"So, you've really gotten over all of that now?" Jade asked Zane as the four of us sat at the table outside of the small restaurant.
It was mid-afternoon, and we'd been out at the shops for the last hour. I couldn't say that the trip had been unpleasant, although it definitely wasn't the nicest outing I'd had since becoming what I was. Part of this was due to the animosity that still hung in the air like a thick cloud between Jade and Chris. Even though they weren't arguing, they weren't making much of an effort to get along either.
"There was no reason for me not to. The past can't be changed, no matter how much we want it to be." Zane responded.
"I see. It's about time you figured that one out." Jade scoffed, stirring his coffee.
"You should be at least somewhat happy about that. You're always going on about how we get too preoccupied with things that you think shouldn't matter." Chris pointed out.
"I never said I wasn't. I simply stated that it was about time that this happened." Jade responded without missing a beat.
Chris frowned but didn't bother saying anymore. I shook my head, looking out at the nearby sidewalk. It wasn't that busy out there today, though there were people moving about here and there. The tables around us remained empty.
But looking at a young couple with a stroller going down the opposite sidewalk, I couldn't help thinking about Saffron. Was he going to be okay after what had happened? I would've thought so, but I wasn't sure.
"By the way Ariana, I do believe that it may be in your benefit to consider my training offer." Jade added.
I saw him glance at me from the corner of my eye. A knowing smile was on his face. He knew that this might set my two male companions off.
Chris easily took the bait, "The answer is no. I told you that we can train her just fine, and she already knows how to defend herself well enough to survive if she has to when we're not around."
"And you seem to be forgetting that the moment that stone breaks she will lose all control of the power that she doesn't even realize she has. She needs formal training for that power from a Fallen, not just the half-bred children of them." Jade told him.
Chris shot him a glare, but said nothing more. I glanced at the slightly cracked stone hanging from my neck.
"Is it really going to be that bad?" I dared ask.
"That depends on how much you're able to control it when it inevitably happens." Jade answered. He sat back in his chair, "I have no doubt that it will. Saffron may be foolish enough to think that he can stop it, but I know better through my own experiences in the past. A Heretic Stone is more fragile than one might think, especially when the power becomes too great."
"You know, I'm having a really hard time believing that I have that kind of power in me. I've never felt anything even remotely like it, and I think I would know." I challenged.
"You would, would you?" Jade sounded amused now.
"Stop acting like you're humoring her. You know that she's still very new to all of this, and power like that is not always sensed." Zane interjected.
"My, my. You two are awful defensive of things today. You act like you don't trust my intentions." Jade noted. I could detect the sarcasm in his voice.
"Of course we don't. You're not one to be trusted. You told me that yourself a long time ago." Chris shot back, looking away from him with his chin resting on his hand.
Jade didn't bother countering that one. He just shrugged his shoulders and looked around us again. I had the distinct feeling that he was watching for something. Perhaps even for my previous attacker. The thought sent a shiver down my spine.
"By the way, was Saffron starting to heal again before we left?" Zane suddenly asked.
Jade blinked a few times, as if startled by the sudden question about his eternal rival, "Yes. He's begun the healing process again. He was almost healed before except for the fact that he had the stupidity to push his daughter to a breaking point." he answered.
I felt a bit bad. Even though I knew that I shouldn't have, a part of me couldn't help it. He was still my father.
"I didn't mean to do that, but I didn't want him telling me what to do anymore." I admitted.
"Stop blaming yourself for it. He got what he deserved and that's that. Only a fool would do half of what he's done with all of this." Jade told me.
"A fool huh? You realize you're speaking some about yourself." Chris pointed out. He seemed a bit calmer now. It was like Jade's words had somehow made his temper towards him cool.
Jade looked back at him, "Am I really?"
"You took care of me, even when I was a little kid. You've always had this way of looking out for me as I've gotten older. Saffron's basically tried to do the same thing, although it's been in a different and more smothering way. So you can't say that much to that part of it." Chris continued.
"Yes, perhaps that is true in all of this." Jade mused, smiling to himself. It was almost like he'd claimed a small victory now. Chris was being a bit civil towards him.
Zane glanced at his watch, "The afternoon is wearing on. Do you think we should call it a day and head back?" he suggested.
"Yes, it wouldn't be wise to be out here at nightfall. There's still too much unrest for such things with your kind." Jade agreed, standing up.
The three of us followed him, heading to the sidewalk. I reflected on Jade's comments about Saffron and what he'd been doing with me as we walked. Had I read things wrong? Could Saffron have really been trying in some twisted way to protect me?
The house was quiet as the four of us stepped into the foyer. The dim lights were on, and I could see long shadows being cast from the windows. The atmosphere that they created felt a bit menacing. Perhaps it was because I knew that I was in a large house with two Fallen.
Saffron was sitting on the couch in the nearby parlor. He was looking at a book but put it down when he sensed us.
"I see you've finally made it back." he greeted us. His voice sounded nonchalant, but I sensed a smoldering anger hidden within his vivid blue eyes as he regarded Jade.
Jade wasn't concerned, "Of course. I wouldn't have allowed anything to happen with them for now, but it seems that you've taken it upon yourself to wait here for our return. Are you still sore about earlier?" he responded.
"Whether you mean physically or psychologically, both would apply. However, there are circumstances where I have to let such things go, so for now I wish to speak to my daughter alone." Saffron informed him.
"I'm afraid that's a little out of the necessary range. You see, you've put yourself in enough of a situation to where it wouldn't benefit you to do so." Jade informed him.
Saffron slowly stood up, "I'm not in the mood to argue points with you Jade, and I have no intention of taking her out of here. I simply wish to speak with her alone." he demanded in a low voice.
I stood close to Chris, not sure of what to do. While I did want to speak to him about things, I was still angry about him using me. Chris put an arm around my shoulders. He kept a neutral expression as he watched this exchange, but I knew by his body language that he was ready for anything.
Jade remained calm and collected as he eyed Saffron, "Is that so? Well, it seems you're quite determined this time, so I'll relent a little. But do not try to remove her from this house. If you do, I'll make sure to give you an injury that won't heal for centuries." he warned him.
"You sure about this?" Chris asked Jade as he stepped over beside us.
"I know what I'm doing. Now let go and let us step out." Jade ordered.
Chris reluctantly let me go, then stepped out with Zane and Jade. I stood by the door wondering what would happen now. The last time Saffron and I were alone together had been frightening. Of course, he'd also lost his temper. Would he lose it again over what had happened that morning?
Saffron slowly sat down. There was a look of pain in his eyes as he did.
"Come, sit with me. There's much to discuss and not a lot of time. I know he won't allow me that." he requested. He sounded a bit grumpy. How unlike him.
I stood there a bit longer, then walked over to sit on the couch across from him. I wasn't ready to get too close again.
"So, what's this about? Are you mad at me?" I asked.
"Don't act so stand offish to me. I have no intentions of trouble here. I simply wish to speak with you about things that I feel are important." Saffron responded.
"Okay, I'll listen." I agreed, sitting back.
The room was quiet say for the ticking of the nearby wall clock. I shifted slightly again, feeling uncomfortable with this situation but determined to hear him out. He was my father, so I owed him that much.
Saffron let out a long breath, "It's come to this. You're turning against me for the over protectiveness I've shown."
"I never said I was against you. I said I was mad at you for hiding so many things from me and not teaching me how to use this massive power that you've locked inside of me." I clarified.
"I had good reason to not teach you that. It served as a better form of protection from those angels. They wouldn't sense you as easily if your power remained subdued." Saffron informed me.
"But I changed, and they found me. Plus, you never told me that taking this necklace off could release it. If I'd known that then, I could've done something when we were attacked by Judiel. Then Chris and the others might not have gotten hurt so badly." I argued.
"What you would've done if you'd known was kill everyone there, including your beloved." Saffron corrected.
"You don't know that." I countered.
"Trust me, I do." Saffron's tone became a bit sterner, "I know all about the kinds of powers that children like you can carry, and I was well aware of what you had when you were born. That was why I made sure to make that stone for you from my own blood before your birth and leave it around your neck once I took you to that woman. That Heretic Stone is a fail-safe. At least, until you have received a power to balance it out."
"Balance it out? What are you talking about?"
He wasn't making sense. If there was such a great power trapped inside of me, then what in the world could counter it?
"Trust me child, I've been planning with this from the day I decided to create you. I knew that this would be a problem, but I also knew that there was one way to solve it aside from just sealing. It involves the son of the Darkest One, the one you so fondly call Will." Saffron responded, looking me straight in the eyes.
"Will?" I repeated.
"Indeed." Saffron continued, "Will, or Abass as we know him, is the most powerful of all the Dark Nephilim in existence. He's the true king, basically your ruler, but he also has something very, very special to him. Aside from holding and controlling great power within him, he can also balance out power within those under him if it's too great for them to handle. That is why I wanted you to remain with him in the first place. If that stone is ever shattered, he is the only one who may be able to save you from yourself. However, the plans were almost ruined before, so I had to regroup. But now it seems that you're making this even more difficult with this sudden defiance you're showing me."
Now I understood why Saffron had been so hell bent on me being around Will. He'd wanted him to balance out my power. But there were still other things that didn't make sense in this.
"But if that's what you wanted, then why have you been pushing me to be with Chris? You act like you can't stand him, but you don't seem to care that much that I'm in love with him." I pointed out.
"No, I can't say that I like it at all, but at the same time, I cannot change what's in the heart and what seems to have been written in the stars. It seems that even the children of devils can have destinies, and I can't say that I am one to fight such. However, looking at Christoff now, I'm sure that you can see the truth as well." Saffron responded.
"What truth?"
Saffron smiled, "That he too was like you. However, he was balanced out through Abass."
I couldn't believe it. Chris had the same issues that I did?
"But how? When?" I managed.
"Many, many years ago. It was a chance thing. Even Jade didn't know that Abass had that ability. At the time, he was having an increasingly difficult time helping to control Christoff's abilities. However, shortly after Christoff met Abass for the first time, he ended up losing control of them almost completely, but Abass stopped him by transferring some of his own power into him. The result gave Christoff complete control over his immense power, and also made him one of the strongest Shadow Wings alive." Saffron explained.
That made a lot more sense than just assuming that training had given Chris all the power he had. He'd been born that way and had a hard time controlling it. That was how he knew about my stone and what it really did for me aside from allowing Saffron to keep an eye on me, but he couldn't tell me about any of it before because he wasn't allowed, either from Saffron or from Jade.
Saffron smiled as he bowed his head, "It seems I've said enough about all of that, but now you can understand some of my actions in this. Whether any of them or even you believe me or not, all I've done in this time has been for your own well-being, and having you continue to wear that stone will be as well. There is no need to remove it. I am all you will need, and you will not have to bother with the immense power inside of you. It can remain locked away forever."
I wasn't ready to buy that one, "You can say that, but I don't think that was what you really wanted at first. You've just let yourself twist this into thinking that I should only need you." I told him.
"Not at all. I've simply seen it as the best option."
"No, it's what you always do. You somehow manage to twist everything in your mind to whatever you think is in your favor. That's the real reason you went after Faith Evans back then, and it's the real reason you started a relationship with my mother and made me. Everything you try to make yourself care about at least a little bit becomes twisted." I countered.
Saffron's eyes narrowed as he heard this, "I've already told you about those things. They were all according to the goals I've set for you."
"No, they weren't." I disagreed, "I know what I saw when I met Mari Hanes. She had Faith Kent's memories, along with the original Faith Evans. You could've done a lot of things to keep yourself away from my mother, but you were always there, and you were always protecting her, even before she got pregnant with me. You refused to torment her because you realized that you cared about her, but that drove you crazy too and you felt like you had to kill her."
My words definitely got to him. He immediately stood up.
"I most certainly did not! I could never care about a human, especially such a filthy one as her!" he proclaimed.
"But you did. You started to care about Faith Evans and ended up killing her for it, and you loved my mother. You loved her so much that you hesitated on killing her and used me to keep a part of her alive for you."
I could feel my heart beating a bit harder in fear, but I was also determined not to give in. I wasn't letting Saffron hold control over me anymore. I'd fight back, even if I suffered for a while afterwards.
"I did no such thing!" Saffron bellowed angrily.
His leathery wings came out, creating a strong gust of wind that surged through the room. I closed my eyes, making a small sound in my throat as it hit me. Now I was really pushing my luck, but I wasn't ready to give up. He wasn't going to intimidate me now. I'd come too far to back down.
"You can stand there and tell me that it isn't true all you want. You can attack me all you want, but I know what I saw and felt. If it's really not true, then why am I so valuable to you? You could create hundreds like me if you wanted, but you always swore to me that you could never hurt me, so what does that mean if it isn't love?" I challenged at I stared back defiantly.
The room fell into a deathly silence as the two of us remained where we were. Saffron was still and silent. I watched as his large wings slowly folded in resignation. It seemed like he was allowing that surge of anger to die down, but I saw that even though he kept a poker face, his eyes were looking very conflicted.
He finally took a step back, "There is no more talk of this. Get out and go to your lover." he ordered quietly.
I stood up, hesitating on whether or not I should leave, but in the end, I felt like it was better if I did. Saffron was obviously steaming inside.
I knew that my words had gotten to him. There was at least some part of him that must have been reeling from realizing that someone knew and understood a little bit of the truth. Of course, this also gave me a little more confliction of my own. Even if Saffron felt some love for me, it could only be the twisted kind. In the end, he very well may turn on me.
He may even try to kill me one day.
I still said nothing more as walked to the double doors and opened the left one to slip out of the room.
The foyer was quiet as I stepped out. I could hear the slight squeak of the hinges on the door as I closed it. Letting out a long breath, I walked over to the stairs and made my way up. But as I reached the top, I stopped at seeing someone leaning against the railing.
"Sounds like you really pissed him off this time. Bravo kid." Lennox commented, smiling approvingly at me.
"Why are you praising me? I could've gotten myself killed in there." I reminded him.
I admit that I didn't feel that fond of Lennox, and I didn't want to be close to him if I didn't have to. While I'd had a few reservations about Israfel, I could at least say that he was likable. Lennox was most certainly not from the little I'd seen of him so far. Maybe it was first impressions being wrong, but I really didn't think so.
Lennox pushed himself away from the railing to face me, swinging his arms a little at his sides with the movement.
"But you didn't. You actually stood up to your own father. There aren't many of us who can claim a victory like that." he told me.
"I don't call it a victory. It's more like letting go of that last piece of my past." I grumbled, forcing myself to brush past him. I didn't feel like standing there and talking anymore. I just wanted to go to my room and hopefully find Chris there for some comfort. I was still shaking inside from that confrontation.
But Lennox wasn't going to let me off so easily.
"That's what you need to do to survive you know. It's part of who we are. Do you honestly think that being a Shadow Wing is an easy thing? Even if they do this silly redemption thing for us, our lives will never get any easier. If anything, the dark ones might just kill us all." I heard him say.
I stopped, looking back at him as he put his hand on his hip. There was a knowing smile on his face.
"You really think that our own fathers are going to kill us for that?" I asked him. I made sure to keep my tone defiant.
"I know they will. They are demons after all. You all can call them Fallen all you want, but that's the truth to it. We're all demon spawn, and nothing will ever change that." Lennox continued.
"You know Lennox, you have a nasty habit of being a straight-out asshole." I suddenly heard Chris say. I was surprised to find him standing behind me and placing a protective arm around my waist. When in the world had he gotten there?
"And the heralded prince has returned to grace us with his presence. You don't like me telling her the truth?" Lennox responded.
"What I don't like is the fact that you're taking it upon yourself to make her as uncomfortable as possible, and all because you're hoping to get to me." Chris responded, a small growl sounding in his voice. He kept his hold on me as he spoke.
Lennox wasn't intimidated. He just huffed at him, "I have done no such thing. I've shown her plenty of respect. You're just taking my words the wrong way like everyone else does by choice, and just because you happen to have a dislike of my father."
"I could care less about bringing your father into this. What I care about is how you've been acting, whether you admit to it or not." Chris shot back.
He let me go and walked over to him. Lennox still didn't back down, though he didn't look as confident either.
"What are you going to do about it? Make me leave? You're aware that I have just as much right to be here as you or that other one. I serve under Abass, just like the rest of you." he reminded him.
"None of us are serving under him. We're all around him because we want to be, so stop twisting things. It's getting annoying." Chris complained.
I really felt like I was seeing the Chris I'd come to know before the incident with Judiel now. Maybe he had learned to open up more to me and others, but that didn't mean he wouldn't keep his attitude with any of us when it suited him. In a way, it was a relief.
But at that moment, I had the feeling that I should push this aside and stop this situation from getting out of hand. Knowing Chris, he just might decide to go ahead and force Lennox out of the house, and the last thing any of us needed now was a bunch of trouble.
I went over and held Chris's right arm, "Come on Chris, let's just leave it. There's no reason to start a fight over something stupid." I reasoned.
"Ah, so you're a peacemaker too. How good of you." Lennox commented.
"Stop trying to make it worse!" I scolded him. Honestly, how was that helping anything? He couldn't have been this stupid.
Thankfully, I didn't have to say anymore before we were joined by Will.
"Hey, what's going here?" he demanded as he came up the stairs and stepped between Chris and Lennox to keep them separated.
"Nothing too terrible. Just a little disagreement, that's all." Lennox assured him.
"That I find hard to believe." Will responded, giving him a stern look.
Chris was blunt about the situation, "He's decided that he's going to start trouble with Ariana again."
"I did no such thing." Lennox protested, crossing his arms and looking indignant.
Will wasn't buying it, "Give me a break. You live to start trouble anymore. I've told you already to let her be. There's no reason for you to act like this to her. She's still young and doesn't have a lot of experience even with all the things going on around her. The last thing she needs is someone like you whispering bad things in her ear, so shut your mouth and leave her alone." he ordered.
Lennox became angry then, "Of course you'll take his word over mine. He is one of your favorites, isn't he?!" he snapped.
"I don't play favorites and you should be well aware of that, but I don't appreciate troublemakers either, so stop trying to start things and get along with the rest here or leave. It's your choice." Will countered.
Lennox didn't bother saying anymore to him. He simply turned and stomped away. We heard the door to the library slam as he went inside. I winced at the reverberating sound.
Great, I thought. Now I've managed to get one of the other Shadow Wings to hate me.
Chris crossed his arms, shaking his head, "Seriously, why does he always have to cause trouble wherever he goes?" he complained.
"It's just his nature. You know that. The children that come from Belial often have inferiority complexes, and he certainly doesn't help with how he tries to use them." Will reminded him.
"He's always like this?" I asked.
I guess after getting to know him, Chris and Zane, I'd just thought that all Shadow Wings had friendly personalities. I didn't really consider that some of us could be more like our fathers.
"More or less, but don't worry too much about him. Lennox may unnerve people, but he's basically harmless. Just a bunch of negative talk, that's all." Will assured me.
"Yeah. He's right about that. He hasn't backed up his mouth once since I've known him, and that's been a good hundred years now." Chris added.
"I guess I could take that." I sighed. The full impact of the day had suddenly fallen upon my shoulders. It was even getting a bit hard to stand up straight.
Chris seemed to realize this as he looked at me and put an arm around me, "I think you need to get some rest. It's been a long day." he suggested.
"Yes. Please rest for now. There may be a lot for us to do in the coming days." Will agreed, patting my shoulder.
"Okay. Goodnight Will." I agreed.
It felt more than good to get in that warm shower and crawl into the soft, warm bed. Chris joined me after getting his shower in, clicking off the lamp near the bed as he laid down. After sharing a few long kisses, I closed my eyes and snuggled against him, listening to the sound of his heartbeat to help calm my frazzled nerves. The confrontation I'd had with Saffron was still echoing in my mind. He'd refused to admit that anything I'd said about him was true, even when I implied that he could've loved me. That kind of hurt.
In spite of myself, I spoke quietly, "Hey Chris?"
"Yeah, what's up?" I heard Chris reply in the darkness.
"Do you think it's possible that Saffron could love me, even just a little?"
Chris was quiet for a moment, as if he was thinking it over. But his reply surprised me.
"I think he probably does. That's what's driving him to his edge now."
"His edge?"
"Don't worry so much about it. We'll talk more in the morning. Just get your rest. It's been a long day."
I reluctantly laid my head down against his chest and closed my eyes. His words left no room for argument. When Chris said later, he meant later. I'd learned that a long time ago. So, I tried to clear my mind and relax. Sleep was inviting and he was right, it had been a long day.
Of course, by now I was learning that sleep was also my enemy at times. I drifted off peacefully, only to fall into a vivid and frightening dream.
I was sitting in a dark room in the middle of a large circle that was surrounded by black candles. I looked around me, wondering where in the world I was. It felt like I couldn't get up from there, no matter how hard I tried. Something invisible was holding me down.
The room felt very cold, and I couldn't see beyond the candles' light except for darkness. It was so quiet that my ears were ringing. Goosebumps prickled up on my skin. This place felt wrong, like being trapped in the darkness of some kind of Hell.
I finally heard what sounded like movement coming towards the edge of the circle.
"Hello?" I called, my voice laced with caution.
I was answered with the sound of wheezed breathing. A large, dark shape moved around the outside of the candles. It looked like a pale figure with very long arms and legs. I could see large white eyes staring at me as it moved, along with big shining teeth lining a wide, grinning mouth.
"Who are you?!" I demanded. A feeling of terror had now washed over me. This was a still a dream, yet it felt so real, like I could be hurt there if this creature decided to do anything to me.
"Yes, yes. You are the one. I will make him bring you to me, and you will give me what I want." the figure hissed.
A large, pale hand with long black fingers slowly reached into the circle towards me. The touch of them on my shoulder was so ice cold that it stung, and I began screaming.
Then I was awake.
Chris bolted up in the bed with me, "Hey, what happened?!" he asked as he held my shoulders.
I was breathing hard, my heart pounding in my chest. I hadn't had a dream like that since my first meeting with Jade. Who the hell was that?
"Ariana!"
It finally began to dawn on me that Chris was talking to me.
"I'm okay. I'm okay. It was just a nightmare." I breathed.
Chris wasn't buying it, especially when he noticed my right shoulder, which was bare with my thin-strapped nightgown.
"No, it wasn't. It looks like something's pulled you in again."
I looked with him and realized that he was right. My dreams had been invaded by someone who had tried to harm me.
There was a perfect bruise of a large, elongated handprint on my shoulder.