Until Darkness Comes

Acknowledgements

My thanks and eternal gratitude to Sally, my best friend and biggest fan. Your encouragement and dedication means more to me than words can say. I couldn’t have done this without you. To Mikayla, you are an inspiration every day.

Thank you to my family, for your continual love and support. To my dear friend and author, Laura Breck, for all those countless hours you spent investing in me. To Connie Kline, my editor and friend, who has made this a great experience, and to 5 Prince Publishing, for all your hard work. Viola, you are an amazing artist.

Elias tightened his trench coat as he restlessly paced back and forth on a small stretch of sidewalk. Looking up to the starless heavens, a few drops of rain spattered against his face. Evil forebodings thickened the air, making him question his wisdom in coming here without the aid of a warrior. His strength felt weaker here, and the unexpected change left him anxiously vulnerable.

A tall shadowy figure stepped into the empty street. The grating echo of boots against asphalt announced his inevitable approach. Elias’ energy soared in response to the darkness standing before him.

The figure slowly glanced left, then right. “So, this is it?” His coal black stare fixed on Elias, sending a shiver of dread racing up his spine. “Earth—can’t say that I’m overly impressed. But, I am surprised you summoned me, Elias. I didn’t think you’d have the nerve to do it. She must certainly be something special to warrant all the stir she’s caused.”

“I know what you’re planning to do,” Elias accused, “and I came here to stop you before it's too late."
"Too late for whom? Surely my welfare is of no concern to you."
"That's not fair, Max. I’m your brother."
"Correction, you were my brother. Now you're nothing more than a nark who’s become an incessant pain in my ass."
“It’ll never work. She’s never going to love you. Her guardian will never let you have her.”
“We’ll see about that,” Max sneered with confidence.

His perpetual arrogance had only gotten worse since his fall. Time had certainly done nothing to curb the rebellion that darkened his soul.

Max’s top lip curled up in a smile that held no humor. “How long have you known of this girl?”
Uncertain why that would be of any relevance Elias answered, “All her life—Eighteen years.”
“And what do you think? Is this
human
worth it?”
“They’re all worth it.” He met Max’s eyes, nothing short of cold hatred radiated in their depths, chilling him to his core.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” He waved his hand flippantly. “That’s what you have to say. But what I want to know is if
she’s
worth it. Is she worth your life, Elias?”
Max stood less than a foot away, meeting him eye to eye. Silence hung in the air, a looming ominous cloud. Tension mounted as he hesitated to give the answer that would seal his fate. He should have known the Dark Court would never have sent Max if he couldn’t get the job done. Unfortunately, he’d underestimated the fallen angel, and for that he would surely pay the price. More than ever, he regretted not bringing the girl’s guardian along. Only a fool would think he could talk some sense into his brother. What did he expect? That Max would just give up and go back to Perdition where he’d come from? Not likely.
“Well?” Max snapped impatiently.
“She’s worth it.”
The air crackled with energy. “That’s what I thought,” Max sneered, pulling a dagger out of his jacket. With blinding speed, he drove the blade into Elias’ chest—a swift upward thrust. Elias gasped, stumbled a step back, and fell onto the pavement at his brother’s feet. The cold, damp ground quickly leached into his bones. Bright red blood flowed freely onto the sidewalk in a river of betrayal.
Elias stared up at Max watching helplessly as Max glanced down at his hand covered in red sticky liquid. Max’s face contorted in disgust as he bent down and wiped the back of his hand clean on Elias’ jacket.
As Max stood, a bolt of lightning rent the midnight sky, opening the heavens. Rain poured down upon the earth in torrential proportions. Elias’ vision slowly faded as his brother shivered, warding off a sudden chill. Max turned abruptly and walked back into the darkness from which he’d come.
The rain washed his blood down the sidewalk in rivulets, carrying it into the sewer drain where he could hear the water rushing below. His energy flickered as his body began to fade away. Failure and regret weighed heavy upon his soul. Soon, it’d be as if he’d never been here, and Olivia Norton’s world was about to change forever.

Liam marched up the jewel-encrusted steps of the High Court. His muscles ached with tension, his conscience heavy with guilt. He shouldn’t have let Elias put him off. He should have insisted on going with him. His scowl deepened, unable to hide his displeasure as he prepared to speak before the High Court. Nothing good ever came from falling under the notice of the elders, and this time would be no exception.

He had run out of options. At this point, the only move he had left was to petition the court for the freedom to cross dimensional borders. An unheard of request, but then again, so was a warrior serving as a guardian. So many lines had already been crossed with this assignment, what’s a few more?

“Hey, Liam…” a familiar voice called from the bottom of the steps.
Startled, he turned to see his best friend hustling up the stairs to catch him. Liam stretched his wings, trying to ease that ache of tension between his shoulders, and tucked them behind his back. As the angel mounted the last step, Liam pulled open the solid oak doors trimmed with gold paneling. “Balen,” he greeted with a curt nod, holding the door for his friend to pass through.
“I heard you’re speaking before the elders today. It must be pretty important business for you to request an audience with them. I know how much you love going to court.”
He cast a sideways glance at the Ronnin warrior. “Yeah, it’s pretty bad.”
“That’s what I thought. You know you could have filled a brother in. Anyway, whatever happens in there, you know I got your back, right?”
He nodded. “Thanks. I hope you’re still saying this fifteen minutes from now.”
As they walked down the hall, each echoing step steeled Liam’s determination. He was making the right decision—the only decision. He’d already failed Elias, and he’d be damned if he was going to fail Olivia too.
He walked into court, Balen standing at his right in a show of solidarity. A red velvet runner stretched between rows of empty benches filling the back half of the throne room. Smooth marble and sculptured pillars encompassed the expansive chamber. Painted ceilings and stained-glass windows adorned the room with awe inspiring elegance.
As Liam approached the elders, the idle chatter abruptly ceased. Each of them watched him with an intensity that made it difficult not to bend to their imposing stares. They waited in silence for him to speak. He took a deep breath, cleared this throat, and announced with finality, “Elias is dead.” There wasn’t any easier way than to just come out and say it. The surprised looks on the elders’ faces confirmed they knew nothing of this.
“How do you know this to be truth?” Sephat, one of the elders, asked.
“Because he contacted me two nights ago and asked me to meet him. He said he had news concerning the mortal I’m protecting. We arranged a meeting, but he never arrived, and one of the fallen is now in Evercrest. He’s taken an interest in my mortal. I believe Elias discovered the Dark Court’s plan to cross dimensional borders and was killed before he could share this information with me.”
“What makes you think this particular fallen angel is responsible for Elias’ death?” Yoel, a second elder, asked.
“Because he’s Elias’ brother.” A hush fell over the courtroom. Liam’s body tensed in response to the soar of energy filling the room. He forged ahead—this wasn’t going to get any easier. “I can no longer continue to protect the mortal under these restrictions. I am bound by rules and laws, the same laws the darkness has breached. As you know, the fallen do not possess the ability to block her sight. They know she can expose them. As we approach the End of Days, they are becoming increasingly tenacious in their attempts to tie up loose ends.”
The elders listened intently as Liam presented his case. More than one set of furrowed brows studied him. “With Elias’ brother now involved with the girl, I can’t feel when she’s in danger because she doesn’t fear him. I need the freedom to move between dimensions. He’s manipulating her free will, and it’s only a matter of time before he kills her. Were I a guardian, my connection to her would be different, but I was never created for this. I accepted this assignment per your request, and now I’m asking you to give me the freedom to do my job.”
Liam stood before the elders, waiting for their decision. There was nothing left to say. They would either grant his petition or stay his hand. Sephat stood to address him. “We’ll take a brief recess and give you our answer when we reconvene.”
The gavel struck the plate with a loud rap. Liam gave a brief nod to the court and turned to walk out. He marched down the long aisle and through the double doors of the courtroom, stepping into the hall. Balen bore down on him before he made it out the front doors—of course his friend would be concerned, so much for “I got your back.”
“Pretty passionate speech you gave in there,” Balen called, following him down the steps.
He scowled at his friend’s unspoken implication. “What do you want me to say?” Liam snapped. “There’s nothing else I can do. I’m trying to keep the female safe, and I can’t do it from here.”
A thoughtful frown creased Balen’s brow—a look he’d become overly familiar with throughout the centuries. “Do you think there’s a possibility that after all these years, maybe you’ve gotten too close to the human? I’m concerned you’re losing your objectivity. You seemed a little too…emotionally attached in there, if you know what I mean.”
Liam’s brows pulled together in a tight scowl. “I don’t know what more I can do. I’ve kept my distance. I can’t help it, I love her. After all these years, how could I possibly not?”
“Friend, there’s a big difference between loving her and being ‘in love’ with her.”
Liam glanced around, making sure no one overheard what his friend just suggested, and shot him a warning glare. “Be careful what you insinuate, Balen. There have not been relations with mortals since the Great Flood. It is strictly forbidden. To violate such a law would risk disrupting the world’s natural order.”
“Exactly. That’s why I’m saying this to you now, as your friend. Do you realize what you’re asking of the court? What you’re getting yourself into? Humans and angels do not mix well. The fact that you’re a warrior certainly doesn’t help matters. You’re not immune to their life force.”
“Maybe it’s just me, but I’m getting the feeling you don’t think this is a very good idea.”
“Well, you’re definitely perceptive,” Balen snapped sarcastically. “You’re too close to the situation to be objective. Maybe someone else, less…attached, could take over the girl’s guardianship.”
Liam shook his head. “I’m not leaving her, Balen.”
“But she doesn’t even know you exist.”
Same old Balen, forever the voice of reason.
“What does that matter? I know she exists.”
Tension filled the air as he faced his friend in a standoff; Balen’s words an unsettling and unwelcomed concept. “We’d better get back inside.” He turned and walked away, more than ready for this conversation to be over, and more than troubled by what his most trusted friend just insinuated.
Balen followed him back inside. Despite his friend’s concerns about his monumental error in judgment, Liam was grateful for the united front they posed before the elders. He stood once again in the center of court, anxiously awaiting their decision.
“Liam, the council has heard and agrees with your concerns. The rules of engagement were broken when the Dark Court allowed one of theirs to become involved with the female. Her free will has been compromised and manipulated. The High Court agrees to grant you full access to her. However, it is of the court’s opinion you do not disclose to the female what you really are.”
Liam nodded, acknowledging the stipulation.
“Balen will accompany you,” Sephat announced. “You’ll need help, and we need someone who can regularly report your progress. It will not be so easy for you to get away once you immerse yourself into the human’s life.”
Well, there’s a plus.
Liam glanced over at Balen who looked surprised and less than thrilled to be dragged into this. In fact, he looked downright livid—if the tight clench of his jaw and the little muscle twitching on the side of his cheek were any indication.
“You must be prepared for the feelings and emotions you will experience once you cross over,” Sephat continued. “Their world is nothing like ours. The court recognizes the great sacrifice you are making, choosing to walk among the mortals. It’s imperative this is resolved quickly.”
“I understand,” Liam replied, anxious to leave now that his petition was granted. Time didn’t pass the same here as on earth, and Max already had a jump on weaseling his way into Olivia’s heart. Like sand through an hour-glass, time was running out. If the one the darkness sent took the female, or if God forbid, she gave herself to him, she’d be lost to Liam forever.