The Ascended (The Saving Angels 3)

I shrugged my shoulders, trying to be blasé, but I had a hard time keeping a straight face.

"Nice try, but even you can't deny it's way cool," Sam said, laughing at my attempt.

"It is pretty cool, and it did help today," I said, looking at John meaningfully. "So, Haniel said you guys are heading in tomorrow night," I said, changing the subject.

"That's the plan. Haniel will accompany us once we hit the base of Victor's lair."

"I wonder what his plan is for me," I speculated.

"You're supposed to head back to the cars. That's our rendezvous point in case anything goes wrong," Shawn said.

I nodded my head. It made sense. "What about the campsite?"

"Once everything is over, we'll hike back up here to break it all down if we're still alive," Shawn said.

His words hit me like a truck. It was insane to think that by the time tomorrow night ended, I could be all alone.

The injustice of the whole situation made me so angry. It wasn't supposed to be this way. What good are my so-called gifts to my friends if they're going in alone? I thought with a burning rage that consumed every available piece of my soul. First, Victor takes Mark, and now my friends may lose their lives also? How am I supposed to continue living if that happens? My hands began to shake uncontrollably and all I could see were blurred images.

"Krista, can you hear me, what is it?" I could hear the faint sound of Sam's voice and felt my brother's hand on my arm. "Ow, damn!" He jerked away as I was finally brought back to consciousness from Shawn yelping in pain from the blazing touch of my rage infused skin.

And just like that, the fire was gone. As quickly as it had engulfed me, I was able to snuff it out.

"Damn Krista. What the Hell was that?" Shawn asked, cradling his sore hand.

I didn't answer him, but instead turned to Haniel who was studying me intently.

"Another side effect of my hybrid status?" I asked confused. He simply nodded without saying a word.

"That was bad ass," Shawn said, still shaking his hand.

"Sorry about that. What did it feel like?" I asked curiously.

"Like I had been burned by an iron, but look, you left no mark," he said, holding his hand up for me to inspect.

I stepped closer, reaching out to grab his palm. My feelings were hurt when he stepped back away from me. "I have it under control. I won't hurt you again," I said quietly.

"Sorry, it's just reflexes," he said, ruffling my hair. "What was all that about?" he asked, directing the question to Haniel.

"Krista's body is rapidly changing to accommodate her new gifts. Her emotions are now expressed differently than others." >"I don't know how it works, I just know I can do it now," I said simply, looking up as Haniel strode purposefully through the clearing. The others poured out of the woods as one and stood in a loose circle around us.

Without a word, Haniel knelt beside me and placed his hands over mine, giving me a nod. With awareness like I had never experienced, I knew exactly what he was silently asking. I removed my hands from John's gaping wounds and pulled Kieran to the shallow water's edge with me. She came with me willingly, knowing that at the moment John was literally in the best hands possible.

"I don't understand," she said more confused than ever as we kneeled on the pebble strewn ground.

"We'll explain later," I said, giving her a sideways hug of reassurance, feeling like the adult. My encounter with the bear had opened my eyes and I now understood my hybrid status completely. In the span of the two minutes during and after John's attack, my understanding was now clear.

"What if he dies?" Kieran whispered, changing the subject.

"He won't, I promise."

"Kieran, John's asking for you," Jenna said, kneeling beside us.

Kieran whipped around, surging to her feet in one fluid movement.

I stayed at the water's edge, washing all traces of John's blood away. I felt Haniel's presence without having to turn around.

"You understand now?" He asked frankly, placing his hands in the water next to mine.