Everlasting Embrace (Embrace Series) (28 page)

“
They
’
re up there,
”
Claudia finally bellows, pointing high above her.

They
? I wonder.
I
’
m alone…right
? What I now realize is that I failed to notice the dark shadows looming nearby, blending in with the venator
’
s shadow
s
that reflect
from
the light from their bows.

The venators hold their weapons in
defense
. The dark shadows drop right in the cente
r
, camouflaging with the dark floors. The shadows have no weapons
except
their yellow glowing, intimidating eyes, when they decide to flash them. They are spine chilling enough to make one want to move away from them. Venators use their bows to shoot their silver flames, but it
’
s useless. Mystified, they continue with multiple blows, but nothing happens. Their flashes hit them dead on, but only bounce and scatter, leaving behind a mini silver firework.

The shadows
’
swift, smooth movement is almost like a dance as they gracefully move from side to side, confusing
the venators
. Some
move
behind venator
s
, forming perfect shadow
s
of their body form
s
, fooling them to think it
’
s their own shadow
s
,
o
thers pace up and down the inner walls
.
When
the shadows seem to have
had
enough fun, they attack
without warning
. Charging forward and coiling up their legs, twisting and winding and then stopping at the waist
:
the
venators never see it coming.

“
What the heck!
”
Michelle groans.

“
Not again. Stay still,
”
Austin directs.

“
Great!
”
Davin hisses, observing me inching towards Claudia. I know he feels better knowing I
’
m not tangled up like the rest of them.
“
You brought your clingy friends,
”
Davin says to Austin.
“
Wherever you go, they seem to follow.
”

Austin rolls his eyes,
“
They
didn
’
t wrap enough of you
—
they
missed your mouth.
”

Everyone is held hostage, except for Claudia. The shadows seem harmless so far as the venators wait with anticipation and wonder how to get out of
t
here. Claudia stumbles back in shock, unsure of what to d
o
. She rests her hands against the wall.
Suddenly
, the walls start to rumble and shake. The whole ground shakes like an earthquake
,
t
he
n
part
s
just before the walls close completely in. Unable to watch any longer I dart in and draw Claudia tightly into the safety of my arms

They
stand
in darkness, but my sword and Claudia
’
s bow provide just enough light to se
e
a part of their surroundings. I can tell Claudia
doesn
’
t
know whether to trust me holding her, but she
doesn
’
t
want to find out. She desperately tries to release her bow and herself from my unyielding hold, pushing and shoving to no
avail
.

“
Don
’
t move. I
’
m here to save you
.
”
My
tone
is
low, sounding nervous.
She is unaware of our
last encounter, but this time the situation is different. My heart feels like it
’
s pounding out of my chest, matching the rhythmic pattern of Claudia
’
s. I fight the overwhelming urge to hold her tenderly in my arms. This is the second time I
’
ve come to her rescue. It
’
s proving to be just as difficult and heartbreaking to touch her. Her proximity is overwhelming. My heart feels light and happy
,
and yet the pain of leaving her again is weighing heav
il
y on me.

“
Then why are you holding me hostage?
”
she
asks. I can see that something about the sound of my voice gives her comfort. She recognizes it, but from when and where she hasn
’
t figured out yet.

“
I
’
m not holding you hostage.
”

“
Hmmm
…
let
’
s see. You have your arms around me and won
’
t let me move
…
so I guess you have another definition of what a hostage is then?
”
She answers back with a sassy tone.

I smile and laugh to myself. I love her spunky side.
“
I guess you
’
re right. I
’
m no hero.
”

Claudia can sense the sadness in my tone and decides to ease up.
“
Do I know you? Have we met?
”

It
’
s a simple, question, but it
leaves
me in a state of confusion,
rendering
me speechless. I want to face her and tell her the truth. I have no choice but to lie.
“
No. Stop asking questions.
”

Claudia is determined to see me, the man
whose
voice is giving her tingly pleasant chills.
“
Fine, if you
’
re here to save me then show your face. I won
’
t fight you then,
”
she demands, trying to be brave, needing to know why my voice is so familiar.

I know I shouldn
’
t, but I can
’
t resist her request. I want
Claudia
to see me, to remember me
,
though I know she can
’
t. My muscles start to relax
,
and
I wonder if I will regret my decision. J
ust as I
’
m about to release her, a light appears. First it is dim
,
and then it grows brighter.
The light
finally forms a figure.

“
You have something I want
,
”
the stranger says
calmly
.

“
What
…
my sword?
”
I snicker.

“
Give her to me and I
’
ll
set
you f
r
ee.
”

“
Callum
,
you
’
re an
e
arth angel. Why do you need her?
”

“
Half breeds like her are the reason why there is
division among
the angels. There
are
angels looking for special kind
s
like her
.
S
ome
want to wipe them off the face
of
the
e
arth, but I want to help them.
”

“
The Twelve are handling it. Your help is not needed.
”

“
That is where you are wrong
,
and Katherine won
’
t listen.
”

“
I
’
ll listen. How can you help?
”

“
I can hide her
u
ntil we
’
ve captured all
t
he
e
arth angels that have turned against us.
”

“
Why should I trust you?
So far everything you`ve done has given me a reason to doubt you. And why go
to
such lengths to bring them here
?
”

“
Ì didn`t release the
m
—
I followed them here. They lured you here because they want her. The shadows are harmless unless they take over the souls of human
s,
which you already know. No need to be afraid of them. You
r
friends are free
;
t
hey are standing right above us now. You know you are underground
,
don`t you
?
”

“
I know where I am. Don
’
t mock me.
And you haven`t answered my question.
”

“
Uh...yes. I heard about you. Too bad
—
”

“
That
’
s enough!
”
I shout. I don
’
t want to confuse Claudia, but then again, why should I stop him
?
It would give Claudia
`something
to think about.

“
Not only are you disrespectful, you are
rude
. Now
…
don
’
t waste any more of my time. Give her to me.
”
Callum starts to
draw
closer.

“
Stop where you are,
”
I demand. I raise my sword, placing it across Claudia
’
s neck.
“
I
’
ll kill her, do you understand?
”

Claudia gasps and panics, surprised by my sudden unfriendly gesture. She
holds tightly
to her bow, ready to use it. She is not going to die in my hands,
to
someone who must seem quite complicated.

Callum stopped.
“
Don
’
t be a fool.
”

“
You really want to take a chance?
”
I challenge, slightly piercing the blade against the nape of her neck. Claudia squirms as a drop of blood streams down. I need to show Callum I
’
m serious.
Take the bait,
I think as I fan my wings to open and curl them half way closed.
“
Release your hold on this place.
”

I can tell Callum feels he has no choice.
“
You may escape this time, but others will find her and other
s
like her. You should take my offer. It
’
s the only way.
”

“
There is always another way. Now
…
release it.
”

Callum
looks
heavy in thought and creases his brow.
“
It
’
s released.
”

I can feel a new wave of energy. Without a second to lose, I enclose Claudia completely in my wings and disappear. Once I get her to safety
,
I need to return to the supernatural school. I got the warning from Davin
just
as the fight was ending with the students and bloodsuckers
,
and left without a word. Now that I know everything is under control here
,
I need to make sure those I
’
ve been protecting are safe as well.

The Morning After

Eight in the morning and everyone gathers in the schools dining hall for breakfast. Just like every other meal, Florence has gone overboard. The students are still pretty solemn
,
and Carlina
’
s seat remains empty. A single white rose rests in her spot as a show of respect. Russell and Siobhan join us
.
Russell is still
pallid and
suffering from obvious weakness. I think it
’
s good for everyone to see that the other two
who were
injured
are doing well and recuperating. Siobhan and Caspian appear cozy next to one another, almost as if in their own little world. Matilda and I share a glance, knowing that our brother will soon realize the happiness that
’
s before him.