I stared around the white expands for a minute. My heart still beat fast. My mind kept replaying Remi's kiss. The more I stared, the more things started to take shape. There were desks in the distance with people dressed in white at them. When I finally got my emotions under control, I started walking towards them.It felt like I walked a mile before I stood in front of the first desk."How can I help you?" The person asked. He looked human."I would like to buy a contract.""What is the nature of the contract?" He asked."Umm... he's an angel.""Long term or short term?"I frowned. "Long term? I want to own the contract, not borrow it."The man looked up from his screen to narrow his eyes."I have payment." I debated pulling the soul stone from my pocket, but I wanted to be able to negotiate if I needed to.""Right. You'll need to submit an application for intent to purchase with the contract holder at the contract holder desk, apply for a permit to hold a contract at the pe
KiraI looked up at Mila from the dirt. I hoped Lanie was okay. "Please, Mother...""Ha! I am not Isabell." Her voice sounded like that a Mila, but it was all wrong. Mila never said anything so harshly. She reached down and pulled me up by my shirt then pushed me out of the circle. She turned to Matei. "Get in the circle."Matei walked to the center of the circle and stood. His face was slack. His eyes were still dark."Where are we going?" I asked.Mila pocketed the dark knife. She completely ignored me. I tried to run, but after the first step, a dark cold cloud trapped my feet in place. I could feel it's tingling as it climbed up my leg.She turned back to the circle and lifted her hands. "I summon thee, Azserroke, Demon of darkness. I ask for a trade. Take this life and trade it for that of Isabell Grey. Unite her body, mind, and soul once again. Bring them here to me."The runes glowed green again. The gasses in the jars broke, releasing scents of marshmallows and smoky ash
LanieAngandriel flew us out of heaven. The clouds seemed to go on forever and the white surrounding us seemed oddly familiar. I wondered if it was something Kira had seen before. Maybe after we combined I would finally stop feeling this weird sense of déjà vu all the time.Angandriel held me in his arms in a hug with my hands around his neck. The wind was cold against my skin, but he was giving off so much heat that I just snuggled in closer to him."Where are we going?" I asked."Utah, they have Kira there. I think they are going to try the merging ritual again and summon Juno.""Juno, Juno... Why does that sound familiar?""She is the one that granted your mother's wish and separated your soul from your body."I frowned, "So, we're not friends.""She also granted your wish and separated Isabell's mind, body, and soul.""So, we are friends?""To her, you are a game piece and she is using you for entertainment.""Well, that's not very nice," I said."Most gods aren't.""S
I held the aurora sword in my hand. There was something about it that felt right. Some of the memories of its rescue washed through my mind. It was like it was a part of me, it completed me somehow, at least this part of my soul. I wondered if I would feel the same when Kira and I merged.I pushed the thought aside. I needed to find Kira. We were in Utah again, and if Isabell was trying to summon Juno, she was probably at the major nexus point. My quickest path there was teleportation, so I'd have to try it. I tucked the sword into my jeans. It felt like it fit against me, almost like I had done with the contract."Remi," I said into the trees. "Remi, I need a ride."I waited a moment. The shadows solidified in front of me. Remi's face looked drawn. An orange ember buzzed around his head."Are you okay?""Where's Angie?" He asked."What? Angandriel? I..." I looked back at the circle. "He's not coming."Remi frowned. "How are you going to defeat her?"I shrugged. The golden ligh
Isabell's eyes glowed orange. Fireballs lit in her hands. She combined them until it was four feet in diameter the pushed it with her hands at me. The Lanie in me jumped to the side swiftly, while the Kira in me was amazed. I dodged another two fireballs, flipping through the air and landing gracefully about the circle.My mind worked. It was Kira's brilliant mind and this time the Lanie side of me was amazed. I could feel the power thrumming through me. I pictured runes in my mind, clicking them into place as I realized what they meant. With Lanie's knowledge and Kira's intelligence, I formed a wall of pink light. It caught the next fireball and reflected it back at Isabell.Isabell's hair flew back as she absorbed her own spell. The glow in her eyes reddened with anger. Her lips started moving. The trees around the circle swayed. Their branches moved like arms as the unrooted themselves from the soil. They stomped towards me.I darted in between them, trying to gain some distance.
A dark blur coalesced in front of me. Another of brilliant white light landed behind Isabell. Remi pushed me backwards off the invisible string. His eyes flared with pain as the sword drove through him. I screamed as I fell backwards. Angie pulled Isabell back, pulling the sword out of Remi. Remi fell to his hands in knees in front of me as Isabell fought against Angie's hold. His wings spread out as he fought her struggling body.I scrambled forward then leaned over Remi. His breath was ragged. The hole in his back oozed with black blood. The same blood dripped out of his mouth as he fought to breathe. I lay a hand on his back."Remi," I whispered, "Remi." Tears leaked from my eyes.He words came out in wispy breaths. "Watch... out..."I spun. Isabell stood before me with my sword over her head. She came down at me. I jumped out of the way, leaving Remi on his hands and knees. I rolled and plucked up her dark blade in my hand. Angie lay on the ground, holding his side. His feath
BOOK TWOI twirled the cherry in my drink around with my straw. The thumping beat filled the bar drowning out most of the conversations around me. I kept my eyes on the people around the edges, the ones in the shadows. I was looking for someone specific, someone that others wouldn't pay heed of.A particular couple caught my eye. Their aura glowed a slight pink and green. That was strange for this atmosphere. They were close enough in their auras to warrant a match, which is what I was looking for. I finished my drink and called for another. Just as the second one arrived, their auras twisted with a purple glow, bringing on a perfect match.My eyes darted around the room. He must be here. I saw the back of a dark blonde head turn and walk off. I left my drink at the bar then pushed past the crowd. I kept my eyes locked on the man. If I could move fast enough, I could catch him. A man with tusked teeth and hard blue skin stepped in my way. I pushed past him. He grabbed my arm and s
My heart sank. It wasn't him. This man's hair was dark blonde like my own. It was mid-length and neatly gelled to one side. Why did angels always look like impossibly beautiful models? Was that a prerequisite? I closed my eyes again. My body hurt."Are..." I coughed a bunch of blood. I felt it land on my shirt and dribble down my chin."Hush," he said."Don't..." Another coughing fit struck me. This was not good. I probably injured something internally. "Heal," I whispered, directing energy to my lungs and stomach. I could feel the pink magic working a little. It flickered on and off inside me. It wouldn't be much, but after a time, it would stop the bleeding."Do you need a hospital?" He asked.I shook my head. "Hom..." I croaked."I figured."A moment later, we landed. I heard him open the sliding glass door. I was deposited on the daybed in the living room. It smelled like Anton and sex. I squirmed.I heard the angel make a sound of disgust."No... not..." I struggled, star
I don't know how long I lay there crying and wailing and sniffling. I couldn't believe he was gone. I'd been played. I'd let the darkness use him and use me. I needed to be smarter. I needed to figure out what she was doing before it happened. How did one even learn those sort of skills? I was no hero. I was nothing.The deep pit of depression pulled at me throughout the hours as I lay on the cold hard ground. I couldn't pull myself up. I couldn't go on. I had killed Mila and now I had killed Remi. I let Kezia and Matei die. No matter what I did, I was never good enough to save the people I loved. I'd even killed my own mother. What was wrong with me? I was living ball of bad luck. Bad Karma.I raised my head. Had Karma done this to me? Was that the reason? I slowly pushed into a sitting position."Karma!" I screamed. I had nothing left; otherwise, I would have pushed so much power into her name; it would have knocked the rest of the castle over. "Karma! Did you do this to me!?" M
Yes, I was looking at a freaking Dragon in front of me. It must have been three stories tall. What is that, thirty feet? It was freaking huge. Its black scales glittered in the moonlight, and if I weren't shaking in my boots and worried about being eaten alive, I would have thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Atlas, it was terrifying. Complete and utter terror gripped my throat, even more than the ominous darkness that used to chase me home from work. This thing had fangs and claws and wings! It was the embodiment of a predator and it was assigned to kill me.The thing reeled back its head after in a great roar as if to bellowed out fire on me, the tiny figure standing in front of it. I instinctively rose the Aurora sword in front of me. Instead of normal flame, it blew out a steady stream of black and purple fire. The sword sliced it in half, protecting me. After the breath, it turned its head and gazed at me with one bright golden hazel eye. The fearsome intel
I woke up bound and gagged in a very cold and dark place. I could hear water dripping somewhere far off. The smell of mold and dirt filled my nostrils while the wet, cold air penetrated my clothing made me shiver. I pulled at the power I had stored inside me, but it was gone. It felt as if I had been completely drained. I even felt drained of life.I wiggled in the grime until I was able to free my gag. "Hello?" My voice echoed off what sounded to be stone walls.I could be anywhere. For a moment, I thought I was dead, but I think I was too uncomfortable to be dead just yet. After much struggling, I was able to sit."Remi?" I whispered. "Angie? Sandriel? Natalia? Anyone? Can anyone hear me?""No one can," a familiar voice echoed.It surprised me at how close it was, maybe only a few feet in front of me. The deep smooth female voice was easy to place. The water dripping in the background grew silent. Even the air around me stopped."Karma," I said."Oh, aren't you just so smart
The dark forest started to clear as I flew forward on my delicate wings. The first thing to catch my eye in the firelight was Kezia strapped to a pole in the middle of the nexus circle surrounded by what looked to be human bones. The rose bushes that were planted six years ago were the size of people, bushy, and well cared for. Their blooms were just starting to fade as the fall equinox rose. A hundred or so crystals sparkled in the moonlight spread out over the complicated circles drawn in the dirt. Mila stood at the edge of the circle chanting in a language I couldn't make out.Kezia's eyes darted towards me as I appeared out of the trees. Mila immediately stopped her chant as she looked in my direction. A wicked, too big smile gaped open. Pointed teeth spilled across her face. She extended her fingers out and flicked them at me.Dark tendrils of shadows leaped from the trees. They wrapped around my ankles and wrists, pulling me down to the ground. I could feel the familiar fear gr
I stood looking out at the stars in the night sky from the roof of the Ardor bar building. The power from the crystals thrummed beneath my skin as I swirled it inside me, converting it to my pink energy. I needed to do this. I had to go all out like I had done for the brothers in order to save Kezia. It wasn't fair that she was taken hostage because of me.I closed my eyes. I searched deep inside the well of power within me and whispered, "Remi." The word escaped my lips with a deep insistence with power behind it.The night pressed in thick around me like a cloud that descended and hung about in a fog. I realized it was Remi's shadow fighting his summoning."Remi," I bit out. The power behind the word was sharp.The shadows merged into his figure. He stumbled forward on to his hands and knees before me."Kira," he heaved a breath. "Where did you learn that trick?""I need you to take me to Kezia."He lifted his head. "Don't do that. Forget about Kezia. She's lost. Just let it b
The evening died down. I was left sitting alone again, but this time my basket of crystals was full of energy. Their surfaces pulsed with pink light. The elves' energy was different, but it was intense. It wasn't as easy to mix with my own, but when I did, I felt powerful.I collected the basket and went downstairs. I bid good night to Cherry with a nod. I carried my basket through the back then started up the stairs."Beloved," Liam's deep voice drew my eyes up from the stair steps.I nodded. "Liam.""Where are you going with all those crystals?""I was taking them to my room to practice."His eyebrow ridges knit down. "Practice what?"I smiled innocently. "I'm just testing what I can do. Don't worry; I'll be careful."He eyed me suspiciously. I tried not to let my smile waiver. I felt like he could see right through me, but I held firm. I had to do this. I couldn't just let Kezia die, not like Mila."Alright, be careful. Good night, Beloved.""Good night." I inched around h
I sat outside in the parking lot were a bar counter, numerous tables and chairs, and many lights decorated the area. The elves sat politely at the tables, drinking their fancy top-shelf drinks. The Ardor Brothers pretended to be having a good time, but the suspicious glances between the two factions put a damper on the party.Lord Quillion finally strode across the parking lot towards us. He took a seat in front of me with a pained look.I remained silent with a smile on my face. No more plastic smiles for me. This one was genuine."Lord Quillion," I said."Beloved," he responded. He said it as if it tasted bitter on his tongue.That made me smile wider.Cole spread the contract out on the table between us. "This claims The Kingdom will be allies to the Ardor Brothers for the next fifty years. They will aid us with whatever we require, including sharing materials and funds. The territories will remain separate, but the people of either territory will be allowed to move across the
"I accept the terms," Lord Quillion said.I extended my hand to him. We shook, then I backed away. Both armies stepped back to give us space.Liam squeezed my shoulder. "Let me fight for you."I shook my head. "This is my fight."He gave me a worried glance but gave a slight nod. "Good luck, Beloved."Granite gave me a soft punch. "We're counting on you." They both turned and stood to block the entrance to the bar. They watched me with their iron-grey eyes. I couldn't help but smile. For such cold, hardened warriors, they had such warmth in their hearts.I turned my attention back to Lord Quillion. He stood at the center and lifted his long sword to the sky. Dark clouds appeared and swirled overhead. Blue lighting ripped from the sky on to the sword. He held pointed it toward me, then screamed a battle cry.I cringed. It sent a primal surge of fear through me. I stood my ground as he ran forward with the sword. For a moment, I felt frozen, but I calmed my thoughts and felt for
I didn't sleep. I paced the room. I tossed and turned in bed, but I never managed a wink of sleep. Hours ticked by. Painful minutes ticked by. There was nothing. No word. No text or message. I was just stuck in the dark and I didn't dare bother them because it could mean life and death. At seven o'clock in the morning, I stumbled down the stairs on tired legs. I wanted to sleep, needed it, but I couldn't. I made some cereal and sat looking out at the sun in the sky over the city. The harsh sun reminded me of my garden. I let my mind wander to that peaceful place. I thought about the blooms, the sun, and the pink glow. Before I knew it, I was standing in my garden.The plants were still there, but they looked wilted. The ones next to the stream were okay, but the rest looked a little frazzled. I added more of the glittering water next to them and they slowly perked up. I touched others and they blossomed again. The tiredness slowly drained from me as I walked through my creations.I