I tried to envision them in my mind. Picture their beautiful faces smiling at me. Remember the smell of my mother’s hair, and my father’s cologne. Thinking of them holding each of my hands, walking me through this terrifying Gate of Lost Souls.
“Remember to keep your eyes on me at all times, Emma,” Samuel reiterated.
“I will,” I breathed, and my heart started to beat a little faster. Trails of sweat dripped from my brow.
We started into the dark tunnel, which was the next gate, but there nothing but darkness. I didn’t hear any noises or moving around, and for a second, thought this level was going to be easy. As we came out of the tunnel, into an area where there was some light, I kept my eyes on Samuel, who was a few feet in front of me. If I reached out, I could have touched him.
I just started to relax when there was movement from the corner of my eye. I suddenly felt heat on my chest, and as I glanced down, the Bloodstone was glowing bright red. Evil was near. I fought not to turn my head and look, and it was killing me. It appeared to look like a white mist, but I wasn’t sure. I just kept my eyes glued to Samuel.
Stay focused. Keep your eyes ahead. Don’t look. Don’t look. Don’t look. If you look…you die, or get your soul sucked from your body. I had to remind myself over and over again.
“So, tell me about your mother. Her name was Victoria right? She and Alaine were half-sisters, so she must have been a wonderful person.”
The thought of her made me smile, even in the midst of this terror.
“Yes. She was beautiful, and the best mom anyone could have ever asked for. She was always there for me, and I never questioned her love. She and my dad gave me no clue that I was adopted. I did always wonder about my eye color, because theirs were green and blue, and mine were brown. Now I know why. Alaine looks a lot like her, and reminds me so much of her.”
There was more and more movement on either side of us. I felt helpless, as if hundreds of evil eyes were glaring at us, watching our every move.
I wanted to look. It was my natural reaction, and it took everything in me to keep from doing so. Things were hovering to the sides of us. Soul Snatchers. It was the fear of what they could do which kept my eyes steeled on Samuel.
“And your father…his name was Christian, right? What was he like?” he asked. I paused for a moment. “You’re doing fine, Emma. Just keep moving. With every step, we’re getting closer.”
Closer? Yeah right…and straight to the next gate where another horror waited for us. I took in another deep breath, filled with hot air. This place sucked.
“M-my father,” I stuttered. I was having a hard time trying to think straight.
Focus. I tried to focus on Kade. Alaine. The other Guardians. Courtney. Caleb. We were doing this for all of them. To save them. I took in another deep breath.
“My father was really cool. If there were ever an argument between me and my mother, he’d take my side. He was always there for me. Whenever I was sick, he’d always check up on me, and sneak me snacks. If I ever needed anything, he’d run right out and get it. He was a great dad. A really awesome dad.” A tear escaped my eye, and trickled down my cheek.
“I saw them once, from a distance. I think it was on your fifth birthday. They had thrown a party for you in their back yard. You were so beautiful, Emma, even at that young age, and I could tell that they truly loved and adored you.”
“Victoria and Christian were Alaine’s only choice to be your parents, and she knew that you would be safe with them. When Alaine was born, she was secretly whisked away, as you were, so no one knew who her real birth parents were. Well, very few immortals knew, but none in the mortal world. Not even her adopted parents knew. Alaine didn’t find out about her mother and half-sister, until she turned eighteen. She sought them out after she went away to college, and found out that her mother was dying. She had cancer, and only lived a few weeks after Alaine met her. It was devastating, but having Victoria in her life made things a little better.
“When she asked Christian and Victoria if they would take you, they immediately agreed, but Alaine also knew that she would not be able to be a part of watching you grow. If she did, she would be risking your lives.
“It killed her to have to give you up. The night you were born she held you in her arms and didn’t want to let you go. She was devastated when they took you away. I tried to comfort her, but she closed herself off, not only to me, but to everyone else. It took her a very long time to accept that giving you away and letting you live a normal life, was the best thing for you, and the only way you would be safe and live a normal life.
“I’m glad she’s had the chance see you again and spend some time with you, but sad that it had to be this way. I’m sorry for the loss of Victoria and Christian, but it is my hope we return to Alaine safely. She really is a remarkable woman with a huge heart, and an abundance of love to give to you,” he said with a smile.
Wow. That was quite a story. I was learning more about Alaine and my parents every day. Things I never knew. Things that were kept from me my entire seventeen years.
Samuel turned back to me. His face was glowing, and his brown eyes gleaming. He was very handsome, my father, and I was glad that I had this time to spend with him. Even if we didn’t make it through the five levels, at least I had a chance to put some of the missing pieces of my life together. I could see how much he and Alaine cared for me.
The sounds around us were growing louder and louder. Horrifying screams of pain and terror were so loud that it was as if they were right next to me. I wanted to close my eyes and disappear from this nightmare, but I continued to push on.
Samuel reached back and took my hand. His hand tightened around mine, and as it did I took in another deep breath and refocused on him.
“Come on, Emma,” he said calmly but firmly, leading me forward, step by miserable step, across the razor sharp field of rocks.
We were more than halfway there when I heard a familiar voice calling my name. I paused, but only briefly, trying to decide if my ears were playing tricks on me. There was no way it could have been the voice I thought I heard. I wanted to look. I needed to look, but my inner voice was telling me to keep my head straight.
“Emma. I’m here, my sweet Emma. Come to me my darling,” the voice sang.
No way!
There was no mistaking that voice. It was my mom, Victoria. I knew her voice well, and the one that was calling me, was undeniably hers.
“Emma,” she repeated.
I had to look. I turned my head, and immediately heard Samuel yell, pleadingly, “NO, EMMA! IT’S NOT HER!”
He jerked my hand, but it was too late. My eyes had already locked onto my mother. She was floating towards me, as graceful and beautiful as I remembered her, as she’d always been. She was dressed in a flowing white gown, her face was flawless and beaming, and her perfect red lips were turned up into a warm smile. Her green eyes were piercing, and her delicate hand was outstretched toward me, beckoning me to come.
I was tingly all over and my head felt like it was lost in a fog. My heart was telling me no, but my mind was telling me to go. I must have been in some sort of trance, and knowing this fact had my mind warring within itself. Every cell within me wanted to run into her arms and never let her go, but yet… there was that vague, still small voice, which told me that this was not real. That she was not my mother.
“Come my daughter. Come to me,” she sang, as both arms were now opened to greet me.
It was her. I was sure of it. Her face, her hair, her beautiful green eyes. But then again… there was something in the back of my mind, and in the pit of my gut, that was waving a huge red flag.
Why would my mother be in Hell? There is no way she could end up in a place like this. My mother was destined for Heaven.
“Come to me, my sweet Emma. Come, to me and we will be together, forever.” Her voice was melodic, pushing my better judgment deeper and deeper into a dark, shrouded abyss.
I tried to shake Samuel free and run to her, but his grip was locked securely around me. He suddenly pushed me back, and then he jumped in front of me, and swung his sword at her.
“NO!” I cried, as his blade passed right through the center of her, causing the apparition to disintegrate into white haze. But suddenly…the haze that Samuel had just swiped away began to take shape again. This time the apparition that reappeared was definitely NOT my mother.
I gasped and fell backwards onto the razor sharp rocks, locking eyes with a horrifying, ghostly creature. Its eyes were black and sunken; its face was shriveled, long, and terrifying. Sharp pains shot through my hands, and I knew they’d been sliced from falling onto the razor sharp rocks. I could feel the warm liquid dripping from my wounds, but right now that was the least of my worries.
Samuel swung again and again, but his efforts were useless. The creature would dissipate for a few short moments, but would appear again, arms outstretched, eyes locked, and heading straight for me.
“Run, Emma!” Samuel yelled.
I tried to get up but was suddenly surrounded with a dozen or more of the same ghostly creatures. I reached for the dagger that Dominic had given me, unsheathed it, and grasped it tightly in my bloodied hands. I held on to it as tightly as I could, hoping it wouldn’t slip. I forced myself to stand, and then glanced toward Samuel. He was still swinging away, and trying to make it back to me. “RUN, Emma! NOW! Get to the third gate!”
Gate? It wasn’t really a gate. It was just another darkened tunnel. But right now, that dark tunnel seemed much safer than the horrifying demon creature that was chasing me, trying to steal my soul.
These past few days had drastically altered my life. I’d learned never to question those around me. In my new world I could die if I paused, or questioned, so I took off as fast as I could, toward the next gate.
It looked like it was about 25 yards away. I kept going.
Twenty yards.
I was still on my feet, but my ankle twisted a few times. Horrifying screams echoed on both sides of me. From the corners of my eyes I could see more white figures hovering in my direction. Keep moving.
Fifteen yards.
A sharp pain shot through my ankle as it twisted on a sharp rock jetting out from the ground. I went down hard, throwing my arms out in front of me to catch my fall. They were now doubly sliced to shreds. I should have been impaled by the sharp rocks I fell onto, but the suit protected me.
I managed to keep the dagger within my grasp, despite the blood pouring from them, which made it slippery. I knew the creatures were already too near, and I already out of time. Instead of getting up and running, I quickly rolled to my back to defend myself.
The nearest creature, a few feet away, had its mouth gaping wide, like a python unlocking its jaws, ready swallow its victim whole.
Shit! That thing was frickin’scary!
I thrust my arm upward, which held the dagger, not sure if it would find its mark. But as I raised it, the dagger and its hilt began to glow with a blinding light. The light was so bright that it fully illuminated the darkness all around me.
I thrust the dagger at the oncoming creature, and as it passed through, it screamed most horrible, painful cry, and then shot off into the darkness.
The other two creatures attacked, so I swung the lighted weapon towards them. As soon as the light touched them, they screamed and writhed in pain. Their withered hands tried to block out the light from their hollowed eyes, and they quickly retreated into the cover of darkness.
Samuel suddenly appeared, and took hold of my other hand and pulled me up.
“Are you okay?” he asked, with a concerned look on his face.
I held the light over me to do a quick examination. No holes or anything life threatening, except for the blood all over my sliced hands. This suit was like wearing a suit of armor.
“I’m fine,” I answered.
I now had no doubt that this dagger was definitely magical. It kept the creatures away. I could hear them, but they remained hidden somewhere in the dark recesses of the cave. I held it up high, like a torch to light our path, and continued to hear the painful screams all around us.
“Where did you get that dagger?” Samuel asked.
“Dominic gave it to me last night. He told me that it was Michael the Archangels.”
“I know exactly to whom that dagger belongs. I was there the day it was presented to him, as a gift from the Almighty himself. Only Michael, or those deemed worthy by him, could ever possess this dagger, let alone be in possession of it for any given length of time.
“To be deemed worthy to possess such a gift is one of the greatest honors ever bestowed. Only a handful had been chosen to possess this magical and ancient relic, and up until now… they were only Purebloods,” he exhaled and shook his head, as if he was in complete awe.
He didn’t need to speak another word. I could read his expressions very clearly. He was completely baffled. How could I, his seventeen year old, non-pureblooded daughter be in possession of Michael the Archangel’s dagger?
Hell if I knew! I was just as baffled, and didn’t even know who Michael the Archangel was. It was Dominic who he gave it to last, so Dominic must have been deemed worthy.
But now, the real question was… why did I end up with it?
Was it really calling to me, like Dominic said? Did Michael the Archangel know that his dagger would end up in a non-Pureblood’s hands?
It must have been fate. It had to have been. There was no other reasonable explanation. None that I could think of.
Fate. That was such a broad word, which I didn’t fully understand, let alone use in my everyday vocabulary. I was beginning to learn that my life was now completely in fate’s hands.
I shook my head.
Way too much information. My brain was already at full capacity.
I glanced at the dagger again. Its white handle was still glowing brightly keeping the creatures away. We were now only steps away from the next gate, and I was certain there was something, even more horrifying, waiting for us somewhere within, or on the other side of this dark tunnel.
Samuel wrapped his arm around me, most likely to keep me from tripping and falling again. I was thankful he did, because I didn’t know how much more my injured hands could take.
“Any last words?” I questioned. He turned and looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “I mean… do you want to give me a heads up on what I should or shouldn’t be doing when we enter this next gate? I sort of want to be prepared. Believe me…This time I won’t question your advice.”
He chuckled. “The only advice I have for you, to get through this next level, is to stay on your feet and move as quickly as possible.”
“Crap. So what will I be running from this time?”
He paused. “Do you like snakes?”
“Snakes?” I exhaled. A shiver rolled down my spine at the thought of them. “I hate snakes. I’m terrified of them.”
His eyes furrowed and right then I knew that this next level would contain those slithering, disgusting, vile creatures.
“Double crap. Okay. So, like how many snakes are we talking about?”
“Well, let me try and give you a rough estimate. I’d say somewhere between the range of one to maybe thousands,” he answered flatly. My heart suddenly stopped beating, and I felt every ounce of blood drain from my face. “But don’t worry. I’ll get you through it. There is one particular serpent that I’ll need to take care of first. You just keep your distance, and wait for my signal. Once I give you that signal, I need you to run.”
“Where am I running to?”
“To the end of the tunnel, but DO NOT go beyond it.” I was afraid to ask why. “There are many dangers beyond this cave, and things you definitely don’t want to run into. Just stay about ten yards in. Hide yourself, and stay hidden until I come for you.”
I nodded.
He sounded so sure of himself. I just hoped he would be able to defeat whatever he
was up against, without Danyel’s help.
My body began to heat up, and I felt like I was suffocating. I closed my eyes and tried to focus and slow down my heart rate. As I did, I felt a coolness wrap around me. The suit had turned up its cool level, and just in time. I took in a deep refreshing breath.
“Emma, just stay behind me. When the next creature comes, I’ll divert its attention, and will yell when it’s safe for you to run,” he whispered.
Was he kidding? I mean seriously. He was totally scaring the crap outta me, and then expected me to run?
The ground began to shake, and I heard something moving ahead of us, and then the Bloodstone started to warm my chest.
“What is it?” I breathed.
“Shhhhh-”
Damn. He wasn’t going to tell me, so I assumed it was a snake.
Chapter 10
Level 3:
I held the lighted dagger down to the ground to see what I’d have to be running through. The rocks here seemed a lot more manageable. They weren’t sharp or as jetted out as much as before. They were actually smoothed out. But as I looked closer, I could see why. Something had broken off all of the jagged parts. Something humongous that had probably slithered over them.
“Cover your light,” Samuel breathed.
“What about those soul ghouls?”
“Don’t worry. They won’t enter this next level.”
I quickly but unwillingly sheathed the dagger, and then gripped tight on to Samuel’s arm as we entered the cave. It was pitch black and suddenly eerily quiet. The air had a heavy putrid smell to it. The smell of death mixed with something else.
My feet crunched loudly onto something, and crunched again with every step.
I reached down and touched ground. Whatever it was, it was very rough.
“What is that?” I asked Samuel.
“I don’t think you want to know,” he replied.