Page 27 of Frosted Torment

“It’s warded from demons. We use a hint of divine power and the help of one family from the Blackfeet Nation,” she explained, her tone imbued with devotion.

My curiosity sparked, and I couldn’t help but ask, “How did that happen?”

Jossy answered from the front seat, his voice low and contemplative as he continued to stare out the windshield. “When we fell here, it was on their land. After we gained their trust, they let us buy that piece of it.”

“But it was Vincent who orchestrated it all.” A glimmer of admiration flickered across Jossy’s face.

“Is that all it took?” I asked, eyebrows raised in disbelief.

“No, but it helped.” Lex laughed, shaking his head. “We come from the stars. The Blackfeet Nation is a spiritual people and believes in a higher power, too. Earth needs protection, and the same goes for the rest of the universe.”

Listening to Lex’s words made me feel strange—the idea that something so vast and profound entwined with human existence humbled me.

Jossy drummed his fingers on the dashboard. “We don’t know why your family was chosen to hold these secrets, Noa,” he began. “But, if the wrong hands got your hidden knowledge—angel, demon, or human—we’re all screwed.”

Ivy leaned closer, urgency threading her tone. “Believe it or not, we aren’t invincible, either.”

“So, what’s the secret formula for the wards? A spell or something?” I inquired, and a hush fell over the car.

A grim expression crossed Lex’s face. “That’s a story for another time.”

“If we’re killed,” added Ivy. “We go the same way that Lurker did. Except our bones and wings stay behind. Feathers and all.”

My face contorted at the gruesome thought. “Why is that?”

“It’s something to do with our transition to this plane and the chemical makeup of our bodies when we become human,” Lex added. “Our skeletal system is almost indestructible.” He paused, searching my face. “How much do you know about volcanoes?”

I nodded and managed a smile. “The basics. I haven’t done a science report since high school.”

“The easiest way to put it,” he said, and his eyes brightened when he spoke, “is that we’re composed of diabase rock. It’s like magma that doesn’t come to the surface. The liquid crystallizes underground and becomes strong and durable.”

“We still have the powers given to us in the Veil.” Ivy joined in on the science lesson. “Our wings are what contain the power and control it.”

Ivy turned to face the window, then raised her shirt for me to look at her back. Two thick black veins, at least an inch wide, emerged, running parallel to her spine. I recoiled from the sight, landing in Lex’s lap when they started to pulsate.

“Jesus!” I covered my mouth with my hands.

Ivy chuckled as hers retreated back into her body and sealed beneath the surface of her skin. “That’s where we store them. Our wings are in there too, so we can use both if needed.”

I massaged my temples, trying to process the information as I readjusted myself in the backseat. “Okay, so your bones are something more science fiction. What happens if someone finds what’s left behind?”

Ivy exhaled a deep sigh as she situated herself back in the seat. “There are protocols in place. We emit angelic energy like yours so higher-level angels can find us.”

My brain pressed against my skull and slumped against the backseat of the car, yearning for the comfort of my lumpy couch and rundown apartment. The events of the day had left me drained and wanting to escape reality. I’d give anything to put on some Tom Petty and forget any of this happened.

I glanced over at Lex and caught him staring at me. I grabbed my chest when a flicker of fog moved across his pupils.

“That freaks me out.” I pulled out my vape and took a deep inhale.

He leaned close to me, flashing his luminous smile, then elongated each word. “It’s. Supposed. To.”

I pushed at his chest, shaking my head as I exhaled a ring of fruit-flavored smoke in his face. “Uh-uh. Not today and not now.”

With a dismissive wave of his hand, Lex drew closer and snatched my vape from me. He flung his head against the headrest. “I can dial it down, but it takes effort. Now that you know, it’s easier to just… be.”

I held out my hand, palm up. “Can I have my vape back, please?”

“No.” He adamantly shook his head. “It’s clouding your judgment, and you need a clear head.”

---