The Chronicles of Fire and Ice (The Legend of the Archangel Book 1) (13 page)

“
Are we going there now?”
she asked as they flew closer.

“
Yeah, I have to speak to someone inside.”

A few moments later
, they landed on the stony walkway, just before the bridge. Scarlett stepped on it and it crunched and shimmered. She looked closer and saw individual feathers. She suddenly felt sick with the realisation of what she was standing on.

“
This is the Bridge of Wings,”
she gasped.

“
Yes, where disrespectful angels have their wings laid, it’s an honour, actually.”

“
An honour to have your wings ripped out and turned human?”

“
Not that part. I’d rather go to The Realm of Ice than become human,”
replied Lakyn, walking across the bridge. She followed him reluctantly and prayed that she wasn’t stepping on Dyston’s wings.

“
Why am I here? Have I been summoned? Hello, is anyone there?”
shouted Dyston in his mind. He had taken to mentally yelling and bashing on the walls. He had been there for a long time, probably days, he thought, as there were no windows in the red room. So he had no idea how much time had passed. As he began again, the door slid open, and in walked a female angel that appeared to be around his mother’s age. He wasn’t sure because full angels didn’t age after a certain point. Her hair was black, and as sleek as oil, and her skin appeared to have a golden sheen to it. Dyston thought she must be of high status, as two guards who wore ethereal armour were following her closely.

“
Hello, Dyston,”
she said, her voice appearing in his head. How did she know his name?

“
Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“
Why am I here? I don’t understand what I have done. And who are you?”

“
I am Ariel, protector of the Realm of Light, and it is to my understanding that you have found the last remaining Archangel heir.”

“
Yes… what do you want with her?”

“
I just need to know that she’s safe. Is she in good hands?”

“
Not really. She was taken as I was. That’s why I need to get out of here,”
he told her.

Ariel
’s attention was stolen from him the moment one of her guards whispered something into her ear. When she looked back at Dyston, her golden irises blazed. She reminded him of a lion, fierce but beautiful.

“
Excuse me for a minute, Dyston, I have some visitors,”
she told him.

Dyston
’s whole body seemed to sag with disappointment as he sat on the arm of a lounge chair.

“
Okay,”
he replied softly. He was beginning to think he would never see Scarlett again.

Lakyn led Scarlett
into the foyer of the Chambers. The whole time her eyes were too busy gazing up at the sparkly black interior that she hadn’t seen when Lakyn had come to a stop and that someone had joined them. She crashed into the back of him.

“
Sorry…”
she began to apologise, but soon shut up as she noticed the woman with the flowing black hair and the gold eyes standing in front of them.

“
Scarlett, I presume?”
said the woman,
“I am Ariel.”

“
Yes, but how…”
Scarlett was speechless.

“
I have heard all about you. Come,”
she beckoned. Lakyn took Scarlett’s hand and went with them reluctantly. Ariel led them to some double doors at the end of the corridor just off to the right of the foyer. Scarlett expected their shoes to echo inside the cavernous place, but there was only silence. The doors made of ivory with gold handles contrasted sharply with the black all around, and on either side were ivory pillars intertwined with what looked to her like grape vines. The doors opened inward as soon as Ariel stood in front of them, as if they sensed her presence, and they entered. Ariel made her way to her seat, or her throne was more like it. It was a large ebony chair trimmed in gold. It matched everything in the room. The walls were painted black and had gold feathers stencilled on them. There were two smaller dining chairs in the room, also black and gold, facing Ariel’s throne. And she gestured for Scarlett and Lakyn to sit in them. They didn’t hesitate.

“
What brings you to the Realm of Light?”
she asked. She reminded Scarlett of a wicked queen from a human story her grandmother had told her, about a girl with hair black as night and skin white as snow. She hoped Ariel wasn’t as evil as that queen.

“
My employees brought my brother here,”
Lakyn told Ariel. Scarlett glared at him.
How could he,
she thought.

“
For what purpose?”
asked Ariel

“
For failing at his Task. He needs to be punished,”
he told Ariel. Scarlett’s heart sank.

“
No!”
She protested. She shot out of her seat. Ariel regarded her as if she were an insect she wanted to squash.

“
He means something to you.”
It wasn’t a question. She tilted her head as if regarding her, figuring out if she should eat her or not, Scarlett figured
“That’s why you are here, is it not?”
she asked with a cat-like grin. Lakyn looked as if he were in pain.

“
You lied to me!”
he growled.

“
I’m sorry, Lakyn, but did you really think I would choose you over Dyston? I had to get here somehow. Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to find him,”
she declared as she started towards the door, only to be stopped by Ariel’s two guards.

“
I’m sorry, Scarlett, but your boyfriend… you can’t see him.”
Ariel told her.

“
Why not? You better not have had his wings torn out!”
She turned and her irises were glowing fiery orange.
“He hasn’t done anything bad.”

“
He failed in his Task and must be punished,”
Ariel told her, echoing Lakyn. This angered Scarlett. She felt her whole body heat up and the fire coming to the surface.

“
Mess with Dyston and you mess with me,”
she told them, flames appearing at her fingertips as she turned to leave. As the guards tried to stop her, she burned them and they dropped to the ground, screaming. She then ran out into the corridor.

Dyston lounged on the love sea
t, his boots up in front of him. He was bored out of his brain. That was when he heard the screaming. He shot to his feet and stood alert. It was coming from the other side of the wall. He ran over to it, and put his ear against the wall, listening. Nothing. It had stopped. He was about to pull away, when he heard another sound. A more familiar sound—her voice inside his head.

“
Dyston, where are you?”
she called.

“
Here, in the red room,”
he called back with a smile.

“
Where is that?”

“
To the left of the foyer.”

There was silence as Scarlett ran across the foyer, burning more angel guards along the way.

“Black double doors?”
she asked.

“
Yes,
” he told her.

She tried
them, but they didn’t budge.
“They’re locked.”

“Stand back, I’ll try.”

Scarlett stood back. From inside
, Dyston ran towards the doors and kicked with all his might. There was an almighty bang, but the doors still wouldn’t budge.

“
Sorry,”
he told her.
“Try with your Trait.”

“
Okay.”
Scarlett focused all her energy on the doors and sent a fireball sailing towards the handles.

“
That won’t work here,”
said Ariel, gliding towards her.

“
Please release him, he didn’t do anything wrong. There are worse crimes than failing a Task,”
said Scarlett

“
True, but I was only going to do what I was asked to do.”

“
What were you asked to do?”

Ariel didn
’t reply. Instead, she just unlocked the doors with a skeleton key she had pulled from a chain attached to her waist. The doors slid open, and there he stood. He was a little ruffled, but as beautiful as ever. Scarlett wanted to run to him, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her.

“
No, you are no longer his Task,”
Ariel told her, stepping forward and grabbing Dyston by the arm.

“
What?”
Scarlett asked in confusion.

“
It’s ok, Scar, it’s better than the alternative. I’m sure you saw the bridge,”
he told her, his kind chocolate eyes holding hers.

“
Can he have another Task?”
she asked Ariel, but secretly she didn’t want him to have any other task but her.

“
No. From now on, he is purposeless.”

“
And what does that mean? Can’t he come back with me?”

“
No, an angel who has been stripped of his Task can never leave the Realm of Light.”

Scarlett felt as if her heart had been torn out of her chest. As Ariel began to lead Dyston away
, Scarlett decided what she had to do. It was the only way to free him. She realised then she would do anything for him.

“
Then you can take me, the last remaining relative of the Archangels, I will forever be in your debt,”
she told them.

“
Scarlett, no!”
Dyston cried, struggling against Ariel’s grip. Scarlett just held his gaze.

Debt

Ariel smiled cunningly.

“
Scarlett, do you even know what you’re doing? A deal of that calibre, a blood debt, is one of the most powerful debts an angel can make,”
Dyston told her, still struggling in Ariel’s grasp. She let him go, and he ran to Scarlett’s side.

“
I read about it in a textbook,”
Scarlett admitted.

“
But that’s in the Fourth Year textbook.”

“
I know.”
She held his gaze.

“
He’s right, and as much as I hate to break up your lover’s reunion, we have formalities to get through,”
Ariel interrupted.

“
Please, don’t do this,”
Dyston pleaded.

“
It’s my choice, Dyston, and I choose to free you,”
she told him, before stepping away.
“Let’s do this.”

“
Very well.”
Ariel led her back into the foyer and over to the elevator. Dyston followed close behind.

Once they stepped
into the elevator, Scarlett asked the one question that had been eating at her.

“
So what will happen after the ceremony? Can we leave?”
The Ceremony of the Blood Debt rarely happened anymore, but it was essentially, a deal in blood that an Archangel made as a sacrifice or a swap for another angel. And since Scarlett was the only surviving one with Archangel blood, the deal would now be valid.

“
Once you sign your blood over to me, you will be forever indebted to the realm and to me,”
explained Ariel.

“
But that doesn’t mean you have control over her, does it?”
asked Dyston

“
No, it just means that I can call on her at any time.”
Scarlett looked over at Dyston who was silently leaning against the wall of the elevator watching her. She moved towards him.

“
You don’t have to do this you know,”
he told her, taking her hands.

“
I want to,”
said Scarlett, pulling them free. Dyston wanted to ask what was wrong, but the elevator doors opened, and Scarlett realised they were in one of the castle’s turrets. Its walls depicted the materials the Chambers were made of, a dark brown natural stone, and appeared to be slimy or wet—brimstone, Scarlett realised. It was ironic in a land full of angels.

“
Wait here,”
Ariel told them before stepping out. Scarlett was now alone with him and her guilt.

“
Scar…”
As soon as they were alone, Dyston eliminated the space between them in a heartbeat. He ran his fingers over her cheek, but Scarlett turned away and walked to the window. She didn’t want to look at him, let alone have him touch her. She felt she wasn’t worthy. Down below, she noticed the menacing grey waves crashing against the sharp rocks. She wanted to be in those waves right now, having them toss her about, and throwing her onto the rocks like a form of torture—anything to get away from what she had done. She felt his warm breath on her neck. She wanted very much to throw her arms around him and make herself one with him. But she couldn’t. And she probably never would.

“
Scarlett,”
he whispered in her head,
“why won’t you look at me?”

“
I can’t,”
she finally said.

“
Why not? Look, if it’s about the debt, yeah, I’m mad, but I can live with it.”

“
It’s not that.”

“
Then what is it?”
he placed a finger on her chin and turned her face towards his.
“Please look at me.”

“
You’ll hate me when you know what I did just to get here,”
she told him, not meeting his eyes, tears forming in hers.

“
If it’s just barbeque bodyguards, honestly, I don’t care,”
he laughed

“
Dyston, please.”

“
Sorry. Jokes aside, what did you do that was so bad that you can’t bear to look at me?”
he asked.
Scarlett turned her body away from him again.

“
If this is about me being too protective, I’ll hold back, I promise.”

“
You are too protective, but that’s not the point. Oh, man! I’m so stupid!”
She walked to the centre of the room and grabbed onto a gold chair, hunching over it like she was about to be sick.

“
Scarlett?”
He stepped closer, but not as close as they had previously been standing. She sensed him near her again, and this time she spun around and met his eyes.

“
I persuaded Lakyn to bring me here,”
she said in a rush

“
Persuaded? How? My brother is not easily persuaded,”
he said. Scarlett stared at her shoes. She was so ashamed that she had fallen so low.

Dyston
’s heart felt like a ship’s anchor plunging into the gloomy abyss of the ocean.

“
Tell me you didn’t.”

“
Don’t make me feel worse than I already do,”
Scarlett expected him to explode and hate her, break up with her, do anything but this.

“
No, it’s my fault,”
he said. Scarlett looked at him again, this time there was no sign of a rainbow.

“
What do you mean?”

“
If I hadn’t interfered and fallen for you, then we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“
What are you talking about? I thought I was the one who screwed up?”
Surely he must be in denial, she thought.

“
No, I screwed up first. I fell for you and caused myself to be brought here for judgment, leaving you open to all kinds of evil influences.”
Scarlett tried to speak, but Dyston continued.
“I’ll deal with him later. Right now, I’m just glad to have you back,”
he told her, hugging her close. A lie, it felt like a lie. Her face was probably sweating her betrayal. But she let him hold her anyway. After all, she did have legitimate feelings for him, she just felt as though she didn’t deserve him. That was the moment Ariel chose to walk back into the room, shadowed by Lakyn.

“
We’re ready for you, Scarlett,”
she said. The brothers’ eyes met, chocolate brown and ice blue, a storm brewing between them. Dyston kept a firm hold on Scarlett. He wasn’t going to let her out of his sight, especially near Lakyn.

“
I’m coming with her,”
Dyston announced.

“
Don’t worry, little brother, she’ll be safe with me,”
Lakyn told him, his face showing a snarky expression.

“
I Am Coming,”
Dyston repeated more firmly and slower this time. He stepped in front of Scarlett.

“
Very, well, but we must hurry,”
said Ariel.

They
rode the elevator up one level. As soon as the doors opened Scarlett thought she was in The Realm of Fire. All the walls, the floor, and ceilings were made of painted white wood. It was a colossal space, almost bare, except for a raised platform in the centre with what looked like an altar on it. Scarlett was so busy admiring the bright vastness of the room, that she hadn’t observed Ariel placing a large white bowl on the altar. She glanced at Dyston, whose black leather jacket and green t-shirt were a striking contrast to the white backdrop. He was watching her. She knew that he wasn’t going to let her out of his sight this time. She stole a glance at Lakyn who was staring at her, as well, until Scarlett met his eyes, and he averted his gaze to Ariel.

“
Can you please step forward, Scarlett,”
said Ariel. Scarlett took a step away from Dyston towards the altar.

“
Wait. What exactly does this blood ritual do to Scarlett?”
asked Dyston. Scarlett paused.

“
It makes her choose,”
Ariel told him.

“
Choose? You never said anything about a choice.”

“
Silly, boy, every angel has to choose at some point, and for Scarlett, that point is now. Scarlett, please come forward.”
Ariel produced an ancient looking scroll and placed it on the marble table.

“
What do I have to do?”
Scarlett asked when she was standing in front of the altar.

“
It’s quite simple. All you have to do is give me a drop of your blood on the dotted line,”
she pointed to the scroll, and then produced a silver dagger.

“
I don’t remember an oath which involved the spilling of blood,”
said Dyston, moving to stand behind Scarlett, who reached out and took the dagger.

“
This is a blood debt, Dyston. Just a single drop will suffice,”
said Ariel, watching intently like a cat watching a mouse. Scarlett ran her finger along the blade and it cut her instantly, a single crimson drop fell to the snowy marble. Time seemed to slow down as everyone stared at the blood, whose shape was impeccably round. Scarlett closed her eyes and an image appeared in her mind, which she involuntarily began to draw. As she did, she heard multiple gasps.

“
Scarlett, what are you doing?”
asked Dyston

“
No!”
cried Lakyn, who seemed to recognise the image she was tracing in the blood. She opened her eyes and looked at what she had done. There, on the altar top, she saw an assemblage of circles, sharp angles and Latin symbols.

“
Where on earth did you learn that?”
Ariel asked.
“Stop!”

“
It was given to me,”
explained Scarlett, placing her palm to it, causing everything to disappear.