I never imagined meeting the woman whose soul had once been my birth mother's. I kept thinking that as we sat together in the quiet den. I suppose that I should've been used to the fantastical life that I'd been handed, yet looking at Mari Hanes, I found for what seemed like the millionth time in the last year that I felt very apprehensive about things. It was that odd sense of déjà vu that caught me off guard every time with all of this, even when I tried my best to block it out.
Mari glanced at the doorway to the foyer as if making sure that Noah and Cass had really walked away. Satisfied that they had, she looked back at me.
"You're really her. You're the baby girl that I saw in those memories." she said softly.
"Was it from Faith Kent or from Saffron?" I had to ask.
I wondered how much Mari could've seen in Faith Kent's memories. I hadn't been born until after Saffron had murdered her.
"I guess you could say it was a little bit of both." Mari confessed. She looked at her hands, which were folded on her lap, "Saffron admitted to me that you were born a girl, and he'd also told Faith Kent that you would be. It's funny, but her memories are the strongest of all of them say for my original. But I guess with all that she felt and experienced, it would make sense."
"Can you tell me more about what happened back then? Please, I need to know more about Faith Kent. That's why I came looking for you. I wanted to know why my mother did what she did. Was she really that desperate for someone to love her?" I pleaded.
Mari was confused for a moment, then her expression softened, "I understand. I kind of get what you must be going through, especially if you didn't know about where you came from. I spent a good deal of my life not understanding a lot of things either, and I know that Faith Kent didn't get everything that was happening around her. At least, not until near the end of her life."
I felt a tightness in my throat as she said that. The horrible visions of that dark afternoon were returning, but I tried to push them to the back of my mind.
"I wasn't told about what I am until about a year ago, and Saffron sealed my memories of him until then too. I guess that's why I need to understand what happened with her. Why have me when she knew it was going to kill her? Was it because she knew he'd do it anyway?" I asked.
Mari shook her head, "No, that wasn't the real reason. I'm sure of it."
"Then why? She couldn't possibly have loved Saffron." I scoffed.
"You really don't think so?" Mari responded. She looked towards the doorway again, then back at me, "I know how ludicrous it all sounds, but I also know what I felt inside when I saw her memories of that life. I know the strange feelings inside of me when I think about Jade too. Cass is right when he tells me that I have a connection with Jade that I will never understand. I've probably had it for centuries with my soul, and in the time that my soul got to know Saffron, another connection was formed. I'm sorry if it seems like I'm talking strangely, but it's the best way I know how to describe all of it."
"You're saying that you loved Jade and Saffron, at least in different lives." I guessed.
Mari let out a frustrated laugh as she rested her forehead against her hand. It was like she was defeated in all of this.
"It's a stupid thing. The logical part of me has always known that. There's absolutely no reason for any person to love a Fallen Angel. None in this world. All it can lead to is being damned in the next life. Yet I know for a fact that in those other lives, I did just that. As Faith Evans, I loved Jade with everything I had, and as Faith Kent, I loved Saffron the same. But to be honest with you, I think that sometimes it was a forced feeling too. My soul felt that because of what it had been through already." she explained.
"What do you mean?" I had to ask.
"Just what I said." Mari responded, "You already know the story about why Faith Evans did what she did back then, don't you?"
"Yeah. What was happening to her was awful." I confirmed.
"Yes, and your mother's situation wasn't much better. To be perfectly honest with you, sometimes I think Saffron chose the reincarnations because he was working them to his benefit. He knew that those lives would easily suffer because of him. With your mother, all he had to do was kill her mother and allow her father to become the drunk, abusive man he did. That made it extremely easy for him to get to her."
I could definitely understand what she was implying. Saffron worked everything to his advantage. He always seemed to be thinking one step ahead of everyone.
"He was just manipulating her the whole time, and she fell for it." I sighed.
Mari nodded, "She did, but between you and me, the whole thing was strange too. At least with the memories I have of it."
"Strange? How?"
Mari thought over her words carefully before finally speaking, "There's a reason that I didn't want Cass or Noah in the room while I talked about this. To be honest with you, I've never talked to anyone about Faith Kent or the things that I recall happening during her lifetime. I didn't even tell Cass about you for a while, and that was because I felt like I had to. Maybe I knew that this day might come. I don't know, but thinking about all of it, I think it might be better if I'm honest with you about everything now."
I nodded, hanging onto her every word as she continued.
"A lot of my memories have tended to be scattered, say for the original memories from Faith Evans and the ones from Faith Kent. I think a lot of it has to do with the intensity of the feelings there. Going into Faith Kent's memories, things seemed like they were very lonely for her as a little girl. Her mother died when she was very young, and her father fell into alcoholism very quickly afterwards. But within a year of that, Saffron began showing up in her life. He went from just being a dark shadow watching her to what seemed like a flesh and blood being that would spend a lot of time with her. Instead of scaring her, he took care of her. The whole thing went on for nearly ten years."
"Ten years?" I repeated, "Are you kidding?"
I really was shocked. What in the world had Saffron been thinking with all of that? Was he that twisted that he'd lead on a young girl and use her for ten years or maybe even longer?
"That's what happened, but to be honest with you, it seems like Faith Kent was very happy in that time. That was why she tended to follow everything Saffron told her. She fell deeply in love with him within the first few years. Even though he told her that he'd eventually have to kill her because something else was coming after her, she wasn't afraid. She trusted everything he said." Mari went on.
This was painting a sickening picture for me, but at the same time, I had no doubt that Mari was right about all of it. I knew what I'd seen in that vision before Saffron had killed her. Faith wasn't afraid then. She went willingly to her death. Her trust in Saffron was unshakable.
"So that's why she had me. He told her he wanted her to have a baby, and she agreed." I surmised, doing my best to hide the disgust in my voice. I didn't think I was doing that good of a job.
But Mari was quick to disagree, "No. It wasn't that. It was something else completely."
I looked back at her, "Something else?"
Mari again hesitated but forced herself to speak quietly, "It was. Having you wasn't completely his idea. I'm not sure that he'd even thought about it before. You see, Faith Kent began thinking about things after he started sleeping with her, and one day she told him that if he had to kill her, she wanted to have something to link them together forever. She wanted to have a baby."
I stared at her, barely believing what I was hearing, "Was she insane? Didn't she know what he was?" I asked, not bothering to hide my shock.
"Oh, she knew. She knew very well. But she didn't care. She wanted that much before she died; but at the time, he told her no. He had no interest in bringing a life into the world and would never allow her to get pregnant. But apparently, he changed his mind about all of it nearly three years later. Why, even she didn't know, and I don't either. He just told her that he was going to get her pregnant one day and that was that. The rest led to where we are now." Mari went on.
This left me with no doubt that Saffron had been in control of many things back then. My life had ultimately been his choice, although Faith Kent had wanted me long before. Still, there was something that didn't make sense to me. Why the sudden change of heart? What had made Saffron decide all at once that he wanted a Shadow Wing child? He couldn't have really felt any love towards my mother.
Could he?
I was pulled out of these thoughts by Mari holding my hand, "Ariana, I know that it seems too strange to be real, but I know what I've seen and felt. I know what happened back then. Maybe I can't answer all of your questions, and maybe I'm not what you might have wanted me to be, but I'm still happy that I'm getting to see you now. I feel like he's given me something that my soul never thought it could have. At least I know that you're okay for now." she admitted.
It was so strange looking into her eyes. It really felt like I was looking at Faith Kent. It was like we were meeting for the first and possibly only time. It made me feel a bit sad.
"You know, I feel like I've missed you too. I never got to know you, and no one wanted to tell me the truth about you for a long time." I confessed.
"That's why I had to tell you with just the two of us here, and speaking as her, I hope that you can forgive me for everything. I know that you've probably had to go through a lot because of my decision in that life to have you, and that wasn't fair of me. But I'll always love you. You're always going to be a part of me, and I hope that when this is all over, you can finally have a happy life." Mari continued.
I felt happy as I heard those words. It warmed my heart that Mari would allow herself to speak as Faith Kent for just that little bit to help me. Maybe this trip hadn't been a waste after all. Maybe, just maybe, Saffron had given me a real gift here.
My feeling of being content was short lived. The moment between us dissipated as footsteps approached the den room.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I think it would be better if Ariana headed back now. It's beginning to get late." Cass told us.
I realized that the shadows outside the front windows were getting longer. How long had I been in there with Mari?
Mari frowned at Cass, "Are you sure? We have room for her. She doesn't have to leave." she insisted.
She sounded worried. Maybe she feared that Saffron may do something to harm me because I'd come there.
"I'm sorry Mari, but it will be better this way for both of you. There's far too much happening at this time to risk the two of you being together for too long. Please understand." Cass insisted, though there was compassion in his tone.
I nodded, standing up with him, "It's okay. He's right. Besides, I don't want Saffron to come here after me. I don't want to start any trouble for either of you." I told her.
Mari let out a defeated sigh, "Alright. But please be careful." she requested.
"I will." I promised. I gave her a quick hug, "Thank you for everything."
"It's no problem. Be safe Ariana." Mari whispered back as she let me go.
I didn't like the idea of leaving. Even as I stepped out onto the sidewalk, I turned around to look with some longing. Was this how a real family was supposed to feel towards one another?
Cass stopped and faced me, "You need to come along now. It's getting late, and you don't need to run into trouble before we find your father." he told me.
"You're taking me back to Saffron?" I asked as we began walking again.
Cass looked up at the reddening sky, his long bangs shadowing his eyes, "If I felt that I had any other choice, I would not, but things are very delicate right now, and I meant what I said when I told you and Mari that it would not benefit either of you to be together too long. Just because they claim a cease fire doesn't mean that all will heed it. It was quite obvious after the incident last night." he explained.
"You saw what happened with that spirit?" I noted. I hadn't thought that anyone else was there in that park aside from me.
"I sensed that there was an unclean spirit that had broken free near our home, so I went to check on it. I was a bit surprised though. I hadn't realized that she was the woman who had taken in Saffron's child. Perhaps I should've been expecting this today after seeing that." Cass admitted.
I watched him closely as he spoke. Cass really didn't look that much like a Fallen to me. At least not as much as the others I'd seen. He still had lighter features such as the blonde hair and violet eyes, and his whole demeanor didn't feel dangerous. In fact, just being near him felt comforting.
"Can you tell me why then?" I had to ask.
"Huh? Am I being unclear?" Cass responded.
I realized that I'd spoken way out of context with out previous conversation.
"I'm sorry. I guess my mind was somewhere else. I was asking about why you're here with Mari now." I clarified.
"You're that curious about me?" Cass asked.
"Well..." I started, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious. What right did I have to ask him such personal things? But I managed to continue, "I guess I'm just wondering about you. You were an angel once, just like my father and those others. Now you're a Grigori. Did you really give all of that up just to save Mari?"
Cass became quiet. He seemed to be thinking over his answer. Then he stopped to face me again.
"You really would like the truth to it?" he asked.
I nodded; my voice lost somewhere deep in my throat.
"It's painfully simple. It's because I am no different from most of the other Grigori that exist. I loved one person alone, and more than I ever should have. I waited for over eighty years to intervene again with your father and Jade, and when I did, I knew that I would never return to the Heavens. Instead, I've found that all I've ever needed is right here with her." Cass explained.
"You're saying that you love Mari?" I surmised.
"If you wish to call it that."
"He'll never say the words out loud. He's never had the courage to do such direct things."
Both of us looked at the alleyway to our left to see Saffron standing there. He was leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, looking amused at what he was hearing.
How long has he been there? I wondered.
Cass frowned, "It seems you were listening in this whole time, and here I did you the favor of returning your precious child that you so graciously allowed to meet us." he commented.
"I did no such thing. It was Ariana who wanted to see Mari so badly. I see that you didn't protest either. You even offered to bring her back to make sure that she was protected. You're too soft sometimes." Saffron chided him. He walked over and put an arm around my collar.
"Hey!" I protested as he pulled me back against him.
"Stop trying to pick fights. I have no interest in doing such with you. I only made sure that Ariana got back safely. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must return to my mistress." Cass said curtly as he turned to walk away.
"So you say. Rather protective, aren't you? But then, you did give up your divine position for a little human soul, didn't you?" Saffron continued. I could almost feel the smile on his face as he spoke.
Cass stopped dead in his tracks, his body stiffening noticeably. But he kept his composure, not even turning to face us.
"You can say what you want. I found my reason. It's a lot more than your pathetic existence." he responded evenly. He then quickly walked away.
Saffron huffed, letting me go, "Indeed. Believe what you will. You're only passing your time." he muttered. I had the feeling that he was angry now. Something about Cass's words had gotten to him.
By then, the sun had set over the horizon, and darkness was falling over the streets.
"Hey, shouldn't we get back now?" I asked as I turned to him.
"If you insist. It may be better for now." Saffron agreed.
The shadows came up from the sidewalk and quickly wrapped around us. Before I knew it, we were back in the living room of the apartment. I shook my head to stop the swimming feeling. That always seemed to happen when he did that. I felt bitter cold afterwards too.
Saffron walked over to the patio door and looked at the rising moon, but before I could say anything to him, he suddenly turned. As he did, all of the furniture flew up to the ceiling then crashed down to the floor. I screamed, backing up against the far wall and sitting with my arms over my head.
"Who does that bastard think he is, seeing himself above us?!" Saffron fumed. "He is as damned as the rest of us! Loving a human soul will do nothing for that!"
I stayed against the wall, keeping my hands over my head and wondering what the hell to do. Saffron was in a rage, and I had no idea of how to make him stop. I thought about running to my bedroom and locking myself in there, but I worried about what might happen if I did. What if he became even angrier and came after me?
I wished that Chris and the others were there now. They would've known what to do, or at least they would've tried to defend me.
As Saffron made the furniture rise again, everything suddenly stopped. I slowly brought my arms down as a bitter cold enveloped the room. It looked like everything in the apartment except for the two of us had been frozen in time.
Saffron looked shocked, actually taking a step back.
"What is this?!" he demanded.
A dark mist rose up in the center of the room. It spun around in a large circle, forming into a very tall, menacing looking man. He was dressed in black leather and had hair that was somehow darker than Saffron or Jade's. Deep violet eyes looked out from under those black bangs, regarding Saffron with a cold, calculating intelligence.
"Stop your raging, you foolish hypocrite." he ordered.
Saffron took a step back, looking nervous now; or maybe afraid was a better word. It made me even more nervous about all of this.
"Why are you here? What do you care if I lash out in anger?" he demanded, though his voice had a slight shake to it.
The Fallen's expression remained neutral as he regarded him, "You finally earn your escape, and you continue to waste it. Do you think I do not know of your planning and dealings? Redemption is not something to be taken lightly, especially with all that can be lost. I am not willing to allow another exchange of power just for the benefit of one who does not know his place." he went on.
"What I plan is only in benefit for our kind. I do not intend to allow that angel to get that redemption and separate us from what we have created, though I will ensure the survival of my own." Saffron countered.
The Fallen turned his gaze to me as he said that. I felt like I was frozen in place under those eyes.
"All for this worthless child you created. That is all this is." he intoned.
Saffron immediately flared up at his words. His burst of anger began breaking through some of the icy freeze of the room.
"You will not speak of her in such a way! I created her; therefore, she is worth more than any of those others!" he declared.
"So you say." the Fallen responded without any emotion in his voice. The air itself seemed to grow darker as he continued, "Then why don't we see if she's worth your words?"
My eyes grew wider as he spoke. The air suddenly became extremely hot. Saffron raised his hand, his black shadows appearing around him.
"Run-away Ariana! Get out of here!" he ordered.
I managed to get to my feet and run to the door, wrenching it open. I hurried out into the hall, hearing the sounds of crashing from the apartment as I raced down the stairs, feeling the hot air behind me all the way.
What in the hell is this?! I thought frantically. Who was that?!
I kept on running once I reached the ground floor. I didn't know where to go as I made it outside. The hot, dark air was still following me, and if I slowed down it felt like it would burn me alive. Racing down the sidewalk, I thought about trying to get back to Mari and Cass, but I wondered if Cass would even be able to help me, or if he'd be willing to.
I tripped as I ran down one of the alleyways, throwing my arms in front of me to catch myself as I landed on the gravel. The rocks cut deep into my hands and knees when I did.
Oh no! I thought to myself. The heat was right over me now.
But all at once, I felt a very strong gust of cold wind over me. The heated black air let out a shriek as it was blow away from me. I looked up to see a dark figure jump down from the nearby stairway leading to some high-rise apartments.
"Be gone!" a familiar voice ordered as another gust of wind blew the rest of the air away.
I couldn't believe it as they stepped over to me.
"Jade?" I whispered.
Jade ran a hand through his hair as he looked down at me, "Honestly now, this is more than I expected. Why would you be out running from a Hell Fire instead of calling on that father of yours? Do you really lose your common sense so easily?" he chided me.
"I can't call on him! He's being attacked! You've got to help him!" I demanded, forcing myself to sit up. The wounds on my knees and hands were beginning to close up now, and the pain was gone.
Jade froze as he heard that, "Attacked?" he repeated.
"You heard me! There was this Fallen that just appeared and he chased me off and was attacking Saffron!" I continued.
Jade was quiet as he listened to me, but I could see clarity flashing in his eyes. He grabbed my arm and pulled me up.
"Come with me. Staying out in the open at this time will only get you killed." he ordered.
"Wait! What about my father?!" I protested.
"Forget him. If he cannot find a way to escape, then he deserves what he gets. But if you want to live then you will listen to me and come."
I thought about pulling away, but the fear wouldn't allow me. Yet I stared at Jade, I also began realizing my luck. He was here and was helping me, or at least I thought he was. But either way, he was taking me to wherever he was staying, and possibly back to Chris.
The booming sounds suddenly came again, now much closer. Jade frowned as we heard this.
"There's not much time. Come." he ordered, pulling me against him.
With that, we were surrounded by black flames. They weren't hot at all. They were ice cold, just like Saffron's shadows. They dissipated after a few seconds, and I was standing with Jade in what looked like an old manor house foyer. Dim light illuminated the room from a large chandelier hanging overhead. It cast shadows on the white walls that were lined with antique furniture, old paintings and mirrors. It reminded me of what I'd seen in the house that Saffron had taken me to after the fight with Judiel. But this place looked much newer. Even the hardwood floors under my feet were so polished that they reflected our images.
Jade let me go as we stood there, pushing his black bangs out of his face, "Unbelievable. Even though I took every precaution to prevent this from happening so soon, it was all in vain." he complained.
"Where are we? Is this one of your places?" I asked as I turned to face him.
Even though I still feared Jade, I couldn't deny that he'd just saved my life. There had to be much more to him than that callous act he always put on for me.
"Yes. This is a home I took for myself in this town a long time ago." Jade responded. He looked me up and down again, "Well, there's nothing more I can do about all of this now. The wheels are already in motion. Come."
I followed him up the nearby stairs. Glancing around as we walked, I kept wondering about this place. It seemed like these Fallen all had expensive tastes. Was that where the Shadow Wings got it from?
I didn't have much time to think about it before we came to a set of double doors at the end of the hallway. They looked like they were made of solid oak and had old brass knobs on them. Jade opened them and another large room was spread out before us.
A boy I didn't recognize was laid out on one of the two dark leather couches. He was dressed in a dark red dress shirt and light khaki pants. His face was hidden by the book he'd laid over it, but I could tell that he had messy blonde hair.
Jade frowned as he walked over and lifted the book off the guy's face, "And just what do you think you're doing?" he demanded, although he kept his voice even.
The guy opened his eyes, seemingly unfazed. I could see that he looked like he was my age. Well, at least physically. He had a pretty face with milky white skin and deep brown eyes framed by long black eyelashes.
"Oh, you're back. I didn't think you'd be back so soon." he responded, sounding very casual. Jade's subdued anger didn't seem to concern him at all. He didn't even bother getting up.
Jade paid no attention to his attitude, "The situation has changed. Where are they?" he demanded.
The guy yawned, "They went out to check on something that Will said he was sensing. I think he's getting nervous now over the threats." he answered.
So at least Will was there. Jade had found him. It didn't surprise me. For as much as Saffron was thinking ahead, Jade always seemed to match him.
Thinking about that though, I began to worry again. What had happened back there? Was Saffron really going to be okay?
"I see." Jade nodded, taking a step back, "Get up. There's more company here, so act like you have some manners towards her."
The guy made a slight noise in the back of this throat, looking past him and finally noticing me. He quickly sat up when he did.
"You're kidding. You really took her away and brought her here?" he exclaimed.
"I did no such thing. As I said, the situation has changed slightly and moves had to be made, so act like you've got the common sense that I know you were born with around her. I am in no mood for any trouble." Jade warned him. He then came back over to me, resting a hand on my shoulder, "Remain here for now. I have things to take care of. The others will return in time, and this one is no threat to you, no matter how he tends to speak."
I managed to agree, then watched him walk out. The guy stood up and stretched as he did.
"I can't believe it. You must be her. He wouldn't have gone to all this trouble just for any female Shadow Wing." he surmised.
"You act like I'm a celebrity or something." I noted as he came over to me.
Now that he was standing, I could see that he was a good five inches taller than me. His build was smaller than Chris and Will's, reminding me more of Zane's, but looking at him now, I felt a bit uneasy. I didn't know this Shadow Wing and I'd never met one without at least Chris being beside me.
The guy smiled, chuckling as he crossed his arms, "In our world, you kind of are. But I've been rude. Sorry about that. I have a bad habit of such things. I'm Lennox Basilisk." he introduced himself.
"Lennox?" I repeated.
That was an odd name, but I was beginning to think that a lot of the older Shadow Wings had weird names. Perhaps it was just a product of their birth times.
Lennox leaned a bit closer to me, "Yes, and you are Ariana Benson, the last of the Shadow Wings to be born as of this time; not to mention the daughter of one of the more powerful ones. This whole thing's been very interesting to say the least." he went on.
"Okay, seriously, you're making me nervous." I said, taking a step back.
"You're really that nervous in your own skin? I wouldn't have imagined that one." Lennox countered.
"I just don't like people getting that close to me when I don't know them." I told him. I looked around us again, "Where's Will and the others with him? Are they going to be back soon?"
"I'd imagine so. I can't see it taking that long for Will to find out what he wants, especially considering where we are, and I'm sure that Chris knows that Jade wouldn't approve of him just taking off when he knows you're close. Like I said, I'm surprised that Jade's done this so quickly. He's anything but comfortable about Chris's insistence about having you back." Lennox explained.
My heart beat harder as he said that. Chris had wanted me back and he was with Will right now. Finally, after all this time of worrying and doubting, I knew for certain that I was going to see Chris again.
But at the same time, I felt a bit guilty too. I'd assumed Chris was dead and given Zane a slight chance. I hoped that he would understand once he learned about that.
Lennox sat down on the couch again, "Are you really that worried over what he'll think about Zane Hedel?" he asked, picking up the book that Jade had tossed aside and replacing his bookmark before putting it on a nearby table.
"How did you...?" I started.
"Trust me, I know a lot of things." Lennox interrupted, "You could say that it's my talent. I suppose I could call myself a mind reader, but it's quite a bit more than that. I hear everything. There are very, very few who have ever been able to block me. I honestly couldn't tell you whether it's a blessing or a curse. I suppose it depends on the situation."
I stood there holding onto my stone. Now I was nervous. If this guy really was a talented mind reader, then I was going to feel very self-conscious around him.
"You know, there's really no need to worry so much about such a thing. I don't care either way about what I hear most of the time. I realize also that you've just been through some trauma as well. You're worried even now about that father of yours, and I believe it's with good reason. That Fallen that went after him is anything but a pushover. I got that much from Jade. But I can tell you that the ones like Saffron are very crafty too. He's probably found a way out of the situation and more than likely he'll be back with you very soon." Lennox assured me.
I let out a sigh of relief, "Thanks. Even if you're just humoring me, at least it makes me feel a little better."
"Trust me, I don't humor anyone. You'll find that they tend to call me a pessimistic bastard at times, and they'd be right. But I see no reason to cause trouble with you. You're only a baby compared to most of us, so there is no harm or foul in helping a child survive. Besides, I'm not that keen on Chris causing me severe injury either." Lennox responded. He was smiling at those last words, but I got the sense that he was very serious about them.
At that time, the two of us became aware of a strong power appearing downstairs. Lennox stood up and walked over to the door with me.
"Looks like they've made it back. Come on. Let's see what they found." he suggested, taking my hand and leading me out.
I could hear voices as we approached the stairway. One I immediately recognized as Will's.
"I knew he'd appear now. He's been watching too closely, and he doesn't like what this whole thing will mean for us and them." he was saying.
"But why go after that one? Does he really believe that he's making that much of a difference?" another voice asked. It was male, but I didn't recognize it.
"There's something more behind it. The only issue is that it's for him to know alone at this moment." I heard Chris say.
Lennox smiled, glancing at me, "Stay here for a moment." he requested. He then made his way downstairs, "Looks like you finally made it back, but not before Jade noticed that you were gone." he said as he went down there. He was acting as though all of this was nothing. I wondered what he was planning.
"So, he did return before us. But it seems like he didn't stay long." Will noted.
"No. He said he needs to take care of a few more things now. Something about the situation changing. Sounded to me like it's been the same thing you were looking into." Lennox responded.
I peeked around the side of the wall to look down there at them. I could see Lennox standing with Will and Chris, and there was another guy down there that I didn't recognize. He had brown hair and pale skin, and was dressed in a grey trench coat and dark pants. He looked like he was the same height and build as Chris and Will. I wondered who he was.
"Something must have happened to make him notice as well. That's not too good, is it?" Will sighed, looking back at Chris.
"He's never left any of it alone with him, whether it involves her or not. But the more important question is that if he did go after him, what did he do with Ariana? He definitely would've known better than to let her anywhere near such a situation." Chris reasoned.
"Funny you should ask that." Lennox spoke up.
Chris looked back at him, his eyes narrowing in suspicion, "You know something."
"Of course I do. I know everything, whether I want to or not." Lennox responded.
"You read into Jade. How clever." the other guy said, looking amused.
"Didn't have to. He already made his moves before returning." Lennox stated as he glanced at the staircase.
I barely had time to react before a quick gust of wind suddenly blew in front of me. Moving my arm from my face, which I'd instinctively put up, I stared back at Chris with wide eyes. For the first time since that horrible night over six months before, the two of us were standing face to face. It was both elating and frightening. What do you say to someone when you'd thought that you had gotten them killed? Where do you start when you'd loved and missed them so much?
Of course, sometimes there are no words needed. I understood that as I was pulled into a tight embrace. All of the familiar feelings returned to me like a tidal wave, and I closed my eyes as I wrapped my arms tightly around him. Yes, this was the feeling of love and belonging that I'd come to know. Being here with Chris was truly like coming home.
He was the one to finally break the silence between us.
"Thank God you're safe. I was so worried." he breathed.
He sounded so relieved. I'd never heard him sound like that before. But nothing had ever gotten to Chris before either. Perhaps more had changed then I'd thought in the time we'd been apart.
"I'm fine, but I think I was more worried about you. Are you really okay?" I asked, forcing myself to pull away so that I could look at him.
"I'm fine now. It took a while, but I'm fine." Chris assured me with a grateful smile.
"Wow, you're really good. I didn't think you'd be able to sense her that quick just by my words." we heard Lennox say.
Chris turned and looked at him as he stood by the stairway with Will and the other Shadow Wing. They'd followed him up there after seeing his reaction.
"Stop the stupid act. You knew damn well that I would." Chris shot back.
"You could've just told us, although I'll admit that I'm surprised too that Jade would bring her back here. It must have been worse than I thought." Will spoke up. He came over and hugged me, "Good to see you back with us again Ariana. It's been quite a while."
I hugged him back, feeling grateful to be with him again, "Glad to see you've been okay too. You just disappeared on me, and I was getting worried." I admitted as I pulled back.
"Sorry, but sometimes I don't have a choice, although now I'm wondering if that might change. At least if this whole thing works out like it just might." Will admitted.
"So you did know her. That's odd. I didn't pick that one up right away." Lennox noted, looking a bit perplexed.
Will shot him a displeased look, "That's enough. You've been prying too much again. First with Zane and now with Ariana. You know better than to try and stir things up." he scolded him.
His words caught my attention right away, "Wait, are you saying that you've seen Zane?" I asked him. I remembered what had happened right before Saffron had taken me. Did this mean that Zane was there too?
"Yeah, he's around here somewhere. Our new friend here brought him to us about three days ago." Will explained, gesturing to the Shadow Wing standing near us.
Chris sighed, running a hand through his hair. He did that often when he felt annoyed about how Zane or Will were acting. It seemed like he had the same trait Jade had when he was frustrated with something.
"And now you're both being rude about it." he muttered. He looked back at me, "This is Israfel James. He's another Shadow Wing, although I'll admit that we don't really know him that well."
"Israfel." I repeated softly.
What an odd name. The strangest sense came over me as I said it. An odd vision flashed through my mind, a vision of golden light and warmth. But just as quickly, it was gone.
Lennox was looking at Israfel with what seemed like suspicion, "I still find it ironic you know. How could you manage to find that sorrowful Shadow and bring him here like a new person? He certainly couldn't have been that way after everything before." he pointed out.
"You shouldn't question providence so much. It makes you look like the nosey type." Israfel responded. He didn't seem worried about the obvious hostility that Lennox was showing towards him.
"What did you say?!" Lennox snapped.
Chris quickly stepped between them, "Enough. There's too much trouble right now for you two to be starting this again, so cut it out or you'll answer to me, got it?" he warned them.
The two reluctantly backed off. Will shrugged, then turned his attention back to me.
"As you can see, there are still a few tensions to work out, but yes, Zane is around here somewhere. For now, why don't we get you comfortable and settled in? I think we all have a lot of catching up to do." he suggested.
I smiled at him, "Yeah." I agreed, "That sounds great."