Divinity: Immolation: Book Three (The Divinity Saga) (35 page)

Damn.

I finally decided on Osiel, Nay, and Sinma.

XL: Starling

N
othing much of interest on the news with the exception of an increasing number of crimes all over the world. There was an influx of many natural disasters in one place after the other, like massive Tsunamis’, large scale magnitude earthquakes in many places that had never experienced any before. Landslides, deadly tornadoes, and major snowstorms were being reported all around the world in places that typically never experienced those disasters, too. I wondered if it were all a sign of what was to come, and why everything was so off kilter. The darkness and its army had to be behind it all.

The thought of what the Earth would become, and what would happen to t
he billions of humans on it, made me shiver despite being a warrior and having access to the power and weapons that cleaved themselves to me. How could we as a small number of warriors, stand in between humans and all the deadly powers of the darkness?

I lay on my bed in front of the television with the Christmas card that Joel left for me back in my hands.

I began to open it, smiling once I pulled out the card that featured sun-tanning snowman, one that was actually made from sand instead of snow, wearing swimming trunks with a strip of sunscreen on his carrot nose. He was tanning on a small island with a bright sun in the sky, and lying beneath a palm tree decorated to look like a Christmas tree above him. The caption read: ‘Merry Christmas, Mon!’ in Jamaican speak and the theme featured Jamaica’s native colors of green, black, and yellow.

It automatically warmed my heart. I opened it to a coupon paper-clipped inside, good for a free bento box from Zen to Five Sushi and Karaoke Bar. There was a lengthy no
te on the inside flap that read.

‘Hey Starling, I hate that I’m gonna be missing you for Christmas too but I do hope this card and gift finds you in time. I can’t say that I understand what you’re going through and why you had to leave like that
, but I wish that you’d at least talk to me.

I don’t know if you ever got any of my phone messages or texts, I’m sure that you did. I’ve missed you badly. I never meant to make you mad by insulting the guy you’re feeling. It’s just that something about him bothered me, call it a vibe. I guess that’s one of the things we’ve always had in common. Either way, I’ll say it again then. I love you. I’ve been in love with you since the day that we met. It’s been hard because I don’t know if I’d ruin our friendship had I told you before but when you told me you wanted me to be your first, and then you were going out with ol’ cop or whatever he is…I didn’t know what to think.
It actually hurt me, but I only want to see you happy. Be careful around him. I have my reasons. China told me what she thinks might have been bothering you but you know you could have talked to me. You know that I’ve seen things before too, the shadows and dark things that you used to tell me about. I told you that before. If you can talk to anyone about it, please know that you can always talk to me. I’ll be thinking of you and hope to see you when you get back. Take care and don’t forget to use the coupon soon, you know my aunt don’t like to give away any free food! Enjoy your gifts, (you’re gonna have to see me in person to get your birthday gift) Happy late Birthday and Merry Christmas! Love you always~ Joel.’

Tears were flowing out my eyes by the end of the note. Though I had no particular memories of him, his words alone gave me a pretty good idea of what he probably meant to me. I already knew he was chosen too, so that verifies that. How did I never know, or did I? I wondered if he were still in town right now? Where did he live anyway? I was sure that his ad
dress was somewhere around here or maybe on my phone. Should I just go ahead and call him then? I’d hate that I might never get to speak to him, especially when his time came. Where would he go now that the Hall was destroyed?

I heard a shuffle outside of the apartment door and I wouldn’t have thought anything about it until I heard the doorknob rattle.

China? Had it been a few hours already since she told me she was on her way?

I immediately sat up, bringing my legs over and getting up out of my bed.

Listening, I waited for the key to be inserted into the lock—but nothing happened.

My senses began to click and adrenaline began to filter into my veins.

I stepped softly, slowly, and cautiously outside of my room, taking in every object, shadow, noise, and scent, both in and outside of the apartment.

Automatically, my eyes went to the locked deadbolt and doorknob, waiting for something—anything to happen.

I could literally feel a negative energy begin to expand and my first reflex action was to wield my blades, but what if it wasn’t anything sinister or of darkness? I wasn’t supposed to be exposing them in the human realm.

Waiting for a few beats for any other sound
, movement, or turn of the knob, I carefully and stealthily made my way to the door, leaning against it and listening once again.

It was silent. No voices, no music, nothing.

I then peered out of the peep hole, not sure of what I was expecting to see. There was nothing out of the ordinary.

I swallowed and debated opening the door to make double sure.

The negative energy was faint but still present. Ignoring it wouldn’t make it go away. Someone or something had jiggled the doorknob from the outside. A robber maybe? I could handle a potential thief but a potential human thief wouldn’t emit such a distinct signature and scent of…something a tad familiar.

My heart began to hammer wildly and my brandings began to glow softly. Even pulling down my long sleeves further wouldn’t fully cover my hands.

I waited a moment longer. This door would be useless against any dark force anyway, so it was pointless to think that not opening it would render me safe.

I’d better be prepared to draw my blades and my fire anyway, just like Ry told me to do.

Speaking of, I wondered if they were still somewhere nearby. Maybe it had been Ry or Rahab.

No. They wouldn’t have done that without showing up in the flesh to check on me and make sure that all was alright.

I inhaled and exhaled slowly before reaching for the lock, slowly turning both deadbolts, and then closing my hand over the knob to turn and pull the door slowly open.

I peered out of the narrow crack a tiny bit first before slowly opening the door wider and bracing myself for any possible swift attack to come.

I was surprised to find the hallway both quiet and empty…except for the small, gold foil wrapped gift with a pretty, metallic red bow. That definitely hadn’t been there before.

Instant suspicion roused my instincts about its origins and purpose. I leaned out slowly, glancing down each end of the wide hallway while keeping one arm hidden from vi
ew inside of the apartment…a single blade was fully extended in my grip.

The door to the stairwell opened at the end of the hallway where I had come up earlier, and out stepped a really tall police officer…I tensed but quickly sighed in relief once I realized who it was.

Cam! Damn, why didn’t he just tell me he was coming or better yet why didn’t he just materialize or ghost into the apartment?

“I should have known it was you.” I shook my head.

He was smiling as he approached me. I reached down to pick up the gift.

The tag simply said: ‘To Starling’

“This is early. I haven’t gotten you anything yet.” I said gesturing with the small present and meeting him halfway for a hug and kiss.

He looked breathtakingly hot in the black police uniform. I was about to ask why he was wearing it at all but I remembered seeing him in it in one of my random memory flashes. It was a disguise obviously, and a damned sexy one at that.

“Merry Christmas.” He said, lifting me up and into his arms and hugging me firmly. He kissed my neck and a rush of instant arousal began to tingle in my groin.

“You smell good. Is she back yet?” He whispered into my hair.

“Not yet but soon I imagine.”

He kissed me hard—and he was definitely happy to see me.

Though I was touched, I found it odd that he seemed so frisky in spite of everything currently happening.

I was breathless when we broke from the kiss and he was already backing us up into the apartment, closing the door behind him, with me still in his arms.

“Wait, so…did you find Lira or Spencer?”

“Not yet.”

I felt guilty for making love just knowing that they were both still missing and possibly in trouble.

I was about to say something el
se but he kissed me again with extreme passion and hunger.

There was something different about his kiss. All of the romance, love, and tenderness —was gone.

I pulled back and jerked away from him just as he backed me up to my bed where he let me down and began to undo his weapons belt.

Cam would never take me like this, not that I didn’t find it appealing but…something wasn’t right.

Come to think of it…he smelled a little off too, not like the fresh spring rain and earthy cinnamon that he normally emanated.

“Not here. She’ll be here at any moment now.” I told him.

“I doubt it. When you want something done, you have to do it yourself. Know what I mean?”

What? No, I had no idea what he meant. What the hell was he talking about?

All of my senses were suddenly on high alert.

“Cam, what’s wrong with you? What are you talking about?”

I called out to him first.

There was no telepathic response from him at all.

“Cam?”

This was all wrong. Something was wrong with him.

And then it hit me. This was definitely not Cam.

If it wasn’t Cam, then who was thi
s? Why didn’t Cam answer me at all?

I eyed the open door of my bedroom out of my periphery.

Reacting with resistance, and violently at that, was going to cause an instant…really bad and really violent reaction in return.

I needed a split second distraction. Running down an open field was one thing
, but running through an apartment complex and stairwells might be a bit of a challenge although not impossible.

If I ignited my fire, it could get messy and loud and I’d end up breaking whatever universal law tha
t stated we had to be sitting ducks and wimps in the face of danger.

I had to play dumb
, as if I wasn’t even aware of the revelation.

“Wait.” I said scooting backwards on the bed and standing as I began to pull my shirt up.

He watched me with a lustful grin, his eyes beginning to glow…but not like Cam’s. His were a greenish tint and that was all the confirmation I needed.

In a flash, I swiftly wielded my blade and whipped it downward in a slashing motion.

To my shock, I was grabbed by an unseen force and flung across the room, slamming hard into the wall with a loud, vibrating thud that shook the entire length of the wall and door.

I slammed onto the floor hard, surprising myself that although it had been shocking, it didn’t really hurt or disorient me as it probably would have if I weren’t superhuman. I swiftly rolled onto my back and crab-walked backwards, taking advantage of the gap between us by turning to kip up onto my feet and make a break for the door.

When I opened it, I froze. I was faced with a solid brick wall. I pressed my hands flat against it and pushed, trying to see if it were real or just an illusion. It was definitely real.

“I don’t plan on hurting you
, so stop all the damned fancy escape attempts and moves. You’re only going to piss me off even more.” I heard behind me.

I whirled around, pressing myself flat against the wall for protection and to allow time to calculate my next move.

I had no choice but to either fight him with weapons or simply use my fire.

“I guess I underestimated that you’d be easily fooled…but I almost had you going.” He pointed at me and fla
shed a dazzling smile.

It blew my mind because it was Cam’s face and body, and nearly identical at that, but it was no longer his voice.

“Damn, you certainly know your man. I’m envious.” He added.

The energy that began to fill the room was incredibly strong and powerful. It was beginning to make me feel dizzy.

“Do you think I’d really risk the chance of losing the child that Cam`ael promised me?

What?!

With both blades out now, I was ready to strike.

Right before my eyes, he began to morph. His body changing slightly though he was still tall and very muscular.

His hair lengthened, now hanging past his shoulders in light waves and light brown in color. He had the prettiest, crystalline, aqua blue eyes that I’d ever seen. They sparkled like pure gemstones under sunlight but they were tainted by his eerie, catlike pupils.

He was wearing a dark blue, expensive three piece business suit, and he was incredibly beautiful…almost mesmerizingly so, but the dark energy vibrating and emanating from him was very strong and sickening to me.