So Shall I Reap (25 page)

The rain had stopped and I was taking in the crisp, cool air, to clear all thoughts. “I guess I should be getting home soon.” We walked slowly, not because of my knee but because we always took our time saying goodbye. On previous occasions, it had taken twenty minutes or more to get to the door of his car. That pesky emotion of desire tried to get my attention, but I chose to ignore it.

“So, how did we end up here anyway?”

“You drove us here, remember.” I laughed.

“Alexcia.” He stopped walking, and I turned to face him.

My response was a smile, and then I added, “What?”

“So, are we good?” He gestured between us.

I figured I would make light of the situation, instead of downplaying our issues. “Yeah, but are you sure you don’t mind me calling your ass for help, even if I can’t walk a straight line?” It was a test question I hoped he would answer truthfully.

His shoulders rolled back, but he kept his attitude in check. “I said I would be here for you. Look. Here I am, right? If anything, it gives me an important reason to stick around and hope for the impossible.” Jake dropped his eyes and headed for his ugly, yellow car.

Between the wet pavement beneath his dress shoes and the glow from the overhead parking lot lights, he appeared ethereal, a dark guardian angel. The look was fitting since he said he wanted to be around to help and save me. He was only missing the wings… if guardian angels had wings.

Baffled, I recalled what he had said, “You know, hope is just a wish with added expectations, and last I checked, Aladdin was the only one with a magic lamp.” I rounded the car limping toward him as he held open the passenger side door. “Hope? What could you be possibly hoping for?”

“When I find how to answer that, you’ll be the second to know,” he said while helping me into the car. I slid over the seat and he made sure my leg was in a safe place before closing the door. Looking up at him through the window, I watched his smile broaden, full of promise. That’s when a distant voice from inside whispered, “Could his answer for hope be enough to rescue us both?”

The Time Bend deposited me on the roof of Alexcia’s house. My boots scraped across the shingles as I paced waiting for Max. Black, misty swirls fought to keep up with my stride allowing quick pockets of moist air through the cloak. I could picture the entrance to our cave with its mouth opened wide showing rows of icicle teeth. At the moment, I longed to be swallowed by it.

Nature needed to call a plumber or twist the faucet and let it pour. I was tired of the clouds teasing with a light drizzle. As I snapped at the minion, it obeyed by forming the hood to keep the rain out of my eyes. I preferred the snow-laced mountains, it quelled my alter personality. Unlike the snow, the rain only temporarily dampened the daemon’s fight to break free from my will. The cooler temperatures kept it dormant and made it easier to control.

The feeling of restlessness was not helping the situation though, so I decided to lean against the chimney while I waited. Off in the distance, I heard a rolling rumble but knew it was not thunder. The Doom Guard’s Hummer was approaching with a warning for me to beware. The growling grew louder, bouncing off the stationary objects around us. I quickly took surveillance to weigh out the best options, in case I needed assistance for an immediate escape.

The headlights lit up the surrounding area in sparkles, catching the rain before Max turned the black and chrome beast up his driveway. My throat muscles tightened as the engine revved, punctuating its presence, and I found it amazing that I had allowed this daemon to get under my cloak the way he did.

Cursing at the wind.
Why was I putting my existence through this?

I thought I had buried the answer long ago, without so much as leaving an X to mark the spot. Even if I wanted to remember, I could not. But with my daemonic luck, subconsciously my inner daemon had dug up a few good reasons, leaving them exposed for me to find. The answers lied with Alexcia. I knew it. My clan knew it. Her parents knew it. I just stubbornly refused to accept it. Call me, Daemon.

I hated feeling controlled, even though I freely handed over my will to Rae-Lynn. Whenever I didn’t jump when they told me to, I pictured them rolling up my Bond-Rites to swat me in the face like a misbehaved pet. Besides, I was not their Hellhound to control. They already had one of those.

Right on cue, I heard the plastic dog door flapping.
Good little minion, coming out to greet its master
. Then I toyed with the idea of owning one as my minion became agitated. Yeah, minions did not like sharing space, and I knew it was very territorial. When it stiffened, I waved my hand in the air to reassure it.

“Do not worry; I am not getting a dog.” The air around the shroud completely stilled.

“Why not?” A voice from the shadows sounded indifferent. “Hellhounds don’t eat much. They like their food well done and obey without hesitation. All-in-all, an excellent minion to have, I believe.”

Max. I should have known. My minion had always been terrified of him. I did not even turn around to face him as he stepped from out of the darkness. The huge weeping willow, by the side of the house, had grown immensely over the past ten years. Examining its branches and massive girth, it covered a large portion of the roof. I added the tree to my list of plausible escapes.

“Max.”

“Snot.”

I did not move to face him. Most of the entities of the Unseen feared Ashens and I figured death deserved some respect, even if he was Lucifer’s favorite. I especially was not going to respond to this new nickname for me. As he closed in his Italian shoes tapped against each shingle counting down to my impending doom. I slowly lifted my fingers to pull the hood lower, not wanting him to read my face. My eyes were my weakness. If you looked hard enough, they would show you everything and more.

His approach abruptly stopped. A shift in the air made the rain smell sweeter, and my stomach churned as the small hairs on the back of my neck rose. The roof felt crowded by another presence instantly appearing between us. Without even turning around, I knew the source of the aroma, Rae-Lynn. She had once roamed the heavens as one of the Angels of Water. I guess she had not lost that part of her powers.

She sighed. “No, but my ability to command is limited.”

I froze.
Oh crap, she was in my head.
I forced my inner thought to go blank, but I had so many questions and couldn’t delete them fast enough. My best option was to start talking, so she did not have reason to wander around where she should not be.

My minion started to turn in the opposite direction than I did, the back of it clinging to the brick and mortar column so I could not advance. I lowered my gaze because Rae-Lynn could read emotions faster than Max, another of her Angel-like powers. Fortunately, Alexcia did not know it yet, but her power had a stronger pull than her mother. She had the power to control an entity.
It would be great if Rae-Lynn lost that ability the next time she is recopied.
Pressed lips fashioned into a tight smile as the enticing thought tempted me.

“Tevin. That wasn’t nice.” Her lips coyly curved. “Would you like to take a chance to see if it’s a possibility?” She tried to sound seductive, but it came out too playful. Max thought so, as well because his irises disappeared, and all I saw were two empty sockets staring back at me.

I decided to play back. Maybe not the wisest of moves… but it was entertaining, “Rae how are you doing? You are looking…” I bowed. “Exquisite.” Her fire-blond hair was longer than I had remembered as I watched the wind lightly weave through it. The rain dissipated before it even could touch her skin or the light blue, silk robe that hugged tightly over her form, and from what I could tell, that was all.

Tugging on the string around her waist, she curved an eyebrow at me. I ordered the cloak to add more length to the hood. Max was standing behind her with streams of steam rising from the air around him. This occurrence was not from anger, although the reaction could have been from both. He was dry because the moisture could not exist in the heat of his presence. This created a misty sphere over his hair and matching black suit, thus adding to his menacing demeanor.

Alexcia’s father aimed a finger at me. “Treading too close to your death, Ashen.”

I could not help the resulting hiss. “You could try.”

“If it weren’t for my daughter’s well-being, you would have met your maker ages ago.”

“Well, if it were not for me, you would not have been able to use the words
daughter and well-being
in that unsubstantiated statement.”

“Boys, enough of this.” Alexcia’s mother held up her hands making the area drier by forming an umbrella out of the surrounding air. Water pelted above us like pebbles bouncing off hard plastic. The angel had our attention now, and the Doom Guard and I stood dumbfounded at the condescending way she addressed us.
Boys?
My scythe felt warm, and both hands were itching to hold it, but I refrained.

“Rae-Lynn, this is ludicrous. The Ashens are going to ruin everything we’ve done to protect our child. I believe it’s time to terminate our rites with this creature and his minions. Their services have been fulfilled.” Turning away from his love, his eyes narrowed when they met mine. “I see reprehensible actions that could end up harming instead of helping our situation.”

“Last time I checked… she was still breathing.”

“You are interfering, not protecting. There is a difference.”

“Once again, you are blinded by your own convictions, and not looking at the whole picture. We would not have to bust our asses if the child knew what she was. If she does not start controlling her abilities, it is going to get unpleasant between the Houses.” I faced Rae-Lynn with determination to get her to understand. “You are with her the most. I know you see it too.” Her face fell, losing a few days of beauty.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Alexcia is a child trying to grow up between both worlds. I’m sure it’s difficult for her.”

Her mother was in denial. I could not believe it. “Your daughter is not just leaking power. She is also on the brink of self-combusting. I am not sure what internal battle she is fighting, but I sense her internal turmoil. Most of the time, we are saving her from herself, not from the creatures of the Unseen.”

The Doom Guard lowered his finger to address his wife. “Rae, what is he talking about?”

She tried to appear ten years younger, using her power of innocence to influence him. Wide-eyed, she stammered. “It’s… it is nothing.”

Mr. Stasis put both hands on his hips and hunched his shoulders, eyes bearing down on her. “Rae-Lynn, what is this daemon talking about?”

“It’s nothing Tevin and I can’t handle. You keep maintaining the barrier, and we’ll take care of the rest,” she said while batting her eyes in rhythm with the rain tapping on the air dome.

“What she is not telling you is that the binding spell you both placed on Alexcia is failing. I have not put my scythe on it yet, but I believe her emotions are what is breaking through and accessing her memories. If so, it will eventually unlock her powers. Max, the next time she is in your presence, take a whiff. The child reeks of raw magic.”

A crease dipped between his eyes. “Are you sure?”

Memories of us crossing in the isle made me shudder, saliva pooling, “Intoxicating.” I licked my lips.

Taking a few steps toward his angel, he said, “Why haven’t you been forthright with me? She is my daughter too.”

Mrs. Stasis huffed. “You’re so wrapped up playing human. You would rather deal with your corporations than your home existence. Ever since the accident, you have walked away from what she is. I told you from the beginning she was different, beyond that. She isn’t a normal Child-of-Balance. Her powers exceed our combined strengths. I believe if we keep her in the dark for a while longer, maybe we can figure out how to deal with her. Until then, we’ll continue to keep her in a state of oppression.” She glared at me. “It’s worked for the past ten years. It will continue to work for another month. Just until her sixteenth birthday. Then she can choose a House and become an entity of the Unseen. Max, then we’ll truly be a family.” She beamed as tears welled up across her lower lids threatening to spill over.

It was sad
. She believed keeping the blindfold on her daughter was going to solve the problem. My head slowly swayed from side to side. “Keeping her in the dark is going to kill her, if not by these hands…” I held up both grey hands as a visual and continued, “certainly by the Cauldron’s. Or maybe another Ashen clan will try. I have kept my word. Whether or not you like our methods, is not the issue. Alexcia’s power is growing, and I believe it will be her undoing if you do not disclose what she is and teach her how to control it. Max is right. I see a future of fighting, not against us, but your daughter.”

I peered up at the night sky as they shared a look, holding a discussion in silence. The heavy moisture lifted, and I no longer heard the rain as Rae-Lynn lowered her hands. She anxiously rubbed her wrists while moving her bare feet toward her husband. Having the ability to control the water was one thing, but it seemed to take a lot out of her. Max smoothed her hair and kissed the top of her head.

He whispered, “We’ll think of something.” He sighed with the dead weight of guilt. “By the way, I grounded her right before the funeral.” Glancing at me, he said, “That’s what I was calling to inform you about. I figured it would be easier to control her actions if we knew exactly where she was.”

“Oh, Max, you didn’t? How did she take it?” She buried her head in his chest.

“As well as could be expected. We’ll have to keep watch on her twenty-four seven. Even though I told her she could still work, she is only allowed to go from school, then to her job… or straight home, if she’s isn’t working. I allowed her friend to comfort her and take her somewhere to talk, but he is to bring her back shortly.”

My ears burned.
He?
The itch was making its way into becoming that annoying twitch. I tried to play it off. “So, who is watching her?”

The couple looked at each other, and then stared blankly back at me. I cursed under my breath.
May the River take me
. “You’re telling me she is alone, at night, in the rain, with any number of the Unseen? Possibly even the same ones that tried to attack her mere hours ago?” Still, they both stared. Frustrated, I whipped out my cell, and madly started texting for someone in the clan to comb the area for the Child.

“Max?” Rae-Lynn was not at the funeral so she had no idea what I was talking about. I did not hold it against her, but Max appeared hazy with his aura scattered all over the place. He was pissed at himself, if not slightly more than I was. The area around us went colorless as sick, gray smoke with a purple haze plumed from under his suit.

Pulling his wife close, he kissed her hard and stepped away, breathless. “I will find her.” In his anger, he turned his back to me and said, “By the way, Reaper, don’t call my wife,
Rae
.” Through the air, a dense vibration formed, creating a sinking feeling of disorientation. His casting spell covered us in sulfuric stench. When the smoke began to clear, I could make out his wings—and then he was gone.

Ink-filled clouds encircled the house, adding to the dark halo effect. The angel did not fight against the elements to keep herself dry. When the water lightly drizzled overhead, slight movement caused me to glance at Rae-Lynn’s robe. The night sky was so dark, I would not have been surprised if the drops stained it the same color. She stared up at the heavens allowing the water to drip over her face causing me to wonder how much she missed it.