Indignation (32 page)

“You cannot kill me.” She breathes out.

“I never said I would.” Astator’s red eyes hold power that makes Alyssa flinch as she watches him choke Melissa. Her half-sister’s face color is turning into a shade of blue. Now she knows why he’s so feared by many. She can see the fear and hate in Melissa’s eyes.

Astator drops the Oracle to the ground. Melissa stands up with her head held high. “Alyssa. Follow me.”

She turns to her uncle not knowing if it’s a good idea. He smirks at her in devilish form. “I said I was to be feared.”

The comment has her laughing. “You’re not that scary.” She says before she follows Melissa away from Astator.

“Your uncle is protective of you. I understand, but Alyssa, I am not here to discuss his lack of control. I am here to help you.”

“Why are you helping me when it’s totally clear that you hate Astator?”

“We are birthed from the same mother.”

“Actually I was created.”

Melissa rolls her eyes at Alyssa’s technicality. “My meaning is that we share a mother. If I have a sister, I will help her because we share the same blood.”

Alyssa nods. Melissa takes her cold hands into hers. Melissa’s eyes open and stared out into her eyes, but not really seeing, it was more like hearing. Her body shivers, and her eyes turns silver. Her low whispers are said so fast that Alyssa can’t even hear a single world. Melissa’s hair begins to flow with the wind. The sand around them rises like walls and covers them from view. Melissa blinks, but doesn’t let go of her hands.

‘You have choices to be made.
’
 Melissa’s voice echoes in her mind. 

‘War is approaching. Return to the well-known home you know and love so well. Enjoy the last night because your choice involves a day of no return. That is if you chose love over life. What is it you chose?’

“I chose love?” Alyssa confusingly answers not knowing what the question really means.

‘King Julian’s life line fades as war approaches. Once he died in the hands of love, he shall meet his true death in war. Only the ending of the war between the Heavens and the Underworld could save the immortals from extinction. Only one choice may save Julian from death roll.’

Alyssa slowly understands everything. “What is it? I’ll do anything.” She didn’t notice the tears running down her face. Her desperation to save Julian’s life is what clouds her mind.

‘The blood of the Sacrifice and the death of the Sacrifice. One drop of blood falls, as the others follow. Soon the heart will stop as the life is drained from the Sacrifice’s veins. A heart stops, the blood runs, and war is done.’

When the war is done, Julian is saved. Alyssa is slowly putting the pieces of the puzzle together. She frowns at her Half-sister. “Sacrifice? What do you mean?”

‘Sacrifice is chosen by the beings with most powers. No other can replace the Sacrifice. Born of two powers, but destined to one will.’

“Who is it? Who’s the Sacrifice?”

‘The Sacrifice is the one who has reappeared once again to find love in a forbidden man. The one whom is known to be daughter of a witch and The God. The one with the mark. The hidden mark of life.’

Melissa trails her fingers to the side of Alyssa’s face. The touch burns on contact. Melissa looks straight into her eyes and she complies to do the same. Her reflection appears in those turned black eyes. Her eyes widen as she notices a cross-like sign with an oval top that covers one side of her face. It’s noticeable, but her bangs can cover it.

‘Anhk. The symbol of life.’
Melissa reveals.

Realization hit her. She’s the Sacrifice.

Melissa’s eyes turn from black to purple, just like Alyssa’s. The walls of sand drop. Alyssa collapses to her knees. Melissa does the same from the lack of energy. 

“What have you done?” Melissa screams at her. “What have you done?” the Oracle hysterically screams while pulling at her hair.

Alyssa stares at her half-sister in shock. She didn’t do anything. “I didn’t do anything.” She whispers out loud with her hand running at the mark on her face. The tears soak her fingertips.

Astator comes to her side and drags her away from

Melissa. He opens a new portal and leads her away from the desert. They leave the Oracle of Delphi on the floor to recover from the possession her mother, Selene, just took of her body.

The War

Alyssa is escorted back to the hut by her uncle Astator. Her mind is spinning from all the things she’s finally going to let go. Brandon, Jim, Dev, Emily, college, Miranda, Julian, her life. She’s going to give up everything to save the man she loves. She wishes that she can feel brave about it, but it’s too much now. The cup has overflown with water. She asked for all this to end. She wanted normality and now she’s going to get it. Death is the only way she will escape all the immortality that has turned her life upside down. Death is now her best friend. Long ago she decided to commit suicide because she was raped. She felt like her life was an embarrassment. She chose to die. Now death choses her as his next victim.

“What will you do?” Astator asks her.

Her sad eyes meet his worried ones. She sits in front of the fireplace like in a trance. No more tears. No more fear. No more hiding. She lets the warmth cover her skin. “I will sarcifice myself to end the war between the Underworld and the Heavens.”

<><><>

“War is approaching.” Yenta announces. Her voice heard through the long redwood table.

Julian doesn’t comment. He remains silent, sitting at the head of the table with Hans and Yenta at his sides.

“I called Gabriel.” Miranda plays with her hands on her on the table. They have all gotten together to form a meeting, but no one discusses their plans on the field. “The God has decided to put him in front line in war.” Miranda lets a tear slip. She looks like the definition of mess just like Julian. His hair has grown longer. There’s even a beard that shows.

Julian shakes his head at her. She’s not allowed to share that with the enemy. As much as they all want to think otherwise because they have tolerated each other from the hunt to find Alyssa. The Elims and the underworlders are now enemies that will fight against each other. Julian is on the side of the Underworld. “Are you underestimating his skill to stay alive?” Hans comments.

“He can be killed.” She looks around to every single one of them with revulsion showing in her eyes. “We all could be killed. Especially the ones in front line.”

Hans nods. “We all are strong. We will see who wins.”

“The war is tomorrow.” Caledonia avoids everyone’s eyes.

Yenta nods, not in the mood to insult the goddess. “At sunrise.” She clarifies to everyone.

“The light will be long.” Hans states.

Nathaniel, the Head Elim Guard, bows his head to his thoughts. “It’s all happening and there’s no way to stop it.”

Yenta abruptly stands, shocking everyone. “We need to fight with honor.” She says with a newfound voice of courage. “Your heir.” She points at the Heavens’ side. “Our queen.” She points at the Underworld’s side. “She will come back and when she does she needs to see our realms still intact. We will fight, we will fight for Alyssa.”

Miranda stands up from her own chair. “Yenta’s right. We fight for her and for courage.”

“For honor.” Hans stand to join them.

“For love.” Caledonia joins the group.

“For peace between the realms.” Nathaniel stands.

“For our past.” Gabriel’s voice booms. He moves to take Miranda’s hand as she leans on his shoulder in affection.

Julian stands. They all silently stare at him. He looks around to see each and every face. “We fight for ourselves in hopes of her return.” He raises his fist above his head. “To us!”

They follow his gesture. “To us!”

<><><>

Today is the day. After last night, how can Alyssa find it in her heart to say goodbye? Why can’t life be fair for once? In the last couple of months she has discovered so many things about herself. It’s all coming down to one choice that ends her mark in this world, both mortal and immortal. Her dream was all flashbacks of her past.

The day she met Brandon when they were kids. She remembers him stealing her lollipop, and when she reached out to take it back he freaked out because she was a girl. Brandon’s eyes and blonde-brown hair loves her like a sister. She doesn’t know how he will feel about the thought of her being gone forever. They both had plans, dreams, and goals. They’re friends for life. Brandon Vinson, Brady, her best friend.

Jim Hort is the most amazing guy she could have ever met. He’s so talented, smart, charming, sensitive, and on top of all that, he’s in the military. He fights for hi country to no end. He’s brave. Jim has been with her through most of her dark times. Without him and his empathy, she doesn’t know if she would have had the courage to take control of her life. His blues eyes always calmed her. He will make a difference one day. Hopefully he knows it. Jim Hort, Jim-Jam, isn’t only her friend; he’s like a brother to her.

The Adviser Elim, Miranda. That blonde has stood by her when all those revelations were revealed. She held her hand, and told her that everything was going to be alright. Miranda has advised her and made her see everything through a different light. The Elim has truly warmed her way into her life since the very first dream. Miranda needs to know that she’s a strong woman who deserves to be happy and be loved. Only Gabriel will be able to do that. Miranda, the preppy blonde who struggles to talk in the form of this century.

The Keepers have a sense of nature to protect. Dev and Emily posed as her parents, they sucked at it. They at least need to babysit to gain experience. Even with finding out that they are nothing to her, her heart tells her otherwise. Emily wasn’t around much, but she still sees her as her mother. Dev has always been there for her even when he wasn’t there at all. He loves her like a daughter. Dev and Emily, her parents by heart.

Dias. Most people look up to him as a God. They all worship him, thinking that he’s perfect, but he isn’t. Even with all his imperfections, she knows that he cares about her. He named her his heir. He wouldn’t do that unless he cared. Dias, her real father.

The fallen king won her heart. Julian is the man she loves. She doesn’t know about other teenagers, but she considers herself mature enough to know that he’s the one for her. He’s possessive, an ass, cruel, sometimes jealous, but he’s perfect at his imperfections. He deserves to be loved by Annalisa. If that doesn’t work then he deserves a second chance to find love. A healthy love that will make him a better man. She knows that there’s no afterlife for her since she’s dead, but if there is, she will be his Elim and watch over him. His black eyes will forever be remembered in her heart. King Julian, her only one.

“Are you ready?” Astator’s voice snaps her out of her thoughts.

She nods. “As ready as I will ever be.” She shuffles the multiple letters that lie on her lap. “Will you have these letters given to out?” She hand him the cards.

He nods his head. His red eyes restraining his emotions. “I will.” He opens up the portal. The long oval floats through thin air, waiting for her to exit onto the war zone. “Your ride is here.” He tries to joke, but it doesn’t reach his devilish eyes.

“Thank you uncle.” She takes a deep breath to control her emotions. “You are amazing, you know that? For the past few months you have showed me what it’s like to be part of a family.”

“It was just me.”

“It was enough for me. I only remember growing up to an empty house. You’re the only connection I have to my real mother and for that I-I’m grateful.” She chokes on the knot in her throat. “I love you uncle Astator, no matter what anyone thinks about you. I want you to know that I care about you, I love you like the family I never really had. You’re a good man, or demon.” They both laugh at her correction.

“I will miss you Alyssa.”

“I won’t miss you because I’ll be dead.” Her laugh has no amusement. “That woman you love. Don’t ever give up. If she doesn’t remember you then make her fall in love with you all over again. Love is forever no matter if the time stops ticking. Do it for me.”

“I will.”

Alyssa surprises him when she hugs him. The hug lasts for a couple of seconds before she pulls away. She walks to the portal. She turns back to her uncle. “Maybe you’ll visit me in the afterlife.” She jokes knowing that there will be no afterlife for her.

“I have a feeling we will both be in different realms.”

“I’m not a goody two shoes you know?”

“Who said you were the one to end in the Heavens?” He jokes back knowing he will never be allowed in that realm.

“Goodbye uncle.”

“Goodbye Alyssa.”

She turns to the portal that waits for her. She takes a deep breath before she takes the steps that will need her to the point of no return.

<><><>

 Annalisa feels her body shaking from fighting the intruder inside of her. The screams and whispers are becoming louder in her mind. The tears of sweat on her face are making its way down her body. Her eyes are going wild like a mad woman. She doesn’t know how far she can go with this fighting before she is able to snap and never have control of her body again.

“Annalisa?” Her face snaps in an uncomfortable angle to the direction of the familiar voice. “Annalisa.”

“Merlin.” Her demonic grin appears. The woman inside of her is taking over.

“I’m going to take her out of you.” He says. She feels her body wanting to reject his help, but her mind wants the help. Merlin pulls out the Dagger of Selene from his dark coat. His whispers are not heard in her ears. When he begins to cut a long cut the length of her arm, her body spasms. The blade turns her blood black. Her body fights for control. She needs to stop him, but she also doesn’t want to.

Annalisa can feel her bone bending to different angles as her eyes roll back. Her arms lift above her head. The demon inside of her is being forced out. Her body jerks one last time until she feels her bones bending back to its usual angles. She closes her eyes to hear the silence of her mind. The demon has left her body.