"Honestly, Eden. Must you traipse around in your bra?" Grandmother scolded.
I stood up, raking my wet hair away from my eyes. The cold water raced from the crown of my head down my neck and back, mixing with the salty sweat my skin had been marinating in all morning. "It's a sports bra, Grandmother. Kind of like ... a very small shirt."
"It's a bra," she snapped. "Cover yourself. It's lewd."
"It's not that bad," Levi said. "Look at me. I'm not wearing a shirt."
I smiled at him.
"Eden!" Grandmother snapped.
"Yes, ma'am." I stiffened and then retreated into the house. Although I was sprinting up the stairs, my steps were silent. I slipped into the bathroom and took a quick shower. Then I got dressed while the water was still beaded on my skin.
Just as I combed out my wet hair, Levi knocked on the door.
"Come in," I said.
I smiled as he entered.
Dirt was mixed with his sweat, creating smears of mud in different places on his chest, arms, neck, and face. His skin had tanned over the summer from spending hours training with me outside without a shirt on.
My smile vanished. "So serious," I said. When he didn't respond, I stood up tall. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No," he said, keeping his soiled self a respectable distance from my freshly scrubbed skin and white dress. "No. Lillian was in an accident. Bex is staying here, but everyone else is going to the hospital."
My mouth fell open. "Then we should go."
Levi stood in front of me, shaking his head. "It's covered. The hospital is covered inside and out with every creature imaginable. They think it's a trap."
Dad burst through the door. "I'm sorry, but I need you to stay."
I nodded quickly. "Okay. Of course. Whatever you need me to do."
Dad kissed my cheek. "Thank you, sweetheart. We'll be back soon. Levi," he said, "keep in communication. Watch your six."
Levi nodded. "Between the three of us and Cynthia, we can handle it."
"Jared!" Claire yelled from downstairs.
"Love you, baby girl. Stay alert."
The moment he turned, he was gone, and the door closed. I rushed over to the window, looking down at my mother in the passenger seat of Dad's SUV. She waved to me, looking afraid, and she pressed her palm to the glass.
"It must be bad," I said, watching the vehicles tear out of the driveway.
Levi wrapped his arms around me. "They're up to something, but she's not what they want. I'm sure she'll be fine."
"Dad looked worried."
"He always does, doesn't he?" Levi said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.
I nodded, turning to hug him.
Grandmother called from downstairs, so Levi held out his hand, and we joined her in the sitting room. She held out her arms, hugging me with an unusual affection.
"She'll be all right, darling. Don't worry." She pulled me to sit next to her.
She held out her hand to Bex, beckoning him to come into the room. He did, and she put her arm around him when he joined us.
"It won't happen again," she said. "He won't do this to us twice."
"Yes, he would," Levi grumbled.
Grandmother shot a stern look in his direction.
The clock in the corner ticked out each second, making the time drag by. My phone chimed, and I held it up, tapping quickly on the screen.
"It's Mom," I said, clicking out a reply. "She's still in surgery."
"For what?" Bex asked.
"I'm sorry," I said, putting my phone on the coffee table in front of us. "She didn't say."
Bex nodded. "She will later. Nina is good in hospital settings. She had a lot of practice with Ryan."
I offered him a half-smile and then reached for his hand. He took it and squeezed it tight. Grandmother hugged us both to her sides.
Levi stood up and began to pace. His steps began to align with the clock. The waiting was the worst part. Levi paused, looked up, and then began pacing again.
"Levi, please. Do sit down," Grandmother said.
I stood. "It's okay. It's too hard to sit still."
Bex stood as well, and soon, we were all standing, pacing, or standing in place but rocking back and forth.
The courtyard was visible from the sitting room window, and I watched the decorations blow in the wind. Somehow, that made the brave face I was trying to keep for Bex disintegrate.
Levi stood behind me, wrapping his arms around my middle, as if he could read my mind. He touched his cheek to mine, whispering words of comfort in my ear but not in English. He spoke in my favorite dialect--the language of Heaven.
Grandmother stood, looking around as if she sensed something. "Bex?"
Bex nodded. Levi only hugged me to his chest.
"They're here?" I asked.
Levi touched his lips to my ear. "Stay close, no matter what you see."
I nodded.
The doorbell rang, and we all looked at one another.
Bex pulled a pistol from behind him.
"I'll go first," Grandmother said.
We followed her to the mouth of the hallway leading into the foyer, her heels clicking against the marble. Agatha appeared from the dining room, but Grandmother held out her hand, and Agatha froze mid step.
"Go home," she said. "Through the back. Have Robert take you home. Go now."
Agatha nodded, rushing past us toward the back hall.
Grandmother took in a deep breath and then perfected her posture, turning the knob. The door opened with a sweeping motion, and before her stood Morgan.
I gasped and instinctively moved forward, but Levi grabbed me before I could take a step.
"No," Grandmother said simply.
"Morgan," I breathed, my eyes instantly filling with tears.
My friend looked past her with bloodshot eyes. "Eden," he begged, "help me."
"Leave us," Grandmother said.
Morgan stepped through the threshold, easily pushing Grandmother aside. Bex stepped in front of me, as did Levi. Grandmother's heels tapped quickly against the floor as she rushed to head Morgan off. She stood between the three of us and Morgan, lowering her chin.
Morgan laughed, the sound nothing of his own making. "Who do you think you're dealing with, woman?"
"Father," Levi said quietly.
"Oh, shit," Bex said, bracing himself.
Morgan turned to Grandmother and violently shoved her to the ground, sending her body sliding across the room and into the wall.
I tried to push through my uncle and Levi, but they stopped me.
Morgan's expression softened. "Eden?"
I puffed out a breath, the pain of his suffering burning in my bones. "Morg," I cried, my face crumbling.
Morgan smiled, and a frightening voice spoke from his mouth, "I'll break his bones, one by one." His arm moved into an unnatural position, and a horrible crack echoed throughout the house. He looked surprised and then cried out in pain.
I covered my mouth.
"Stay close to me," Levi said. "No matter what."
"Do you think you'll be spared, son?" Morgan asked, his arm dangling as he stepped toward us.
"Not at all. But you won't touch her."
Another crack sounded, and Morgan fell to the ground, grabbing his shin and howling in agony.
"Stop!" I shrieked. "Make it stop!"
Morgan lay on his side, holding his leg with his good arm, the other lying limp behind him. Then he bent backward, his back snapping.
"Ah!" Morgan screamed, frozen in pain. His eyes found their way to mine. "End it," he whispered, his words catching between gasps for air.
I shook my head, and I pushed through Bex and Levi.
"Stop!" Levi said, grabbing my wrist.
"This is my purpose. If I can't save my best friend, I can't save anyone."
Levi's expression was severe, a deep line forming between his brows.
"Let me go," I said softly.
Levi shook his head
.
I reached out with my other hand, peeling his fingers from my skin, and then I spun around and ran to the center of the room, falling on my knees next to Morgan. I cradled him in my arms.
"I'm going to make it stop," I said, feeling a tear fall down the bridge of my nose. "Stay with me, Morgan."
The corners of Morgan's mouth turned up, and then his eyes rolled back into his head.
I held my breath. "Morgan?" I sniffed. "Morg?"
Twin black orbs replaced his eyes, and he smiled as his arm snapped back into place. I scrambled back, and then Levi picked me up off the floor.
Morgan's leg made an identical noise and then his back, and he slowly climbed up to a standing position.
Tears streamed down my cheeks. "Did you kill him?"
Lucifer smiled. "He's still here. Still in pain. Still crying your name."
Levi's fingers dug into my shoulders to hold me back.
"I've gotta do it, Eden. I'm sorry," Bex said, aiming his handgun.
I grabbed the gun out of his hand and exposed the clip. Then I threw the gun in one direction while kicking the clip in the other. In the next moment, Morgan was on my back, attacking with supernatural speed.
Levi grabbed him and flung him across the room.
"No!" I screamed, pointing at Levi. "No."
Across the room, Morgan stood, rolling back his shoulders and crouching, ready to attack.
"How do we separate them?" I asked, feeling desperation cloud my thoughts.
"He's too strong," Levi said. "He'll leave on his own ... or remain until Morgan dies."
Morgan took wide strides across the room at full speed, lunging at me. I took the brunt of the blow in my chest as he rammed me against the wall.
Levi began to attack him from behind, but I held out my hand. With reluctance, he obeyed my order to stand down.
Morgan swung me around, slamming my back into the wall again. I felt the plaster crater behind me. He swung, and I ducked, his fist splintering a wooden panel. He grabbed me again, tossing me across the room, and I crashed face-first into a console table with dozens of glass vases, high-dollar ceramic bowls, and sharp corners of picture frames.
The air was knocked out of me, but I crawled to my feet.
Levi shook his head. "What's the plan, Eden?"
"To save Morgan," I said.
"You're weak. You can save no one. All you've ever been is in the way," he hissed.
I circled him, waiting for him to strike again. He didn't wait long, but I ducked and then sidestepped, trying my hardest to buy Morgan some time.
"Morgan?" I said. "Can you hear me?"
He laughed. "Can you hear him?" His voice changed into the sweet sound of Morgan's voice. "Eden!" he cried in anguish.
I closed my eyes at the heartbreaking sound. A moment later, an elbow swiped my jaw, followed by several more blows, and then a foot kicked my stomach. I grunted as I flew across the floor again. On my knees, my palms flat, a mouthful of thick crimson liquid dripped from my bottom lip to the marble, and more blood streamed into my right eye from somewhere above it.
From the corner of my eye, I saw feet coming toward me, and then Lucifer grabbed my shoulders, picking me up and shoving me against the wall.
"Morgan," I groaned, looking into his obsidian eyes. "Don't make me do this. Please don't make me do this," I cried.
"Eden!" Levi yelled.
"Stay back," I said, coughing more blood.
A blur passed me and tackled Lucifer to the ground.
"Levi! Easy!" I said, watching him slam Morgan once against the ground.
"Leave this boy," Levi said. "Leave him and fight us. Are you afraid? Are you not Lucifer? Fight us yourself! Coward!"
A growl emitted from Morgan's throat and then a wail. Bex returned to the foyer, snapping his gun back together. I gave him a warning look and then startled when my dad burst through the front door, followed soon after by Mom.
She rushed to my side, checking me over. "Jesus," she said, her eyes darting to Morgan.
"Grandmother," I said, pointing to the front corner of the room.
"Are you okay?" Mom asked, her palm on my temple.
I nodded, and she left me to tend to her mother.
Levi lifted Morgan by the neck, dangling him in front of Dad. "He's nearly killed Morgan. I think we ... I'm sorry, Eden, but we should put the poor kid out of his misery. It's the most humane thing to do."
"No!" I said, rushing to stand next to my dad.
Dad frowned, looking over Morgan's broken body. "We could tie him up and try an exorcism, but he's got a strong hold, and I don't think Morgan would survive it."
My bottom lip trembled, and I closed my eyes. "Help him," I whispered, looking to the ceiling. "Won't you help him? He's an innocent."
Bex took Morgan from Levi, and Levi pushed me back, lowering his chin so that I would look into his eyes.
"Eden ... Eden, I'm talking to you. You have to let him go. He's suffering."
I shook my head, tears streaming down my cheeks and onto my neck. I sniffed. "I can't. He's my responsibility. They're all my responsibility."
"Eden," Mom warned. She recognized the look in my eyes. She'd had the same look once.
Morgan's eyes popped open, filled with fear and pain. "Eden?"
"I'm here," I said, held back again by Levi.
Morgan groaned. "Him or me."
Mom helped Grandmother to a chair and then rushed over. "Don't listen to him. He's using Morgan to distract you from what you're meant to do."
I looked at my friend and then back at Mom. The walls behind her were crushed and broken, paintings hanging from the wall and broken glass covering the floor around her feet. Morgan wasn't in any better shape than the foyer. There was only one way to save him.
"This is what I'm meant to do," I said. In that moment, I realized the choice had already been made.
"No," Mom said, her voice breaking. "I'm your mom. I'm supposed to save you."
I smiled. "You have. Now, it's my turn."
Levi grabbed my shoulders. "I don't know what your plan is, but you can't save him. Morgan's gone."
I touched Levi's cheek. "Not if I can help it." I leaned in and kissed his lips, saying good-bye and confessing my love as best I could in those tiny few moments.
"Eden--" he said, gripping my wrist.
"You hold Bex's life in your hands. I'm trusting you to honor that."
Levi's eyebrows pulled in, and he shook his head once. "I've waited an eternity for you. You're not leaving me now."
"Him or me!" Morgan cried out.
"You," I said, escaping Levi's grip and shoving Bex out of the way with all my strength.
I wrapped my arms around Morgan, whispering into his ear, "Release him, and you can have me."
Lucifer looked down upon me, excitement in his eyes. "Just like that?"
"You have my word. His life for mine."
"Eden, no!" Mom cried.
Dad reached out for her, and they held each other while Lucifer walked backward with me in his grasp.
"What will this win you, Father?" Levi screamed. "Nothing! You gain nothing!" The skin around his eyes was red, his pupils dilated, his entire body tense with fear.
"She took something very important to me," Lucifer snarled.
"You want me?" he asked. "Then take me," Levi said, desperate. "Take me back to Hell."
Lucifer considered the offer and then dismissed it. Levi took a step.
"Levi, listen to me," I said, my voice smooth and calm. "This is the right thing, and you know it. This is why I was given a second chance."
Dad clenched his teeth and then raised his gun, aiming it at Morgan.
"Daddy," I said, trying to keep my voice from breaking. "He's an innocent."
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you do this, sweetheart." He gripped his gun tightly, his knuckles white.
An eighth person appeared, standing behind my parents and Levi. Eli put one hand on my father's shoulder and the ot
her on Levi's.
"Eli!" Mom said. "Do something!" she begged.
"Jared," Eli spoke softly. "If you shoot him, you'll disturb the Balance." His words weren't a warning or direction. He simply told my dad the truth.
Dad shook his gun at Morgan. "Shelling disturbs the Balance. The punishment is death!" he yelled, the wrinkles in his forehead deepening.
"Not by your hand," Eli said, patient.
Levi's eyes widened. He knew it had all come down to this moment. Every turn we'd each taken had somehow brought us to my grandfather's house where it had all began. The realization that he was waiting for me to be saved when I was the savior played out on his face. Almost everyone who loved me would watch me give my life for Morgan's. He was human. My purpose was to save them ... all of them ... one of them.
Eli saw the understanding spark in my eyes, and he watched me like a proud father. Knowing I had finally reached the end made a strange calm wash over me.
"You'll see her again," Eli said. "You've found redemption in turning your back on your father, Levi. You must let her do the same."
Levi's eyes glossed over, his bottom lip trembling. "I can't." He looked to my dad. "Shoot him, Jared."
Dad's hand shook as he fought within himself.
"Shoot him," Levi said, his face contorted. "Shoot him!" he screamed.
Dad swallowed, and a tear fell down his cheek. He lowered his weapon, every inch seeming to cause him real physical pain.
"Jared, no," Mom said. "No!" she cried as he lowered his weapon.
She grabbed at his arms, reaching for the gun, and then tried to push past him to get to me. He held her back, his eyes red and wet, his mouth curled up and trembling.
"Love you," he said, holding my mom away.
"It's okay, Mom," I said softly. "I'm not afraid."
Still pushing against my dad, Mom turned to Grandmother. "Do something!"
Grandmother looked at me with weary eyes and then back at Mom, shaking her head.
"I know you can!" Mom yelled.
"I can't," Grandmother said. She cleared her throat, regret and sadness clear in her eyes. "We might not always understand it, Nina, but some things aren't meant to be changed."
"Levi!" Mom cried.
In a blur, Levi ripped the gun from my dad's hand and pointed it at Morgan. I leaned to the side, putting myself between my friend and Levi's aim.
Levi choked back a sob. "Don't do this," he begged, a tortured, helpless expression on his face.
"I love you," I whispered.
"You'll see her again," Eli repeated, squeezing Levi's shoulder.
"I'll see you soon," Levi whispered in a comforting voice, a tear falling when he blinked. He lowered the pistol, pure anguish in his eyes. "I'll see you soon."