Beyond (53 page)

“
I came alone. Did you need to bring your sidekicks?
”
Claudia said, holding her bow steady, pointing toward the ground.

Aliah laughed out loud.
“
I brought them along so they can see what happens when one takes a bite of the apple.
”

“
Will I fall like Snow W
hite?
”
Claudia raised her brows, humoring herself.

“
We ’
re not in fairy tale land , my dear. But you will remember what was lost.
”

Liar
, Claudia thought. She knew that once she t ook a bite it would be as if she had fallen. Her soul would be vulnerable. Aliah would take over her soul, body and mind, just like it happened to Callum. The only difference between Callum and herself was that she had the Holy Spirit soul. His powers would increase immensely , and he would be able to move freely about the world of beyond. But she would never let that happen as long as she could help it. Taking a bite of the forbidden fruit was no longer about getting her memories back; it was al l about destroying the monster.

Callum advanced to Claudia, holding out the apple to her.
“
Just one bite.
”

“
Funny, that ’
s what the wicked witch said to Snow White, ”
Claudia scoffed, taking the apple from him.
Then she exhaled a deep breath and closed her eyes , praying her plan would work.

Just as she was about to take a bite, a familiar voice, a voice that had sang her name many times before , rang loudly.
“
Stop, Claudia.
”

Callum rolled his eyes
, looking heavily annoyed.
“
Must he interrupt all the time?
”
Callum took his stance behind Claudia , h is arms wrapped around her neck.
“
We ’
ve been here before. Have you all not learned?
”

Claudia stared into the open field. She
was render ed speechless to see all of the Twelve, alkins, venators and the watchers. It was a vision of splendor. Their pearl y white wings were gloriously drawn-out. She felt like she had already died and gone to Heaven.

“
Callum, surrender!
”
Katherine bellowed.
“
You ’re surrounded.
”

“
Have you forgotten me already? It ’
s me, Aliah.
And please don ’
t call me Callum. Callum is long gone. He was just a mean s to an end.
”
Aliah sharply tugged Claudia, reminding her to eat the apple.
“
Hurry, ”
he whispered, but the sound of his whisper carried.

“
Claudia, don ’
t. Davin told me your pl an.
This isn ’
t the way. Please…, ”
Michael begged.

“
Don‘t be a fool. I told you , they will tell you anything to keep you from remembering your past .
”
Callum ’s tone was harsh and cruel .

“
Claudia, by the command of the Twelve, you are ordered to stand down, ”
Katherine said w ith an authoritative tone .
“
Lucy would not want it this way. Don ’
t let her death be in vain.
”

“
Look at me, ”
Austin commanded .
“
We are here. You don ’
t need to be the hero. We do this together.
”

Claudia
ga zed back and forth, to her friends and then to the apple. She decided to give the apple back to Aliah, but what would he do to her? Claudia stood still, trying to figure out how to escape his hold. Feeling aggravated by Claudia ’
s lack of motion to take a bite, he waved his hand. The demons dispersed from behind him and charged toward the angels.

Then
there was chaos. Massive movements were everywhere. Hissing and growling, the demons attacked. There were many surrounding her friends. Even the Twelve, not fit for battle , also fought. Using their sword s , they swung as the demons charged. To get a better look, Aliah pulled Claudia on top of a boulder.

There
w as no end to the demons. When one died, another one appeared. For the first time, she could see her friends looking drained. Was that even possible? Claudia sensed Austin and Michael ’
s eyes on her as they desperately tried to make their way to her, but the countless demons kept coming one after another, blocking their way.

Silver and red flames beamed like a light show
, but there w as more red than silver. As more demons surrounded them, it was difficult to see where her friends were. The venators leaped onto the trees and like lightning from their bows, they struck. The Twelve flapped t heir wings, soaring high , slash ing the demons as they came. Aust in , high up in the trees , twirled his silver metal balls. He hurled one smack in the middle as a group of demons came forth , and blasted them off the ground.

Claudia
, Michael called in her mind.
I ’
m going to throw the silver weapon on the boulder you ’
re standing on. Fall to your right. I will catch you .

Okay. Do it now
, she agreed, speaking back into his mind.

Aliah never saw it coming. The boulder blasted
, and Aliah lost his grip on Claudia. Claudia fell to the right as instructed, but she lost her hold on the apple as it tumbled down. Michael caught her fall . S
he curled into his body . H
er hands gripped tightly around his neck .

Claudia’s
fear pulsa ted through her veins.
Knowing how she felt, Michael wanted to take her away. With that thought in mind , he di d, not far, yet far enough. He took her away from the battle scene and placed her down.

“
Why did you bring me here? We need to go back and help our friends, ”
Claudia said urgently.

“
Stay here, ”
Michael demanded , meeting her eyes, drawing her closer with one hand and brushing her cheek with the other.
“
I need you safe. You need to stay away from Aliah. He wants you.
I lost you once. I can ’
t lose you again.
”

“
Michael, he ’
ll find me no matter where I am . W
e need to get rid of him. He ’
ll always hurt the ones we love. He will destroy this world if we don ’
t stop him. You promised me we would do this together.
”

Michael cupped
Claudia ’
s face and gazed deeply into her eyes.
But…
I …
can ’
t …
lose …
you.
”

“
You won ’
t .”
H
er tone was not sincere , but she had to convince him .
“
You promised we would do it together. How do you think it would make me feel if I ’
m here all safe and sound while you and the others are out there?
”

Pacing back and forth,
Mic hael exhaled a long heavy sigh , knowing he couldn ’
t have his way.
He had no choice. Given the circumstances, he knew she was right. He promised he would never leave her out of decision-making .
Raking his hair bac k with both of his hands he huffed .
“
Alright…only because I promised. You have to promise me not to leave my sight.
”

With a nod from Claudia, he took
her back hesitantly. Just as she promised, she stayed in his line of sight.
Michael ’
s wings expanded, protecting her. Claudia was more skilled compare d to the last time he ’d observed. She was faster and stronger. Together, they slashed through the demons to join the others.

“
Good to see you.
”
Dav in pulled Claudia into a quick hold, kissed her on her forehead , and let go.

Claudia smiled, feeling the love from her friend that fueled more energy. When they thought they would win, more demons appeared. The demons clawed their way up the tree, planting their feet on each other, trying to bring the venators down. It was like one against ten . Though Claudia did n’t know who they were, she saw countless venators being pulled down from the trees and killed by the demons. More and more venators and watchers were losing their lives. She wanted to help, but she was fighting the demons surrounding her.

One
suddenly jumped in front of Davin. Davin focused his eyes on it angrily . With his sword ready to swing he preached , “
Have you heard of the phrase, ‘D
o not do unto others what you would not want them do unto you ’
?
”
The demon hissed and growle d and stretched it s arms , ready to attack, not liking his question.
“
Let me show you my v ersion.
”
Davin flipped backward and thrashed his sword into its chest.
“
Do unto others as they would do unto you.
”

From
the corner of Claudia ’s eyes, she saw Holly grip Delilah from the back with her bow up to her throat.
“
You should ’
ve known better than t o cross the venators.
”
She spun Delilah around . W
ith a spark of hatred in her eyes , she slapped Delilah across her face. Blood squirt ed from her mouth and Delilah wiped it off with a fierce look in her eyes.
Delilah attacked with her bow, but Holly had already anticipated what she would do . Holly ducked and drove a sliver of lightning into Delilah ’
s chest.
Looking sadden ed and hurt by her betray al , Holly watched Delilah ’
s body slump to the ground .

Claudia saw blood, lots of blood, everywhere she turned.
She heard more cries for help and the painful sounds of death. It echoed through the mountains , and she couldn ’
t handle it anymore.
She broke away from Michael and rooted her eyes on Austin battling with Aliah.

Aliah picked up Austin,
threw him hard on the ground , and whisked his sword to give Austin a big gash across his chest. Katherine rushed over, protecting her son , and now she was protecting herself. Katherine lunge d forward as Aliah back ed away from side to side , escaping her blow s .

“
N
ot bad for a woman, ”
he chuckle d in amusement.
“
But now I ’
m getting tired of playing around.
”
He was stronger as he swung his sword with all his strength and madness.
“
It will give me great pleasure to kill you and your son.
”
With a power that only God ’
s first angel c ould summ o n , he belted his sword and contacted hers. Katherine ’
s sword flew out of her hand , w h ip p ed through the air with tremendous f orce, and sliced through trees. Then Aliah pointed his sword at Katherine ’
s heart.

“
You dare chal lenge me !
”
Aliah roared in rage as anger fumed through his soulless body.
“
None of you will live to see another day , ”
he said a nd plunged his sword. The sword should have penetrated through Katherine , but Austin managed to shoot his bow. The silver flame forced Al i ah ’
s sword to turn and miss.

Aust
in never saw it coming. Aliah hurled his sword straight at him, piercing through his flesh, barely missing his heart. It happened so fast, not even his fast r eflexes could ’
ve s topped it.

“
Nooo…!
”
Claudia screamed in agony and ran to ward him.

Claudia, come back
, M
ichael said to her in her mind and tried to run after her, but too many demons blocked his way. Somehow , Claudia got through them .

Claudia dashed over and knocked Aliah down
, then p inned him to the ground. She reach ed for her dagger tucked inside her boot, but she couldn ’
t reach it.
Aliah wrestled free and pulle d her up , yank ing her arms behind her back.

“
Give me t he apple, ”
she snapped and flashed her eyes on Au stin.
His chest heaved in and out too fast.
She knew he would die if she didn ’
t do something quick ly. Katherine slowly crawled toward him. She had to heal him befo re it was too late, but the demons blocked her way.

“
No , Claudia. Don ’
t do it, ”
Austin said with shortness of breath, curling into a ball from the pain.