Savior (Book One)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

I have no idea how long I sat there with Leviathan’s body in my arms. It was like I couldn't move, my body unwilling to do anything other than sit there, the remains of my older brother scattered amongst the leaves, white and silver rose petals that contrasted with the dark soil. I still couldn't believe it. No. More like, I didn't want to believe it. He was my big brother, the one who taught me how to read, how to fly...hot to talk properly...literally everything I know. And he was gone. Gone thanks to a war that Adam started.
I wanted to feel at least angry that the monster stole my brother from me, but I felt...blank, as if I were still in shock over the whole thing. My tears had long since dried, leaving my face uncomfortably blotchy, my eyes feeling heavy.
Feeling like I had been there enough, I grabbed a handful of the petals that were once the man I looked up to, grasping them tightly, afraid to let them go. I wanted to at least have something of my brother...and sadly the petals were it. Unless he was finally resurrected, either as a plant in the Garden, or as a human. But, who knows how long that would take. It could be a day, a week, a century...even a millennia. So I clutched the petals tightly against my chest, blindly making my way back to the hotel, as the first rays of sunlight began pouring from behind the horizon. People gave me strange looks thanks to my disheveled state, but I didn't care. I just wanted to go home. Wherever the heck home was. Heaven? Anabell’s place? Where?
I stared at my feet as I walked, my shoes soiled by the dirt of the forest floor. My clothes were dirtied as well, my blonde hair an unkempt mess that got even worse as the wind blew, making my bangs fly into my eyes. I brushed them away with my free hand, glancing up as I made it back to the motel.
And when I walked into the room, I was tackled by a sobbing mess of brown hair and the smell of lavender. I only stood there as Anabell hugged me tightly, yelling at me claiming she had been terrified when she woke up and I wasn't there, thinking that either Leviathan or Adam had gotten to me and killed me. But upon seeing my face and the hand that was clutched to my chest, as well as my disheveled look, a spark of worry flickered through her emerald eyes.
“Sky? What...what happened?”
I looked up at her, surprised when a few tears fell from my eyes. I guess I still had some tears left, even after crying for hours. “Leviathan...he...he’s dead. I...I killed him.” I choked on a sob, making Anabell quickly wrap her arms around me tightly.
“I'm so sorry, Sky. Oh gosh, I…” Unable to say anything else, she held me tighter, surprising me when I felt some tears on my shoulder. “I can't believe he’s dead. I mean...he was an asshole...but...gosh, he wormed his way into my heart, the bastard. He was like a weird, big brother figure.”
“I'm a murderer,” I whispered, hiding my face in Anabell’s neck. “I killed my big brother.”
Anabell immediately shook her head, pulling away from me and holding me at arms distance, her hands on my shoulders as she gave me a stern look. “You are not a murderer, Sky. I refuse to let you believe that. Did he fight you?”
I sniffled, nodding my head slowly. “He...he was being forced to. Adam...Adam was forcing him with a spell.”
“Damn it,” Shane muttered, surprising me as I had forgotten he was even here, “he must have used Allegiance.”
“Allegiance? What's that?” Donna asked, looking worried at Shane with wide jade colored eyes.
Shane glanced at her, brushing his crimson bangs out of his eyes. “It's one of Adam’s special abilities. Each archangel has a special set of spells that are tied to whatever type they are. Adam is the Angel of War. His abilities include infinite stamina, strength, and a couple of spells known as Hell’s Web, and Allegiance. Both are extremely deadly spells, and if Leviathan was cast with Allegiance, then the only way to break that spell is by death.”
Anabell turned back to me, cupping my cheek gently. “So you only defended yourself. You didn't kill him, you saved him from being Adam’s bitch. You set him free, Sky. He doesn't have to worry about Adam, or this stupid war anymore, thanks to you. So please don't blame yourself for this. Please.”
I said nothing and only nodded, not entirely convinced as Anabell pulled me back into her arms, her warmth against me welcomed. She then pulled away, glancing curiously at the hand I held clutched to my chest.
“What do you have?”
I gulped, glancing down at my hand and opening it to reveal a couple of crumbled white and silver rose petals, making Shane look at me sadly and Donna and Anabell look at me with sad curiosity. “Leviathan.” I mumbled, gently brushing my fingers against one of the petals.
Anabell and Donna sucked in sharp breaths of disbelief, their eyes going wide as Anabell’s filled with tears. “Like how your body did when you died,” she said, making me nod numbly. “But, those are silver and white, not gold and white.”
“Leviathan’s wings were white and silver. Usually when our bodies disintegrate, the rose petals take the color of our wings. Sky’s were gold and white, and if I die, mine will be white and red.” Shane answered for me, walking over to me so he could hug me. “I am truly sorry for your loss, Sky. Leviathan was a great warrior, and an even better person. I'm so sorry he had to go in such a way.”
I nodded, wrapping my one arm around him to return his hug. He pulled away and gave me a small smile, his blue eyes dark as he lifted them to Donna. He patted me on the am before he made his way over to the raven, speaking softly to her, not that I was listening. I was too busy staring at what remained of my big brother, the silver part of the petals gleaming from the sunlight that managed to make it through the blinds.
I twitched when I felt Anabell’s hand on my shoulder, her eyes sad as she stared at me. “Are you going to be ok, Sky?”
I bit my bottom lip, taking in a shaky breath as I shrugged my shoulders. “I'm not sure. I...I know Leviathan is in a better place now...away from Adam...but...it still hurts.” I smiled sadly at her, cupping her cheek with my free hand. “At least I have you, though. You can help me through this.”
Anabell immediately nodded, placing her hand over mine as she gave me a determined look. “Of course. I'm here whenever you need me. Even if it's an ungodly hour in the middle of the night and my hair looks like a rats nest, I will be there for you.”
Biting my bottom lip, I leaned in and kissed those perfect lips of hers, her lips soft and sweet against my own. When I pulled away, I gave her a small smile. “I love you, Anabell.”
Anabell let put a breath, her eyes becoming dewy as she looked at me lovingly. “I love you too, Sky. More than anything in the world.”
I closed my eyes as she kissed me again, her arms wrapping around my neck until someone cleared their throat, making us pull away and look at Shane, who had his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans.
“Well, it is about time I take my leave. I need to relay to Father what intel I've gathered on Adam and his forces.”
I nodded, wrapping my arm around Anabell’s waist, my eyes on the redhead in front of me. “Wait. Um...is there any way you can open a portal to Anabell’s house? I...I can barely fly with one person, let alone two.”
Shane blinked before he nodded, glancing briefly at Donna before he took a breath. “It will take a lot of my energy, but, yes, I can open one. You will have to be fast, however, since I want to save as much energy as I can.”
“Of course,” I responded, watching as Donna made her way over to us, holding onto Anabell’s arm.
Shane closed his eyes and lifted his hands, green sparks erupting from his fingers as he muttered quietly under his breath. He then flexed his fingers out, making the sparks fly from his fingers and land in front of us, whirling around until I could see Anabell’s house from the other side, the building looking completely untouched.
I gave a small nod to Shane, who returned one of his own, before I pulled Anabell and Donna through the portal, glancing back as it closed behind us.