Apocalypse the Blossoming (The Power of Twelve Book 2) Page 11

  “We’re almost there,” Nathaniel says.

  “Thank God,” I observe.

  The ground rises before us as we climb a hill. I don’t think it would normally seem that bad but in my current physical condition it might as well be Mount Rainier. I finally have to stop and rest my hands on my legs while trying to catch my breath.

  Nathaniel comes back to me. He crouches and grabs my hands, gripping them firmly. I feel energy flowing to me once more. It helps but not as much as the last time.

  “We are close,” Nathaniel says. “I promise, just over the hill.”

  I nod, unable to force words out of my dry throat and mouth. Nathaniel gives me a rare smile. Squeezing my hands one last time he rises and takes the lead. Pulling on depths of reserves I didn’t know I had, I straighten and continue walking. Finally, at long last, I see the crest of the hill.

  Almost there. Keep walking. I can do this. When we finally reach the top, I want to dance and wave my arms around. I don’t have the energy for it, but the desire is there. The slope down the hill is not nearly as steep as it was to climb, and waiting at the bottom is Silas. He waves.

  He’s standing at a demarcation line. It’s shockingly clear-cut almost as if some cosmic hand drew it. On our side, the mostly black and sick landscape, and across the line where he is, a lush, verdant version of heaven. I notice that Silas does not set foot across that line.

  Screw it, I don’t care how tired I am. I want out of this hellhole. Using gravity to my advantage, I break into a run. In moments I’m past Nathaniel, who exclaims as I run by. Following my example, the boys also break into a run. When I’m close enough, I leap across the line. Slamming down and dropping to my knees, I dramatically kiss the ground.

  “And here I thought you’d be happy to see me,” Silas says, laughing.

  “You have no idea,” I say. “Can I take this suit off yet?”

  “Yes, it should be safe now,” Silas answers.

  I have the hood off before Nathaniel, Efram and Rafe arrive. Fresh, blessed air, on my skin and filling my lungs is the greatest relief I’ve ever had. Nothing could be so sweet. I’d be perfectly happy to collapse on the ground and lie here.

  “Glad you made it,” Efram says as he walks out. “How bad was it?”

  “Nothing that I couldn’t handle,” Silas answers, an answer that doesn’t answer anything, a skill that Silas is the master of. “I’ve arranged for us to be accepted into Bunker 3.”

  “Is it going to be safe there?” I ask.

  Silas nods. “Yes, we will be fine there.”

  “It’s not safe here,” Nathaniel says. “We should not linger.”

  “I take it that’s my key,” Rafe says, and easy grin spreading across his face. “Pun intended.”

  He pulls his crossing key out of his pocket and waves it around, laughing at his own joke.

  As if in response to Nathaniel’s warning, there is a flutter of wings in the air. All of us look as one. A flock of birds is heading in our direction. They seem big, too big, and they seem to be heading straight for us. Definitely not normal avian behavior. Sometimes I swear my luck is absolutely the worst.

  “Rafe, open the crossing,” Silas says.

  Nathaniel, Efram and Silas form a line in front of me. As the magic rises, the hair on my arms stand on end. Everybody is pulling on their power and the energies are electric. There’s a buzz in the air, a thrill that runs through me. A small part of me watches these hunky men stepping forward, wanting to protect me, and I feel special. I feel like maybe I’m worth it somehow. It’s a good feeling, and not one that I’m used to.

  The flock of birds is close enough now for me to see their individual features. At one point in time they might’ve been buzzards. They have the bald, reddish heads I would associate with that, but their beaks have serrated edges that look razor-sharp. Their eyes have a slight greenish glow to them. They squawk as they come closer, a high-pitched screech that reminds me of nails on a chalkboard.

  Nathaniel summons his sword and then Silas does the same. Okay I really need to learn that trick. I want a sword too. Efram weaves his fingers relying only on his magic. The first of the birds dives at them, and Nathaniel slices through it easily. A spray of goo flies through the air and some lands on my face. I yelp in surprise and disgust. All three of the men look over their shoulders as one to make sure I’m okay.

  “Sorry,” I say, wiping at the nastiness that’s on my face.

  They turn their attention back to the immediate problem. My magic rises, buzzing deep in my bones, and warming the air around me. There is a faint crackle of electricity as I focus it. I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I’m usually not when it comes to my powers, but I throw it forward with an intention to stop the birds.

  The latest batch divebombs at the boys and then slams into something in midair as if they’re hitting a wall. They splat and slide to the ground, their necks broken. I smile, knowing that somehow, even if it’s not under my control, I did that.

  “We need to go, now,” Rafe yells. “I can’t keep this door open for long.”

  Before I turn around I feel it sliding along my skin, something dark with an almost oily, greasy quality to it. When I do turn, the open gateway is completely different than what I’ve seen before. Instead of a tunnel of light this is a swirling mass of darkness shot through with streaks of red. My stomach sinks.

  “We’re going into that?” I ask.

  “I didn’t say it would be friendly,” Rafe says, shaking his head.

  “We don’t have a choice,” Nathaniel says.

  Just because the Apocalypse loves to throw everything at me at once the ground rumbles. It’s a familiar rumble now and we look at each other knowing damn well that a mammoth is coming.

  “Oh hell,” I say, shaking my head.

  Steeling my resolve, I run into the open door.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I had assumed that the journey through this gate would be the same as my last. I was wrong. Instead of traveling down a long tunnel, albeit a dark one instead of light, I step out into a city square. It’s dark, like night has fallen, but there’s no signs of the Apocalypse. The buildings are not destroyed or decaying. No signs of the bombings. There’s not even any monsters or screams of tortured souls or anything to indicate that we’re in a hell realm.

  Well-dressed people walk around going about their business. They all look like they’re wearing their Sunday best. Dressed to the nines as if they’ve gone out for a show, putting themselves on display for all to see. Several of them glance at us, and I’m immediately self-conscious. I’m drenched in sweat and can’t smell very good after all that has happened.

  I turn a slow circle, my mouth agape, unsure what to make of this. A couple glance at me, shaking their heads. The man is obviously a demon—he has red skin and horns—but he’s dressed in a gray tuxedo with a walking stick and even a monocle. The woman with him, who looks completely human, is wearing a dress that looks like it came out of an old Western. It’s light blue, floor-length, with a cinched waist and a bustle in the back. She even has a bonnet on her head. They lean close to each other and whisper. They hurry away as if I’m the frightening one.

  “Don’t wear your disbelief on your face,” Rafe says, stepping close. “Especially here. They’ll use that.”

  I snap my mouth shut, taking his advice.

  “It’s just —,” I stop, unable to find the words.

  “I know,” Rafe says, smiling. He places a comforting hand on my shoulder. “It’s not what you expected. I got that. That doesn’t make it any less dangerous. If anything, it’s more dangerous.”

  I guess that makes sense. What’s more dangerous? The devil in disguise, or the one who comes at you openly? I know I always prefer the one who comes at you openly. At least then you know where you stand.

  “We should move quickly,” Silas says.

  “I agree,” Rafe says. “I’m going to have to do some deals though.”

 
; “Is that wise?” Efram asks.

  “It is what it is,” Rafe says, uncharacteristically somber.

  Nathaniel keeps to himself, obviously uncomfortable. His head is jerking from side to side as if he’s trying to see everything at once. Knowing him, he probably is.

  “How long will this take?” Nathaniel asks.

  “I’ll make it as quick as possible,” Rafe answers. “In the meantime, we need to move this way.”

  We follow Rafe as he leads the way across the town square. The center of this area is a small open park. Trees, grass, and small benches dot the picturesque landscape. A sidewalk skirts around the outside of it, which Rafe keeps us on. I feel eyes on us more than I see them. Every time I try to catch people looking, they’re not. It’s as if they sense before I turn my head that I’m about to look. It doesn’t lower my certainty that we’re being watched and inspected; there are too many eyes on us.

  When we leave the square, the crowds are thinner, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Rafe leads us quickly through the streets. I stare around in wonder, because I really can’t believe this is what hell looks like. It’s nothing like I would’ve expected. There are no flames, no pits, nothing to indicate Dante had a clue. It looks like any other city, before the Apocalypse anyway.

  We walk for six city blocks before Rafe leads us around another corner. Small shops fill the buildings, and I stare wide-eyed. There’s a café with sidewalk seating. Demonic creatures sit next to human-looking people sharing a meal. The sidewalk is crowded now, and Rafe weaves us through it expertly. The high pageantry appearance of everyone besides us makes our group stand out like a sore thumb. Rafe stops in front of a small shop and looks over his shoulder.

  “Wait out here,” he says, then walks inside.

  Nathaniel stays glued to my side. It’s obvious he’s uncomfortable here. He’s so close to me, I can’t tell whether he or I attract the most attention. There’s no denying we’re the focal point of it though.

  “What is Rafe doing?” I ask.

  “He’s striking a deal,” Silas answers, staring through the dark window into the shop that Rafe entered.

  “A deal?” I ask.

  “Travel through this paradox is not free,” Silas explains. “He’s paying for access to the areas we need to pass through to reach the exit.”

  Silas eyes roam over me as he talks as if he’s unwrapping me slowly, waiting for the perfect moment to stake his claim. A warm tingle rushes over my skin, and desire flashes white hot. The way he looks at me, I feel… sexy. Beautiful, desirable, all the things a girl wants to feel.

  Nathaniel clears his throat as he bumps into me, breaking the spell of the moment. A shudder passes over me. My heart is racing, and I’m breathing heavy. Why does my life have to be so complicated? I could be happy with any one of these guys, but having to choose between all of them? That’s not fair. How do I make such a choice? Each one of them is unique and special. More than that, each of them calls to a different part of me.

  “We have to hurry up and get out of here,” Nathaniel says.

  “You think?” I ask, sarcastically.

  “Yes,” Nathaniel says, either oblivious or pointedly ignoring my sarcasm, which is rude in its own way.

  “Why, thank you, Captain Obvious,” I say, letting my irritation show.

  “He’s not wrong,” Efram says, jumping into the fray. “We’re attracting a lot of attention.”

  “I think we’re all very much aware of that,” Silas says.

  Nathaniel and Efram turn to face Silas. The tension between the three of them is thick. Is it wrong of me that I find it kind of sexy? Three incredibly hot, beautiful men arguing over my attention, but I can’t let this carry on.

  “Guys,” I say, moving so that I’m standing in the middle of them.

  An image flashes through my head, and my cheeks burn red hot. There’s an instant, just an instant, where I imagine myself at the center of their attention, but in a very, very different way.

  “What did I miss?” Rafe asks, emerging from the store.

  “Nothing,” Silas answers.

  “I see,” Rafe says, his gaze going from one man to the next. Rafe’s eyes dance with delight as a smile spreads across his face. “Well, gentlemen, I do believe there is more than enough of Aviella for all of us. There’s no need for any dick-waving contests.”

  “RAFE!” I exclaim as the other three men’s eyes widen, and they each look away.

  “Yes, my love?” he asks, smiling even bigger.

  “You’re… you… ugh!” I must be as bright red as the demon I see sitting at the café across the street staring at us. I’ve never been more embarrassed.

  “Of course,” he says. “Now that that is out of the way, perhaps we can travel on?”

  No one argues. Hell, none of us are looking at each other. I can’t believe Rafe. Once again, I have to wonder if he’s in my head, reading my thoughts, and if he is… I’m going to kill him. Read that one, Rafe.

  Rafe takes my hand, pulling me into motion. He starts whistling as we walk down the sidewalk, him swinging our hands, and walking with his usual swagger. It takes me a few minutes to recognize the tune he’s whistling but eventually I get it. He’s whistling Time Is on My Side.

  Jerk, I think as a smile spreads across my own face.

  I can’t stay mad at him, no matter, it seems, what he does. His natural esprit towards life is infectious. He lives in the moment, taking enjoyment from everything. I’m certain, underneath the façade, there is a deep pain and hurt, but he never lets that slow him down. It doesn’t detract from the moment he’s in or the joy he finds in those around him.

  We walk along, doing our best to be inconspicuous, which is pretty much impossible. I hate feeling self-conscious. You think I’d be used to it, having been an outcast all my life, but it’s the kind of thing you never get accustomed to. It’s always uncomfortable. Here it’s dangerous as well. I don’t know how much longer we walk, when Rafe suddenly turns and pulls us down an alley. Once our group is gathered, he slides up along the wall and peeks around the corner. He watches the street we just left silently for several minutes. When he’s satisfied, he turns and walks deeper into the alley. We follow him silently.

  The alley is filled with trash and dirt. The back sides of the buildings are not nearly as nice as the front façades. Here there are signs of decay. Something runs off to the side, and I jump involuntarily before realizing it’s a rat. Efram puts a hand on my shoulder to reassure me. None of us speak as we walk, being careful to not attract attention. Rafe comes to a steel door and stops. He knocks, and a peephole slides open. Two glowing red eyes look out.

  “Asmodeus is an asshole,” Rafe says.

  I snort. The eyes looking through the slot glow brighter. There’s a low, rumbling growl, then the sounds of locks being turned and a chain clinking. The door swings open. A huge man blocks the opening. His arms look as big as tree trunks, crossed over his massive, broad chest. He would look completely human if he didn’t have two large tusks growing up from his bottom jaw curving into sharp points ending close to his nose.

  “What you want, Rafe,” the man-creature growls.

  “What do we all want,” Rafe asks, looking up and to his left, feigning a philosophic tone and stance. “The meaning of life? Find true love? Find a dentist who can help us with our overgrown tusks?”

  “Ha ha, Rafe,” the creature says. “I’ll see you again in another couple of centuries.”

  The creature grabs the door and swings it shut, but Rafe stops it with his foot.

  “Now, now, is that any way to treat an old friend, Frederick?” Rafe asks.

  Nathaniel shifts from one foot to the other, drawing unintended attention to himself.

  “What in the hell have you gotten into now, Rafe?” The creature asks, staring at Nathaniel. “An angel? Seriously?”

  “What can I say, I have friends in low places,” Rafe responds, grinning.

  “I don’t want to know, a
nd I don’t want to be involved,” Frederick says, pulling on the door.

  “We need passage,” Rafe says. “I’ll pay.”

  “You will pay?” the creature asks, arching an eyebrow. I can hear the surprise in his voice and see it on his face. It makes me wonder how much this is going to cost.

  “Yes,” Rafe says.

  Debate rages across the creature’s face and behind his eyes. Finally, he nods and steps to one side, granting us entrance. Rafe leads the way and we follow. The creature closes the door behind us.

  “You know the way,” the creature says.

  Rafe nods and leads the way down the long hallway. We pass several closed doors, behind which I think I hear sounds. What I hear, I don’t want to. It has to be wrong, or maybe it’s not. I am in hell after all. The sounds are disturbing and more in line with what I would expect of hell. No one else seems to notice, or at least they’re not reacting.

  We move fast until Rafe stops in front of a red door. He looks over his shoulder at our small group and smiles, but this time I see he’s forcing it.

  “Wait here,” he says. “I have to buy our passage.”

  He doesn’t wait before opening the door, slipping through, and closing it behind him.

  “Can anybody tell me what’s happening?” I ask.

  “Nothing here is free,” Silas says.

  “That’s not really an answer to the question. What’s the price,” I ask.

  “He’ll give up some of his energy. It will make him weaker for a while,” Silas responds.

  There’s something about the way he says it that makes me certain there’s more. He didn’t tell me all of it.

  “And?” I ask, wanting to know the truth.

  Silas shakes his head and grimaces. He rubs the bridge of his nose. I wait, silent, encouraging him to tell me everything.

  “It’s a dangerous thing,” Silas says. “The one who takes his energy can use it.”

  “Use it for what?” I ask.