Falling from the Darkness (Brotherhood of Angels Series Book 3) Read online

  Chase attempted a fake laugh filled with resignation. “You’re trying to kill me.”

  Aiden wanted to drag Chase out himself, or strangle him. Whichever came first would do. He stood. “Oh, please. If I was trying to kill you, you’d know it. Now get outside in the sun.” He was practically yelling now. Something Dara would advise him against doing.

  Chase lifted his head enough to look for Aiden again, but he wouldn’t see him. Aiden wasn’t really there. “Alright. I’ll try. But for the record,” he took a heavy breath and tried to lift himself to his knees, “I think you’re crazy.”

  Aiden didn’t care what Chase thought, as long as he got outside.

  On his knees, Chase crawled, albeit slower than Aiden had ever seen any lorean move. The cave entrance was small and hidden. Aiden would never have looked for it there behind the grove of aspen and pine trees. The sound of rushing water from a nearby river filled the mountain air.

  Chase made it out of the cave with painstaking movements and flopped down on the moss covered ground.

  “Get to the sun, Chase.” Aiden felt like he was pushing him against time.

  “I’m getting there.” Chase closed his eyes, his fatigue visible.

  “No,” Aiden yelled in his mind. “You need the sun. Trust me.”

  Chase’s eyes fluttered open, but barely. He turned over, but the ground was sloped and he didn’t stop rolling until he landed on the bank of the river. His torso was up on a boulder, with his wings hanging limply in the water. He didn’t move.

  But Aiden didn’t care. Chase was in the sun.

  “Chase,” Aiden said squatting down to check on his brother. “Chase, can you hear me?”

  “Go away. I’m in the sun. Just go away.” Chase still didn’t move, not even his eyelids twitched. But he was talking to Aiden in his mind. That was enough.

  “I’m not going anywhere, brother.” Aiden sat down on his tower and waited.

  Did he wait for redemption or for the end of the world to finally come? Anything was possible. Nothing was going to move him from his post.

  Chapter Eight

  Aiden didn’t dare move from his position on the water tower, even as the sun began to sink into the western sky. If he moved, he might lose the connection with his brother. And truth be told, he welcomed the dusk. The deepening darkness fed him in a way the light never could, intensifying his connection to Chase.

  Just ahead, the ocean still rolled in over the beach, lulling the eastern city to sleep.

  But his mind was far away, in the mountains of Montana with his brother. Thankfully, the sun was a good three hours behind setting on Chase’s side of the continent.

  Chase continued to lie back in the late afternoon sun. His wings filled back out and the color returned to his cheeks, but something still seemed off.

  “Chase,” Aiden urged his brother, able to get inside his brother’s head a little too easily.

  Chase groaned, rolling to the side as if to escape Aiden. “I thought I told you to go away.” He spoke aloud as he moved to sit up off the rock, wincing as he did so. “How long have I been out?”

  “About an hour or two.” In his mind, Aiden slid from the boulder and squatted next to Chase. At the risk of sounding like a know-it-all, he couldn’t refuse the moment to taunt his brother. “I told you the sun was good for you.”

  “I don’t understand.” Chase gripped the side of his head. “Why are you even here?” Chase wasn’t talking in his mind, for just Aiden to hear, and his voice cracked with the effort. Chase inhaled sharply at the pain of exerting himself.

  “Gee, thank you brother, I’m so glad to see you, too. Oh, and thanks for saving my life and not leaving me to rot in some dark cave.” Aiden’s mimicking tone wasn’t lost in the many miles that separated them.

  Chase looked up to find Aiden, but since Aiden wasn’t actually there, all he could do was talk into the air. “You’re right, I should thank you. But forgive me for being quick to assume there is an alternative reason you came to help.”

  Aiden stood beside Chase, but looked out over the Montana skyline. The mountains spread out before him in layers of purple majesty that darkened the further they got into the distance. A rich orange sunset had already begun with the warm orb lowering itself closer to the thick fringe of tamaracks and pine trees.

  How long could Aiden procrastinate?

  “About that.” Aiden sucked in a long breath. “I was hoping you could tell me where our old house used to be. You know, with Mom.”

  Chase attempted to stand. Of course he still couldn’t see Aiden, but he looked around as if he could. His balance was still off, but he managed to stay on his own two feet. “The house isn’t even there anymore.” He no longer spoke aloud.

  Aiden could hear him louder, clearer. He waved him off. “I don’t care so much about the house as I do the garden.” He couldn’t even remember the color of the house or the lackluster warmth. It wasn’t the house that was important.

  Chase cocked his head as if listening harder. “What are you up to?”

  Aiden wasn’t sure if he should tell Chase about the box or not. He had to keep in mind that his brother was still pushing for the prophecy to be fulfilled. Their goals were so drastically different. He sighed, but didn’t let his mental processes with Chase to give away his exhaustion. He gripped the railing at the tower, but couldn’t focus on the cold metal under his fingers. “I just need your help, brother.”

  Chase didn’t answer for a drawn out minute. “There’s only one thing I can think of that you would want from the garden. Why do you need the necklace?” He spoke calmly, but calculated.

  Aiden stilled. He didn’t think Chase would have a clue why he wanted to go to the garden. The small yard had been his mom’s place of serenity. She had the greenest thumb of anyone Aiden ever knew. Her connection with the Earth truly made the most beautiful flowers.

  He decided that sidestepping his brother for the time being was the best thing to do. “Can you help me or not?”

  Chase sat down on the boulder he had crashed on earlier that day. His shoulders slumped slightly and he clasped his hands between his knees. He didn’t look up as he studied the ground and his feet. “Tell me something first. How did you know that the sun would help me?”

  If Aiden could, he would have cleared his throat in his mind. He was uncomfortable with the line of questioning, and all he really wanted was to get to the garden. “I didn’t.”

  Chase huffed and his wings twitched. “You really do want me dead.”

  Aiden chuckled. “No. On the contrary, brother, I’d much rather one of the girls were dead. The whole reason I want to end the prophecy is so we can finally be together again. I miss you, Chase.” He couldn’t hide his feelings. Not if he wanted to sway Chase.

  “That’s crap. We can be together, with Mom, if the prophecy is fulfilled. This has nothing to do with us as brothers.” Chase turned away from the sunset, the view, and Aiden, staring into the cave entrance like the tunnel was essentially his way of walking away from Aiden.

  Aiden pressed forward on the water tower, trying not to let his anger break his connection before Chase could help him, twisting the metal railing in his hands.

  The night was taking over. A refreshing burst of energy flowed through him, helping him calm down before talking to Chase. “Look, can you help me or not? Right now isn’t the right time to hash out our centuries long fight.” The longer they had been away from each other, the easier it was to forget details of their fight. He’d never tell Chase that though, just like Chase would never admit it to Aiden.

  Chase sucked in a long, heavy breath and released it slowly. The afternoon sun still shone down on him on the west coast, creating a golden glow on his black wings. “I remember a street.” He shook his head, narrowing his eyes. “More than that, I remember the house. It was small, wooden…no…logs. It was a small cabin like house. Behind the house not too far was the beach. Past the garden and the trees.”

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sp; “Yes, but where was it?” Aiden asked, irritated. He didn’t care about the house. He didn’t care what it looked like. He could remember the dankness of the interior, no matter how much mom tried to keep it warm and inviting.

  “What’s the hurry? After three hundred years you all of a sudden have a yearning to visit home?” Chase curved his lips, as if enjoying the minute torture he was putting his brother through.

  “I need that key. And my home is in Nevaeh.” He knew that was a low blow to his brother, who had to call Cynnistear home, but Aiden’s nerves were on edge. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could hold the connection to Chase without physically siphoning off another angel.

  Chase winced. “Fine, you can read minds, so read mine. I’m not telling you where it was.”

  Aiden growled. “Just like a dark angel. It really suits you.” Taunting his twin almost made him feel normal.

  He pried a little harder, using the darkness around him across the country to help him dig into his brother’s mind. Visions flipped through his head as he watched what his brother showed him.

  Everything came back to him. Seeing the old house twisted his heart, contracting it with longing. But he was able to pin point where it used to be, and a surge of energy rushed through him. He was close. So close. If it were day time, he might even see it from his perch atop the tower. “Thank you, brother.”

  Chase dusted off his black pants and shirt. “Do me a favor, let me know if you find the key. It’s probably gone by now, but… it was Mom’s.”

  “I will. I need to find it.” He couldn’t bring himself to tell Chase about their mom yet. Knowing she was in Tealsdor, walking around for so many years, probably insane, made Aiden choke up. He wasn’t ready to tell anyone yet. He stared at his brother, but the connection waned.

  It wouldn’t be long before it would break. But he wanted to wait there, be with Chase and just be brothers. Aiden wanted to act like it was the old days where they laughed and got along. “Do me a favor, now. Put your shield up. You’re too easy to find.” He bristled his tone. The last thing Chase needed was to know Aiden was softening toward him.

  Chase chuckled. “I can’t. I gave it to Madison. If I take it back, she won’t have it and you’ll find her.” He spoke aloud. “I’m still going to get your half of the tablet. This prophecy is happening, Aiden. I guarantee it.”

  The pressure of the tablet against Aiden’s back calmed him, and he couldn’t deny the relief he felt knowing he was so far away from Chase. “I know. But I’m still going to kill one of the girls. If not both. Maybe even you.” He sneered. “I guarantee it.”

  “I know.” Chase stretched his wings, a dominance power that Aiden was accustomed to seeing, especially with the darker loreans.

  The connection broke, leaving behind a stinging chill in his chest.

  Aiden wasn’t sure if he broke it, or his brother, but either way, Chase was gone.

  Again.

  He gazed over the city and the lights that lit up the early evening. But now he knew exactly where to go thanks to Chase.

  Chapter Nine

  Aiden hid throughout the night, waiting for morning to press deeper into the city. The suburbia outskirts near the beaches were his main focus. He hated waiting until the sun was pressing against the sky, filling the world with its light before heading through town. But, if he was seen at night while the Cynnistear angels roamed about, word would get back to Nevaeh and the council. Darkness can’t be where there is light. And he was light.

  The dark loreans couldn’t do their job if he was there. Not that some light loreans didn’t try to persuade an assignment to come back to the lighter side during the night, but only in very rare circumstances. Just like the darker angels came to the light to steal a charge away, luring them to the Cynnistear side. But neither lorean could defend themselves while outside their elements, so it was tricky.

  Although, Aiden didn’t think it would be that hard. He liked the dark, more than the light. But he didn’t have a problem in the light, and if he did, he siphoned enough energy to get him by.

  He trudged alone the sidewalk, cursing the heat of the morning.

  With so many houses and buildings in his way, there is no way he would ever find his mom’s garden. He doubted it was still there. Probably bulldozed over by some company and a contract to build a shopping mall. He cringed thinking of his mom’s locket buried under some store.

  His head swarmed dizzily under the direct hit of the sunlight. He would need to siphon some power to keep going. It didn’t make sense why he couldn’t keep energized throughout the day. Keeping to the shadows of the businesses on the sidewalk, Aiden kept a lookout for something that would help him.

  He looked all morning until the noon sun beat down upon the asphalt, heating up the summer day even more.

  Aiden had to accept the fact that their old place was gone, and so was the garden.

  And so was the necklace.

  He crested the edge of the trees and froze. The empty plot on the corner, void of the house, was the same as he remembered as a child. Aiden’s heart raced, beating loudly in his ears.

  Jogging, he took off across the road, stopping at the edge of the area. A few pieces of rubble from where their house used to be lay hidden under foliage near the tree line.

  He hurried to the side of the rubble, where the garden used to be. Nothing was there. Just tall grass, native milkweed and clumps of Eastern Blue Stars remained.

  No. No, no, no.

  He knew the house would be gone, but he truly hoped the garden would have remained. It was like the last piece of his mom was gone with the garden. He dropped to his knees, grasping tufts of grass in his hands.

  It was gone.

  A hummingbird buzzed past him, hovering around the wild flowers. It was so calm, not even noticing Aiden’s presence.

  Aiden hung his head. With the garden gone, he didn’t know where to look for the necklace.

  He was so close, but… He punched the ground.

  He had wanted the necklace so badly. It was the key to opening the box. It was the key to changing Chase’s decision about the prophecy.

  Closing his eyes, Aiden breathed long, taking in the sweet and salty mixture of the ocean and flowers. He used to sit outside watching his mother out there for hours in the garden. The necklace was something his mother only took out in the garden, away from the house. Away from Hawthorne.

  Aiden remembered the attraction he had to the crystal. How much it made him feel happy and connected to his mother.

  He cursed under his breath in lorean and stood. Maybe there was still hope?

  Giving the garden one last look, he took off toward the town. Maybe he could be lucky enough to find someone who found it?

  Aiden walked with a purpose, searching the faces of all the passerbys. Who would be old enough to hang on to such an heirloom? It was only his guess that it would be an elderly person because they would have been around before all the buildings took over the land. Anyone younger would have tossed something old like that.

  The sun rose higher into the sky, its heat radiated down on him, draining him of energy.

  The deeper into the city he went, the harder it was for him to keep going. Even though humans couldn’t see him, the other loreans protecting their charges eyed him curiously. He would purposefully let his shoulder touch a passing lorean to grab as much power as he could in the one-second connection. But it wasn’t enough. He needed more.

  He stopped, bracing himself against the cool brick siding of a building. Peering around to the glass double doors, he noticed it wasn’t just any building, but an old folks home. The scene of bald heads, wheelchairs, and pill cups had him grinning. A nursing home would have elderly people. A lot of elderly—who would be surrounded by Reapers and other loreans. He could feel a twitch deep inside, waiting for the first siphon.

  Mustering up enough energy to enter the building, he pushed his way through the mass of loreans near the front entrance. They mill
ed around, talking with each other. Some just stood there, arms folded, staring at their charge in the next room. Some cast him a slight glance, but nothing more, paying him no head. In their eyes, he was just another lorean on assignment.

  The mixture of loreans was heady. Mostly light, but a few dark Cynnistear angels mingled in the throng of immortals. And Reapers. A lot of Reapers.

  Aiden shuddered. He didn’t envy a Reaper’s duties at all. Rebirthing a human into the next layer was not something Aiden ever wanted to do.

  Reapers were a higher calling, which required skill at compassion and understanding. Something Aiden lacked in spades. Not that he didn’t try. It just didn’t come easily for him.

  Aiden hated when he was given an assignment to a nursing home. It was always a short lived assignment that bored him to tears. He had a suspicion the seraph loreans gave him those assignments to help push him into compassion.

  Not that it worked.

  Walking in on his own accord was much different. He didn’t have to stay and watch hours of pinochle games. He could leave when he wanted. Unless Sabre decided to have another pity party and call him to her.

  He really hoped she could hold it together long enough for him to find the key.

  The overpowering scent of hospital cafeteria food and cleaners assaulted his nose. It was better than other nursing homes he’d been in. That was a scent he’d rather forget, but never could.

  “Hey, I know you,” a man with gray wings walked over to Aiden. A Reaper. His shine was unmistakable.

  Sandy colored hair and his wide smile did not look familiar to Aiden. Ducking his head, Aiden tried to ignore him.

  “You’re the twin,” the lorean said, obviously not taking Aiden’s hint of obscurity.

  Aiden could feel the Reaper’s eyes following him as he made his way through the foyer. Anyone who knew him as one of the twins knew more about the prophecy than Aiden was comfortable with. He kept his wings stiff as if protecting the tablet from being seen.