The Four Horsemen(41)

She looks at me in the dress and starts to laugh. I tilt my head, “Not even a little funny.”

She laughs harder, “It so is.”

“Whatever.”

She stops laughing and gives me a look, “You need to get away. I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but go to the fire witches. They use ancestral magic, it’s intense and a little bit evil.”

I look in the mirror, “Is this thing being used to spy on me?”

She shakes her head, “No. I spelled it. I’m a ghost; it’s not the same thing as a regular witch trying to see you.”

I wince, “Constantine made me go to the glass door with the tree of life. They must have heard him talking to me.”

She shakes her head, “That’s a special spot. Can’t be used that way. Only dark magic can use it as a portal. Air witches are snooty, they don’t do dark magic. You have to run, Rayne. You aren’t safe there.”

I nod, “I know. I just figured that out when Michael made me cleanse a fallen angel.”

She looks stunned, “FUCK! HE CAN DO THAT?”

My jaw is on the floor. She snaps her fingers, “Rayne, he can do that?”

I nod, “You swore.”

She rolls her eyes, “I’m not a saint.”

I shrug, “Pretty close.”

“Focus, Nene. He can cleanse the fallen angels with you? Angels who have no conscience and are able to do the darkest of things?”

I nod. She presses her lips together, “Get to the fae. Forget the fire witches, he is going for the gate. I guarantee it. Get to the fae and warn them.

I look at her, “About what? What can they do?”

“Seal the gate forever.”

I step back. She sees my look, “Hurry. Get out of there and go for the gate. I’ll get the earth witches to warn the nixie. Leave now.”

I shake my head, “How?”

She sighs, “Fly as fast as you can for the ocean. The nixie will catch you and bring you to the gate.”

“Can the nixie just warn him?”

She shakes her head, “He will need to see. To read what you and Wyatt have seen. It will take that for him to make this decision.”

I turn and run into the room. Wyatt gives me a look, “What?” I hold my hand out for him, “Do not think a single thing. Sing a song in your head and trust me.”

He nods.

I take his hand and we leave the room. We slip to the room with the tree. It is the only place I can think of with access to the roof. When we get inside of the small room, he looks at me, “Are you kidding?”

I snarl, “Shut up and hum.” I jump into the air, dragging him until he too starts to fly. We fly up to the highest point on the roof. I look at the ocean and take a deep breath. I grab his hand and point. He hums and nods. We dive off the roof at the exact same moment. I can hear the guards behind us when we are halfway. I hold my body tighter, like a bullet. We are flying for the ocean. At the last second, we both pull out our wings and float to the surface of the ocean. I wince as my wings almost rip off from the force. As we enter the water, we are snatched and dragged down. The nixie swim like I have never seen them do before. It is a rough, horrid, short trip across the ocean. They literally fling us from the water to the shore. The gate appears as I land, with no desire but to save my friends.

“Think of saving our friends inside of the gate.”

Wyatt and I step inside, wings still out.

I fly for the castle, sailing over the village. When I get to the window ledge where I had leapt from, I see the fae giving me a dirty look. I pull my wings in, almost gagging from the last couple of hours of my life and step inside. Mona runs to me but Gill frowns, “What is happening?”

I am out of breath and still gagging when I reach him, “You may read my mind, I give you permission.”

He places his hands on me and gasps, “Abomination and betrayal.” He gives me a look, “Is that true about Michael?”

I shudder, “I think so.”

Wyatt is still heaving his breath, “What the hell is going on?”

Gill gives me a look. He holds my hand tightly, “You must leave the gates now.” He looks at Mona, “Say goodbye, fast.”

Mona looks at me. Tears stream my face, “I love you.” I want to ask her to come with me. I want to ask her to be my friend more than she loves him. But I cannot.

I step to her, hugging her tightly to me. “Be safe, Mona. Please don’t ever forget me. I think very soon the only place I will live is in your memories, so please don’t forget me.”

She sobs, “What’s going on?”

I look back at Gill but he points and shouts, “RUN!” I grab Wyatt’s hand. I can see the protest on his face. I shake my head, “Trust me.”

He grabs me and jumps out the window. We fly for the gates. When we cross over to the riverbed, he tries to land but I fly higher. We pause for a moment and watch as the gates crumble onto the earth, turn to dust, and blow away.

Wyatt looks at me, “What happened?”

I tremble with the sobs ripping from me, “Michael was coming for the fae. He made me cleanse the fallen so they may enter the gates and kill the fae. We had to get Gill to seal the gates forever. Constantine came to me, so did Willow. Michael is a bad man.”

Wyatt hugs me to him, “Where do we go now?”

I sniff, “Boston. The fire witches.”

He sighs, “Flying or swimming?”

I make a face, “Neither.”

He laughs, “Has to be one.”

I lean into him, “Swim. Nothing can reach us in the water.”

He kisses my cheek. “I’m sorry about Mona.”

I nod, “Me too. It hasn’t hit yet. When it does, I know it’s going to be bad.”

“Where is Michelle?”

“The whole Constantine and the vampire army is Michelle and Stella.”

He sighs, “Wow, rough friend week.”

I nod, “Rough friend week.”

We drop into the water, letting the nixie comfort us as they drag us across the Atlantic Ocean for the hundredth time. I wonder why they never get tired of it all? Why they never say no? Why they don’t just sink into the dark shadows of the water and never surface again. I would if I could. I look up at the light of the sky high above us and know it isn’t the truth.

I wouldn’t even if I could.

God believes I can save the world, so I have to try.

Maybe that’s why they do it too.

Maybe we are all doing our little part, and one day it will make sense, and it will be worth it.

Today is not that day, and I doubt it will be tomorrow. But today I have friends and I have Wyatt, and in my heart, I have Willow and Mona. My heart is full and I am safe, and for today that has to be enough.





The End