the longer Mia and I sit in the snow, I realize it will not happen. She is crying so hard now that her entire body trembles and she no longer feels warms in my arms. I need to get her inside.

The fact that I still don’t hear sirens worries me, but I don’t let that stop me from devising a plan. With all of those dudes out there, it shouldn’t be hard for Mia and I to run to the door. The only problem is that if these men have a cell phone jammer, they have probably already cut the telephone wires, and the only way to get help is to get to the car and drive to Sheriff Making’s house. The car is behind all the men, and my only hope is to get Mia inside, come back out here, then get to the car. At least inside my father’s shotgun is loaded and ready. I only wonder what is going on in the house.

Jace

I count the seconds until I see her. Her heart-shaped face, coffee hair, and emerald eyes so innocent, yet so important to the destruction of the man I aim to kill. She is the one who will save us all. Until now, I approached her with a gentleness that must end. She doesn’t know what she is up against, and it is my job to educate her. I will be the bad guy, and she will regret trusting me. I have lied to her more than she knows, and the truth will break her. Her trust and faith in the Council will be gone, but this is a risk I’m willing to take. What is her trust worth when in the end her death is mine as well? Something isn’t right. Laurent’s men are too calm. I have fought in battles with Chorý many times before, and they are nothing if not bold and vicious like wild animals, but now they are calm. They wait for something, and I realize they are stalling for time. We may have played right into their hands. Because we are all here while Ella is in the middle of the woods—alone.

Ella

I can no longer run, but I can’t remain motionless either. I have to get back to Alex and Mia. Her scream echoes in my brain and rattles my bones. The ground shakes below my feet and I realize the tremors are coming from me. My body quakes as shivers race throughout me. My lungs burn with each breath I take, and I feel like I've swallowed bright orange embers that radiate throughout my chest. I place my hand over my heart, willing it to slow, but it thumps and beats wilder and faster. I’m tempted to sit down, but I can’t because I’m not sure I’ll have the strength to stand again. I look around the white trees, a dizzying blur of white, brown, and red. Though I have been moving for a while, I see the same red tree where Kale left me. I squint and look at the red tree again. How is it possible to see the tree again when I thought I’d made some progress forward. Is it possible I’m moving in circles? Did I even move at all? I take a deep breath and swallow the burning sensation and try to think. Kale walked away and I followed him. No, that’s not how it happened. Kale left and I sat down. Or did I fall down? I can’t remember, and my freaking head won’t clear long enough for me to concentrate. I don’t know where I’m at or how long I have been here. It seems as if Kale left me hours ago, but I know that can’t be true. It’s not possible because I wouldn’t survive out here for hours.

Kale’s image floats in front of me, shimmering iridescently, taunting and teasing me with an impossible beauty. His eyes are dark as night and dangerously delicious, his face so pale and teeth so sharp. How I could have ever thought him human? I remember our kiss and how my body responded to his touch. I've never felt that way before, and I yearn to feel it again. My body gravitates toward his image, this perfect image for me and me alone. I take a step toward him, but he moves away, then leans against a tree, staring at me with a spellbound gaze. He is lost in me as I am lost in him. My heart beats so fast I feel its vibrations throughout the tree and I close my eyes. My chest hurts—no, it burns like fire, and each breath is worse than the last, but I manage to continue. My clothes are so heavy they weigh me down.