Page 97 of Touched By Death

“Sweetheart,” she says with a sinister edge to her voice as she walks past the fountain. She trails her fingers over the weathered stone, and water pours from the cherub’s horn in response to her magic.

Magic which I don’t know how to wield.

I back away out of instinct, and she laughs under her breath. “I’m not trapped here. Don’t underestimate me, Aurelia. I’m biding my time.”

Spinning in a circle and disturbing the swirling mist, I shout, “Amenadiel!”

Where the hell is he? I can always reach him through my mind. But not tonight.

I sense her behind me and turn back around. She’s closer now, shrouded in shadows and mystique. Her dark eyes resemble the night itself as she lets her raven wings unfold from her back. Behind her, the bike lies on its side near the fountain, the wheel spinning. A vagrant breeze blows through the town square, shifting my skirt around my thighs and my hair across my shoulders.

“Are you ready to taste death, little angel?” Lowering her voice, she whispers, “It’s foul.”

When she takes a sudden step toward me, light explodes from my hands in a display of raw power that frightens me. I fall back onto my ass, startled and shocked.

Genesis cackles, the evil sound shriveling every ounce of bravery inside me. Throwing her hand out, she sends shadows rushing at me like a sandstorm of racing horses. I scramble to my feet and set off running. My harsh breaths puff out in front of me as tears cascade down my cheeks. Light pours from my chest. I’m a glow of silvery light that darts across the town square like a shooting star. Unable to wrangle the panic, I release a guttural sob.

“You’re so damn pathetic with your little light. Do you think glowing like a fucking stick at a festival can defeat pure evil?” With another push of her hands, the shadows shove into me from behind, and I fall to the ground with a scream. Pain explodes in my wrists. I roll over onto my back and watch her approach. Her hair moves in an imaginary breeze. Shadows dance over every inch of exposed skin. “I must say, I’m disappointed by Eden’s own little angel. What a pathetic attempt by a ‘powerful’ God at bringing His Light into the darkness.”

Icy, shadowy fingers crawl up my body and wrap around my throat. She brings her hand out in front of her and makes a show of tightening her fist. I gasp as the shadowy hand around my throat cuts off my airflow. Panic flares inside me, and I reach up to pull it off, only to meet air.

“What are you gonna do, Aurelia? Fight me with your Light?” She laughs, tightening her grip.

Gasping for breath and grappling at my throat, I kick my feet out on the cobblestone. Overhead, the stars twinkle brightly. Dark spots form at the edge of my vision, but she doesn’t let up. Instead, the crazed look in her eyes intensifies. She’s enjoying this.

“Do you get it now? I am more powerful than you.”

“While you pretend to be weak, we’ll play with you until you break. But we all know that you’re the strongest of the pack.”

My body convulses. The urge to inhale a breath burns my lungs.

“Colossians. He has delivered us from the power of darkness.”

“No, you’re not,” I manage to choke out. And with the last of my strength, a strength I didn’t know I had, I let the silent power inside my center explode outward. A silvery light that’s so bright, I’m forced to shield my eyes, rushes forward like a shockwave, reducing the buildings around us to rubble.

A scream rips from my lungs as I shoot awake, the chains rattling against the wall. My hair sticks to my sweaty forehead. I swallow down my harsh breaths to calm my racing heartbeat. What the hell was that dream?

A single torch burns on the wall, casting a dim glow over the cell. The barred cage door is still open. Over by the corner, a rat scurries across the floor.

Chest heaving, I bang the back of my head against the wall. Something is wrong. I can sense it. Wriggling my hands, I try to free myself from the chains again without any luck. I need to see Amenadiel and tell him about the dream. If anyone can help me figure it out, it’s him.

When blood trickles down my wrists, I release a frustrated whimper and bang the back of my head against the damp wall again. What the fuck do I do?

What was it Dariana said? My thoughts rush at me, too many to decipher. Sweat drips down my temple.

“Last time we tied her to a bed, she escaped.”

“Genesis… How did you escape?” I whisper out loud, tasting my own sweat on my lips as I dart my tongue out in thought. I look left and right, but the room is empty.

I’m alone.

Closing my eyes, I inhale a few steadying breaths. “I am the fucking Light. The Light lives in me. I am not some weak, pathetic angel.” Fisting my hands, I focus my mind, straining to the point of a headache blooming behind my temples. Slowly, so fucking slowly, the chains slide from my wrists and neck. Excitement bubbles up inside me, and I lose focus.

“Shit…” I try again without luck. Frustrated with myself, I tug harshly on the chains, cursing the sharp pain that radiates through my bones. “I am not a fucking prisoner. No one gets to chain me up again.” With that thought in mind, I clamp my eyes shut, inhale a deep breath, and let memories of Eden and of Freya flash through my mind.

Every smile.

Every laugh.