Page 73 of When Monsters Rise
Ihad to know.
Iturned to look, and my heart stopped beating.
* * *
SHEM
IstopGabrieloutside the barn. “Ineed your word that if things don’t go our way you’ll leave.You’llfindRueand keep her safe.”
“Youneed to leave,”Gabrielsays. “You’rethe only one who can put theMorningstartogether.Ididn’t want to challenge your authority in front ofRue, butI’mdoing it now.”
“He’sright,”Erelimsays. “Getback in that barn and get out of here while you can.”
Theirconcern is touching, but… “I’mnot the only one that can fix the relic.”
Gabriel’seyes flare wide. “Rue…”
He’llbe an asset toRue. “Michaelhas no idea.Onlymy watchers know the truth, and now…now you two.Youmust keep it that way.She’sthe key to everything.Youmust keep her alive.Everythingyou need is at the church.”
Gabrielstares at me in dawning comprehension. “No…Shem…Youcan’t do this.”
Smart, always so fucking smart.He’sfigured out my plan. “Ihave to.You’ddo the same.”
Erelimexhales, his silver eyes filled with sadness. “Ruewill have our scythes as protection.”
Gabriel’sjaw hardens. “Damnyou,Shemyaza.Wecould have been friends.”
Yes.Ibelieve we would have become fast friends with time. “Inanother life maybe.”
Someoneroars in pain, and the world is momentarily bright.
Thereis no more time for talk.
Ilaunch myself into the air, wings beating hard to take me high into the sky where the battle rages.
Eightsentinels in full armor, bodies radiating celestial light, swords gleaming wickedly against the night, battle my watchers andErelim’sreapers.Thesentinels may be outnumbered, but my watchers are outpowered, evidenced by the blood from their wounds that taints the air.
Erelimlaunches himself into the sky with a battle cry, hurtling into the midst of the fray, scythe cutting a lethal path across the stars.
Butmy attention is drawn to the flame that burns in the middle of the brawl.
ToMichael, who shines like the sun.Lightflows beneath his skin and is woven into every strand of hair on his head.
Hisgolden armor blazes with it too.
Mychest aches with longing, and tears spring to my eyes because theDominionhave indeed made him whole.Butnow he’s also a beacon to every monster in a five-mile radius.
Rueand the humans are in danger for as long as he continues to shine here.
It’stime to end his stay. “Michael!”
Michaelturns in the air to face me, his gold-tipped wings flared and still, able to hold him aloft without beating.
Hisvoice booms my name, the sound so beautiful that it makes my heart ache.Ibarely register the gargantuan, invisible fist that closes around my body, crushing me and holding me immobile.
“Ihave been charged with your execution,”Michaelsays.
Hehas me in his power.There’sno winning this.Butthen,Ialready knew that.I’mnot here to win.Nottoday, anyway.Mywin will come later.Muchlater, whenRuecompletes the task thatIcouldn’t.
