thankful she remembered us, and that the memsors worked. Once the rest of the white demons master this, it could change the complexion of what we were about to face.
Chapter 5
Noah showed up at our hotel room, pastries and tea in hand. It was a perfect late-night snack. Matilda seemed excited to meet up with him again, and I kind of was too. Knowing there were more than just us, trying to hash things out, brought some relief about what we were possibly facing.
Athen had been pretty sure Cyril would be sleeping soon. He had hoped we could dial him in on the important part of the conversations. I totally agreed. The more ears we had, the better.
After brief reintroductions, we all went to the table, so he could unload his backpack. I wasn’t really sure what he had, that he felt he had to show us versus just tell us about, but my curiosity was definitely killing me.
“So do you have a family back home?” I asked.
“I used to,” he replied flatly.
“I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” I was horrified that I didn’t even think of the possibilities before I asked.
“Don’t be. You had no way of knowing.” The pain radiated from his eyes.
Whatever happened had to have been an awful event. There weren’t any other things that could take us down, so it had to have been the dark ones.
“Is that why you’re so connected with everything?” I asked gently, not sure of his comfort level.
“I’d say so. Before she was taken away from me, I knew things were starting to shift. I could sense a change that had begun in both the mortal and immortal worlds. She did too.” He shook his head, concern washing over his movements. “We just didn’t realize the severity or what it actually meant. I never would’ve guessed…” His words left a trail of unsaid remorse.
“May I ask what her name was?” I gently touched his hand.
“Her name was Vanessa,” he replied, with such tenderness.
Hollowness began spreading through me as I thought about my options. The pain I caused Noah and so many others, because I actually thought we could defeat Azazel and the dark ones, was something I couldn’t shake any longer. But what if we couldn’t defeat Azazel? If all it took to end the pain and interference against our world was me following in Lilith’s footsteps, why not do it? I rubbed my temples as a fierce pain began pulsating.
“Hey!” Arie’s voice shocked me out of my misery and delusions. “We don’t have time for you to wallow in your own stuff right now.”
Immediately, embarrassment went gushing through my body. I wondered how transparent I’d become.
“This isn’t your fault, Ana.” Noah began. “I’ve been playing a bit of catch up, but I can guarantee you that anything Azazel has told you is only a trap. He can’t be trusted. To try to put the weight of this entire evilness on your shoulders is a horrendous burden to carry. You’ve trusted your gut, and so far, it’s led us well. As small as the battles might have been thus far, you have the power to get us through what will be ahead. When I stood on that beach, with the chained minions launching their attacks, I saw what an amazing leader you were. You didn’t point your fingers at what needed to be done. You got in there and fought with all of us. You may not know it yet, but you will be the one who leads us to victory. I’ve never seen so many of us willing to accept commands from one being before.” His radiant smile began diffusing the heaviness of the moment.
“You were on the beach?” My mouth had a dryness that seemed impossible to swallow away. I reached for the water on the table. “How’d you know to get there?”
“Arie’s network is pretty elaborate.” A twinkle began to appear in Noah’s eyes again.
“I guess,” I laughed, thankful for Noah’s positivity.
“Listen, there are many, exactly like me, who want nothing more than revenge against Azazel, but what we really want is to end him. We want to end
Chapter 5
Noah showed up at our hotel room, pastries and tea in hand. It was a perfect late-night snack. Matilda seemed excited to meet up with him again, and I kind of was too. Knowing there were more than just us, trying to hash things out, brought some relief about what we were possibly facing.
Athen had been pretty sure Cyril would be sleeping soon. He had hoped we could dial him in on the important part of the conversations. I totally agreed. The more ears we had, the better.
After brief reintroductions, we all went to the table, so he could unload his backpack. I wasn’t really sure what he had, that he felt he had to show us versus just tell us about, but my curiosity was definitely killing me.
“So do you have a family back home?” I asked.
“I used to,” he replied flatly.
“I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” I was horrified that I didn’t even think of the possibilities before I asked.
“Don’t be. You had no way of knowing.” The pain radiated from his eyes.
Whatever happened had to have been an awful event. There weren’t any other things that could take us down, so it had to have been the dark ones.
“Is that why you’re so connected with everything?” I asked gently, not sure of his comfort level.
“I’d say so. Before she was taken away from me, I knew things were starting to shift. I could sense a change that had begun in both the mortal and immortal worlds. She did too.” He shook his head, concern washing over his movements. “We just didn’t realize the severity or what it actually meant. I never would’ve guessed…” His words left a trail of unsaid remorse.
“May I ask what her name was?” I gently touched his hand.
“Her name was Vanessa,” he replied, with such tenderness.
Hollowness began spreading through me as I thought about my options. The pain I caused Noah and so many others, because I actually thought we could defeat Azazel and the dark ones, was something I couldn’t shake any longer. But what if we couldn’t defeat Azazel? If all it took to end the pain and interference against our world was me following in Lilith’s footsteps, why not do it? I rubbed my temples as a fierce pain began pulsating.
“Hey!” Arie’s voice shocked me out of my misery and delusions. “We don’t have time for you to wallow in your own stuff right now.”
Immediately, embarrassment went gushing through my body. I wondered how transparent I’d become.
“This isn’t your fault, Ana.” Noah began. “I’ve been playing a bit of catch up, but I can guarantee you that anything Azazel has told you is only a trap. He can’t be trusted. To try to put the weight of this entire evilness on your shoulders is a horrendous burden to carry. You’ve trusted your gut, and so far, it’s led us well. As small as the battles might have been thus far, you have the power to get us through what will be ahead. When I stood on that beach, with the chained minions launching their attacks, I saw what an amazing leader you were. You didn’t point your fingers at what needed to be done. You got in there and fought with all of us. You may not know it yet, but you will be the one who leads us to victory. I’ve never seen so many of us willing to accept commands from one being before.” His radiant smile began diffusing the heaviness of the moment.
“You were on the beach?” My mouth had a dryness that seemed impossible to swallow away. I reached for the water on the table. “How’d you know to get there?”
“Arie’s network is pretty elaborate.” A twinkle began to appear in Noah’s eyes again.
“I guess,” I laughed, thankful for Noah’s positivity.
“Listen, there are many, exactly like me, who want nothing more than revenge against Azazel, but what we really want is to end him. We want to end
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