Forever (Fallen 3)

As if sparked by his words, spikes came straight up out of the floor. Their metal tips were coated in a lime green liquid. I sniffed the air. Poison.

“Well,” Gabriel studied the spikes, “at least we know we’re close.”

“How do we get around them?” I asked.

“That’s a good question,” he murmured. “But we don’t have time to mess around. The Guarde is coming.”

Their sound of their footsteps were getting too close for comfort and I really didn’t want to get into another fight in this narrow hallway.

“Melt them,” Gabriel turned to Jonathon.

Jonathon’s hands and arms ignited in the blue flames. I had to cover my eyes, the glow too much to bear.

Within seconds, the metal spikes had been melted.

“Don’t step on it,” Gabriel warned, jumping across the bubbling liquid. “It’s still poisonous.”

I took a deep breath and braced myself, leaping into the air.

Once we were all on the other side, we turned down another hallway and came face to face with two-story ornate wooden doors.

No one stood guard outside, which I found odd, but I was sure that meant we wouldn’t like what we found on the inside.

We all stopped, staring at the doors.

“I love you,” I looked up at Jonathon. It felt necessary, in that moment, to say those words.

He cupped my cheek in his hand, running his thumb across my bottom lip. “This isn’t goodbye.”

“You’re right,” I nodded sadly, “this is the end.”

He pressed his forehead against mine and stared into my eyes. “No, not the end. The beginning. A new beginning that we have to fight like hell for.”

Gabriel looked back at us. “Forever or never.”

“I think the saying is, ‘now or never.’” I told him.

“Eh, whatever,” he shrugged. “Brace yourselves.”

With a shove, he pushed the doors open and sauntered forward as if he owned the place.

The white haired Original that had kidnapped my daughter stood before us. His posture was relaxed, like we were popping in to have tea, not kill him.

“Isaiah, it’s so…not nice to see you,” Gabriel smirked at the Original.

“Gabriel, my chosen one,” his lips spread into a smile, showing off his menacing, shark-like teeth. I wondered if his teeth were like that because he was the first vampire, or if it was something he had done to himself. “I’m so happy you’ve chosen to come back to us and you brought friends.”

“Ah, sorry to disappoint you,” Gabriel came to a stop in front of Isaiah, “but this isn’t a friendly visit.”

“Of course not,” Isaiah’s smile never faltered, “nothing is ever friendly when you’re involved.”

“Glad you remember,” Gabriel tilted his head, studying the vampire.

“Let’s not waste my time,” Isaiah clasped his hands in front of him, “why are you all here?” He waved his hand to encompass all of us standing behind Gabriel. I saw fear flash in his eyes, and my gut told me it was an emotion he was unfamiliar with. “And how did you get past the Guarde?”

“Well, you see,” Gabriel said slowly, like one reading a bedtime story to a child, “we killed them. And I know you’re not that dense Isaiah, you and your brothers know why we’re here. Where is the child?”

“She is safe,” Isaiah replied, “and not of your concern. She belongs to us now.”