The Lyris

“Why did you?”

  “I can’t say for sure. It’s not like I knew what was going on. I was in complete nothingness. But then there were times when I swear I could hear you urging me to wake up.”

  “I was pretty insistent. But so was your dad.”

  “Julian was here?” I ask.

  “According to Elle, once he learned you were here, he never left your side. He only went away when you started to wake up. He was there for you; unlike me.”

  “It’s not like you went to a frat party. You were trying to stop the Goumy.”

  “Yes and I failed. So we have to get you and your family somewhere safe.”

  “Marcus, they’re coming for us all, there is nowhere safe.”

  “I know, but I have to do something. I can’t just let you…” His words drifted away and it at that moment, I saw just how tired my Guardian had become.

  “Mr. Cane, I need you to do something for me,” I ask, smiling.

  “Anything,” he vows.

  “Come sleep with me.”

  “Wow, that’s the best offer I’ve had all day, but Bianca still has my Rah. I don’t have any Trickk and you should rest.”

  “No, I don’t mean it like that. I want you to lie down with me.”

  “The world is ending and you want me to take a nap with you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “You don’t get to ask why. I’m the ‘coma’ girl and coma girls get what they want,” I inform him.

  “Emmy, we have to start clearing out most of the cities and give the humans as much of a chance for survival as we can.”

  “The team is already working on it, right?”

  “Yeah, but—”

  “—But nothing. Baby, do this for me,” I ask softly.

  He gently pulls me into him and we lay down on the bed. He lies behind me and places his arms protectively around my waist.

  I have no desire to nap. In fact, I can’t wait to get the hell out of this bed. But I can tell Marcus hasn’t recharged in days. His eyes are worn, his voice is weak and the natural glow he normally has is fading. First Guardian or not, he needs to recharge. And knowing him, this is the only way I can guarantee he’ll do just that.

  “We can’t stay like this for too long,” he warns me.

  “Just a few minutes.”

  “The whole time you were in a coma, I would have given anything to know what you were thinking,” he whispers to me.

  “How much I love you,” I reply.

  “That’s all?” He asks.

  “That’s all.”

  We stay quiet for a few minutes. Then I slowly turn to face him and am relieved to see my plan worked. He is recharging. His eyes are closed and he lies perfectly still. His face looks at peace. I whisper his name and he doesn’t open his eyes. I hope he can get an hour or two of recharging.

  That seems to be enough to get Angels back on their feet.

  I know the world is in trouble, but he needs to recharge and it’s my job to make sure that he does. I mean, after all, I am his fiancée.

  Well, technically, I’m his mistress.

  How does that even happen? How can I, Emerson Hope Baxter, be someone’s mistress?

  Mistresses wear red stilettos, expensive perfume and live in luxury homes, paid for by their lovers. All I have are my running shoes, my Kindle Fire and Mrs. Charlotte.

  How did I get to be Marcus’s mistress? I haven’t lost my memory or anything. I remember the events that have led me here, but it’s still hard to take in.

  I close my eyes and the major events of the last month flashes in my head. I relive them as if they are happening right before me.

  It’s a few weeks earlier and I’m standing in front of Marcus after Dalce dropped the bomb about marrying Bianca. We’re alone in the room and Marcus tells me he won’t marry her because he loves me. I tell him that he has no choice. And after awhile, he agrees with me. Although he is doing exactly what I tell him to do, I want to slap him, hard.

  Did this boy just say he was going to marry another girl after I went to Hell for him? Is he out ofhis freaking mind? Does he think I’m just gonna stand by and watch him be with someone else?

  Wow, maybe he’s still on CP, because he has lost his mind.

  I risk my life for him time and time again; we made love just a few hours ago and now he’sgonna marry someone else? This can’t be happening. Seriously, this is not happening.

  I tried to put on a brave face as I exited the room. I lied to Marcus and said that I understood why he had to go through with it. But I didn’t understand; or at least my heart didn’t. It kept waiting for him to stand up for us; for him to tell Dalce to go screw himself, because he’s marrying me.

  Marry me and then what; watch as an entire race as is obliterated?

  I don’t care. He should never have married her!

  The internal conflict raged within me for what seemed like an eternity. I tried to put myself in his place. What would I do if I had to make that choice? Would I save humanity or be with Marcus?

  I’d like to think I’d put the world ahead of our love, but it’s hard because his love is my world. In the end, my head understood why he did it, but my heart wouldn’t come around.

  So, when Marcus and I met up again a few days later, I was going to break up with him. I loved him too much. And now I was paying for it. I didn’t know how that conversation was going to happen, but I knew I had to have it.

  We gathered on a mountain top in the Swiss Alps, where he had flown us. I had prepared my speech and was ready to end it, yet again, when I saw him smile.

  “What is?” I asked.

  “I’m just enjoying the last few moments I have left with you before you break up with me.” I looked at him, shocked. I hadn’t said anything to him about breaking up. In fact, I had forced myself to try and be as supportive about the Bianca situation as possible.

  “How did you know?” I asked.

  “Em, how can you stand by and watch be make vows to another girl? And yes, I’m being forced to do it, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m doing it. I’m hurting you. What else can you do but walk away?” He asks.

  “I tried, but…you and Bianca…I can’t…it’s so…” I replied, trying to stop my voice from trembling.

  He takes me in his arms and lifts my chin up with his hand, gently. He makes sure I am looking into his eyes.

  “Emmy, being loved by you is like watching the perfect sunrise. I’m elated and honored that I get to share in it. But I know it’s ephemeral. That’s what happens to perfect things; they end. And your love is perfect. So in my heart, I’ve been saying good-bye to it even as I said hello.” Damn him…

  How could I break up with him after that? So, I hung on to ‘us’ and I tried to find the strength to get through it. Strength, as it turns out, comes in the shape of pot brownies. They helped make everything funny.

  Hey, did you hear that knock knock joke? It cracked me up!

  Hey, is that a poster of an apple? Funny!

  Hey, is that my fiancée getting married to another girl? Hilarious!

  The problem with pot is the problem with all other drugs, the high will always end. And whatever it is that you were trying to forget, is sitting in your living room, awaiting your return.

  In case no one ever told you, misery is patient as hell.

  When Marcus took me to the cabin and said he wasn’t going to marry Bianca, I was so relieved, I nearly passed out. I knew it was a major risk on his part, but I love that he felt I was worth it.

  And then the team came with the news that Dalce would join the Believers if Marcus didn’t take Bianca. I held on to what I knew was his strong and unwavering love for me. Then, he told me about the Exchange clause.

  Oh Omnis, he’s gonna have sex with her! He’s gonna see her naked and touch her. They’regoing to be in each other’s arms. She’ll know what he feels like inside her. Why Omnis, why?

  I was done with Marcus then. Sweet words b
e damned, I just couldn’t take the hurt anymore. I was on the brink of a nervous break down. But then he reassured me that we could survive this. We even made a sensible deal: he would never tell me about that night. I broke our deal almost immediately.

  When I was in the room and the contract was fulfilled, meaning Marcus had slept with Bianca, I was beside myself with rage and sadness. Even though I had said it was okay, I would have given anything to stop it from happening.

  The whole time they were on their honeymoon, I pictured what they were doing. I pictured bottles of Coy and multiple complicated sex positions that would make the Kama Sutra look like the Bible. In my head, they had sex that was so exciting it required props and medical personnel standing by.

  What’s worse is the way I pictured the pillow talk. In my head, it went something like this:

  “So, did you enjoy having sex with me, Marcus?” Bianca would ask.

  “Yes, it was so good. Much better than what’s her name—Easter, Edith, Emily?”

  “I think her name is Emmy.”

  “Whatever; it’s time for round two, Bee. Bring the honey, rope and blindfold.” When Marcus got back from his honeymoon, he held on to his part of the deal and refused to tell me what took place that night. That only made things worse. Though I’m pretty sure knowing the details would have sucked, too.

  It’s not just Marcus getting married that burned me. It’s who he married. I have never actually hated anyone. But I can honestly say that I hate Bianca.

  You would think that I hate Lucy and I do. But Lucy is the source of all evil, so…um, yeah, I guess she’s doing what’s in her nature. Then there the Sage; he’s a raving lunatic who is hell bent on power and world denomination. You really don’t expect much out of a guy like that. But Bianca is not evil by nature nor is she insane; she’s just an old fashioned super bitch.

  I can’t count the number of ways I’ve killed Bianca in my head. Once, she died a painful and gruesome death thanks to Miku’s song. After her death, I danced on top of her bloody remains.

  Then I thanked Omnis for getting rid of her fake-smiling, lying, angel–stealing, social-climbing, ass.

  Another time, I fantasized that Tony made a mixture to peel her perfect caramel skin right off her bones. Then he’d five it to me, and I’d use her skin as bathroom wallpaper for the house Marcus and I have together.

  Sometimes, her death is not angel related. Like the time I killed her with a bear. I know it’s not very imaginative but when they found her, her eyeballs were dripping off the trunk of a nearby tree; beautiful.

  The worst thing about Bianca is the way she pretends she’s innocent in all of this. Like it just so happened that she ended up with my Angel.

  Bitch.

  I remember seeing her proposition Marcus when we were in the city of Cree. She was shameless and sneaky. She will never blind me to the truth: She’s a poisonous, sweet talking succubus.

  Bianca wasn’t the only one I killed in my head. I killed Marcus, too. Don’t judge me. He married another girl. And while I know he had to do what he did, I still murdered him a few times. But each time I did, I would end up teary eyed and bring him back to life.

  I was getting around to telling Marcus to be careful with her but I never got the chance because Ty walked in on us holding each other…

  Now, I lay on the hospital bed with Marcus recharging beside me, and a world nearing its end. I think back to how simple things used to be when the Guardians first got here. I remember them sitting me down, telling me all about the balance between good and evil.

  “That’s it!” I exclaim as I pop my eyes open and leap off the bed.

  I shake Marcus, excitedly. He wakes up and is immediately on high alert.

  “Emmy, what is it?”

  “I know how to stop the Goumy.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY:

  FINAL HOURS

  You ever say something and wish to Omnis you had just kept your mouth shut? Well, that’s exactly what’s happening to me right now. In a matter of minutes, my hospital room fills up with Guardians (and one dubious Akon). Marcus gets them all together so they can hear my idea. I really didn’t need an audience, though. I mean, what if my idea sucks?

  The one bright side to having everyone here is it made me realize how much I missed them. And yes, that even includes Ameana. Compared to Bianca, Ameana is looking better and better every day.

  Miku brings some clothes and food for me. She makes everyone wait until I’ve had a few bites of my sandwich. It does not go smoothly. That’s what happens when people are waiting for you to down your chicken and pesto sandwich so they can hear your plan to save the world. I chew so fast, I’m guessing I’ll be the first seventeen year old to have heart burn.

  I look over at Marcus and whisper in his ear.

  “I wish you hadn’t gathered them; what if my idea is stupid?” I ask.

  “Stupid or not, it’s all we have right now,” he replies.

  “Way to build more pressure,” I scold him.

  He takes my hand and squeezes it reassuringly. I take a deep breath and tell them my idea; if they laugh, so what? I’ll be embarrassed but it’s the end of the world so, I won’t be embarrassed for long.

  Wow, Emmy, dark much?

  I shake my head and make myself focus on the Guardians around me.

  “Do you remember when you guys first came to Earth; you sat me down and told me why Omnis created Lucy?”

  “Of course, baby girl. I was the one who told you. As we know, I have the best speaking voice,” Jay says proudly.

  “Yes, Jay, you’re a national treasure, now can we continue?” Ameana replies.

  “You guys said that Omnis thought the world needed balance. And that for every good, there’s bad. That’s why, as the source of all good, he needed an opposing source, hence came Lucy,” I start.

  They agree and wait for me to continue.

  “See, that’s just it; everything we’ve encountered has had its opposite. From Guardians to Akons. From the Fire Swans to Tallies. I know the Goumy are an aberration but even so, they have to have an opposing force.”

  “You mean some aberration of good?” Marcus asks.

  “Exactly. What if there is some fanatic embodiment of good out there that could rival the Goumy?” I ask.

  “We would have heard about something like that, Emmy,” Rio replies.

  “Well, we didn’t know about the Goumy until now. We didn’t know about the Quo. Hell, we didn’t even know a city of half angels existed. I hate to be the one to say it, but The Council sucked at keeping you guys informed,” I remind them.

  “If there was such an aberration, the Paras would be the ones to talk to,” Miku suggests.

  The team quickly makes a call to Wolf and puts him on speaker phone. He says he has never heard of any such thing. Frustrated, I sigh and lie my head back. But as Wolf is about to sign off, he tells us to check in with Rahell, as she might know something.

  When Arden puts Rahell on the phone, her voice is weak and worn. We inquire about her hand and she tells us it cannot be repaired my any mixture known to Angels. The red tip of the blade Sage attacked her with is poisonous. It ensures that whatever body part it cut off cannot be mended.

  Rahell tries to sound upbeat but we can hear the stress and worry in her voice. She is so beautiful. I don’t think her losing a hand is going to change that. Still, it’s got to be devastating for her to look over and find a piece of her is missing.

  The team tells her my theory. She thinks on it for a few minutes. In the meantime, I’m feeling like a fool for getting everyone’s hopes up for nothing. Finally, Rahell answers us.

  “I can’t say that I’ve heard of any such power. But you need to ask an Original Para to be sure. They have been here the longest. They know all there is to know about our history.”

  “I thought all of the Originals were gone,” Marcus replies.

  “We’ve keep the fact that some are still alive hidden. We can’t chance them b
eing hunted. They are spread throughout the world. It’s not safe to say it on the phone. I will make a Plate and place the info inside. It will reveal itself only in your hands, Marcus.”

  “That’s perfect, thank you, Rahell,” Marcus says.

  “Can I ask your team for one thing?” Rahell inquires.

  “Anything.”

  “Kill the Sage. Don’t just win the war. Wipe him off the face of this Earth.” We all glance at each other. We’ve never heard Rahell sound so angry and bitter. We all understand why, it’s just hard to hear a once so peaceful Angel sound so vengeful. But I understand. In fact, lately, I’ve had waves of anger wash over me. I’m not really sure how to deal with it.

  “Will you do that for me?” Rahell asks again, snapping me out of my thoughts.

  “You got it,” Marcus replies.

  He looks over at the rest of us with doubt. The promise he had made is a major one. And everyone in the room knows there’s a chance it may not be fulfilled.

  While we wait for the Plate to come by shadow servant, Miku clears out the room so that I can get dressed in the clothes she picked up for me. Before he leaves, Marcus tries to get me to consider sitting out the rest of the mission. I don’t even bother replying. I gently push him out the door so that I can get ready.

  “Thanks for the clothes, Miku.”

  “Any excuse to shop,” she replies.

  There’s sadness in her voice that she’s trying to mask with a smile.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask.

  “Nothing; it’s crazy and ridiculous.”

  “I know; ‘crazy’ and ‘ridiculous’ are old friends of mine, so try me.”

  “Emmy, the world is breaking apart. Everyone is dying; Believers, soldiers, humans, angels… And yet, I can’t stop thinking about Jay. What’s wrong with me?”

  “Well, it doesn’t help that he’s always just like three feet away from you. It’s hard to work with the guy you like,” I reply.

  “I just don’t get how I could want him so much, but be so pissed at him.”

  “I love Marcus, and since the whole Bianca thing, I’ve wanted to throw him down a flight of stairs. Head first,” I laugh.