The Devil's Third (37 page)

“No,” Michael said. “There are no commandments. What is right and wrong is already ingrained in your soul. But the ark holds a great power Bael would love to possess.”

“I am incapable of answering your question,” Solomon told Michael, addressing his question about the rest of the artifacts. “What you see before you is only a part of my spirit. Through the witch’s help, I cast a spell to shed and cloak pieces of it to protect the treasures that have no business in this realm. Once each item is righteously discovered, returned to its rightful owner, and destroyed, then I shall become one and join the heavens.”

“Raphael needs to lay claim to the ark,” Anwar said to no one in particular.

Michael frowned, marring his perfect features, his blue eyes dimming with concern. “Yes, and unfortunately he shows no interest in confiscating it.”

“Why?” Brayden asked.

“Raphael is in love with humans, and so am I,” Michael admitted. “In order to become a light walker, the soul goes through cycles of reincarnation to reach complete understanding, like Anwar said earlier. A number of those cycles are in human form, which enviably creates an unshakable love for them. A handful of us went against the grain of the universal creed, exercised our free will and for a period of time went rogue. We ignored our responsibilities and replaced it with using our divine knowledge to fashion magical tools humans can use to rid earth of demons or perhaps control them, among other things.

“I created the ring and incantations. Raphael built the ark. Despite our wisdom, knowing what we were doing would disrupt the balance in this realm, our compassion and love for humanity lured us from truth and reason. I have come to my senses, but there are others who have not, including Raphael.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It seemed surreal, and I found myself wishing Carrie were here to see this. A fierce sadness plowed through me. I missed her and couldn’t wait to be with her, chatting her up. I could picture her face in total shock and awe when I finally get to tell her about this and everything else.

“You AWOL?” Tree asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Yes,” Michael answered, regret scratching his lovely voice, “and until we correct our mistakes, we cannot reenter Nirvana, thus, my reason for being here.” He turned to Solomon, who stood patiently waiting for Michael to finish his tale. “You destroyed the incantations. Now I’m ready to see you take the power I once bestowed upon you from Paige and return it to me.”

I shuddered and glanced over my shoulder at Nathan. I threw him an uneasy look. I wasn’t sure about this. I had no idea how Solomon would perform this act or if it would hurt. I could see the anxiousness in Nathan’s eyes. He took a step toward me, but Solomon held his hand out, halting Nathan. “You need to remain where you are.” He looked at me, and his face softened. “I give you my word; I will do no harm onto you. You will feel a slight pulling, but I assure you it will be all.”

I bit my lip and nodded.

“Look into my eyes,” he instructed in a soft, soothing voice.

I did as he said. They were a deep brown, gentle and kind. He began to mumble something under his breath. Even with my keen sense of hearing, I couldn’t make out the strange words. His pupils contracted and dilated. When his hand flicked out, I jumped, but my gaze remained locked onto his. I had no desire to look away, and though we just met, I felt a profound trust toward him. His quick movement had caught me off guard, but now I was prepared for whatever he decided to do. So when his hand touched my chest between my rib cage, I remained still. It formed into a claw, his fingers pressing against my shirt and skin. His lips continued to move, the words still too silent to discern. A twitching sensation developed inside my chest, beneath his hand. It moved around as if I had a living being inside me. I imagined this was how it felt to a pregnant women when her baby became active.

“Holy shit, Paige.” Brayden’s alarmed voice caused me to break eye contact with Solomon and look at Brayden. At the same time the tugging feeling Solomon told me about came in full force. Brayden’s wide eyes met mine. He pointed where Solomon’s hand was on me.

I looked down. A bright cone-shape of white light was being pulled from my chest. Solomon’s fingers were curled around the tip of it. As he moved his arm back, slowly drawing it out, and the radiance from me dimmed. The chamber became less bright with each backward movement of his arm. He reached with his other hand and placed it beneath the cone, cradling it in his open palm.

I broke out into a cold sweat. The room spun, and my mouth filled with salty saliva. My legs shook, then gave out, but Nathan caught me before I smacked the ground. He picked me up and held me in his arms. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low in my ear. He wiped the hair off my sweaty forehead, his eyes searching my face for any hint of pain.

“I-I think so,” I said. “I feel weak and kind of weird, like empty inside and there’s an itch I can’t scratch.”

Nathan turned so we were facing Solomon who was pushing down on the tip of the cone, molding it into a glowing sphere between his palms.

Michael stepped beside Nathan and placed his hand on my arm, making it tingle. “You’ll be fine in a few minutes. Your body is acclimating to the changes. However, some of Solomon’s gifts will remain a part of you in the company of your other extraordinary abilities.” He released his hand and continued while gazing at me with intensity and warmth. I suddenly felt shy in his presence. “You have a lot to learn about the powers you possess, but in time you will. I assure you, help will be along the way to aid you in reaching your full potential.”

Tree moved to the other side of Nathan, anxious energy pouring from him. “What can I do to help?”

Solomon was moving the ball of white light in his hands, spinning it. He stood, patiently waiting for Michael to answer Tree’s question.

“You are one of us but an apprentice nonetheless. Bael is now aware of your true identity, as he is of Carrie’s hidden talents.”

Still cradled in Nathan’s muscular arms, I jerked my head back and looked up at Michael. “How did you--”

“I discovered this information in Summerland,” Michael said. “You, Jack, and Carrie are the Devil’s third.”

Nathan’s arms twitched around me in surprise. “Wait a minute,” he said. “I thought the Devil’s third meant the executive, legislative and judiciary.”

“Yes, the dark spirits think as such and rightfully so. Bael has managed to infiltrate the government, but he’s been doing it since its inception.” Michael shrugged, like it should be obvious why throughout history there had been governmental corruption. “The truth is that Bael needs Paige, Jack and Carrie. The power of three, and he wasn’t too pleased when he discovered tonight that Jack is the third party.”

“Why would he need me?” Tree wanted to know.

“You chose the path of a light walker; therefore, you have it within you to reach the ones who went against the universal creed. As you now know from our earlier conversation, they are no longer in Nirvana. Bael needs you to keep them at bay. You see, he had not anticipated my arrival tonight. It is why he fled. It became clear to him that your assistance along with Paige’s and Carrie’s would be invaluable to him.” Michael turned to Solomon and extended his hand to receive the glowing orb. Solomon gingerly handed it to Michael.

“You can put me down,” I told Nathan. “I feel better now.”

“Wait.” Anwar said as Nathan set me on my feet, causing all of us to look at him. Desperation twisted his face. Nathan, Tree, and I backed out of Anwar’s way, so he could approach Michael. I looked at Brayden who stood to the side in silent observation, deep in thought.

“I made a foolish mistake,” Anwar said to Michael. “I performed a blood oath with Bael. Is there a way you can break it?”

In that instant, I remembered Bael telling me in Carrie’s hospital room that he couldn’t participate in a blood oath with me because I had Solomon’s power inside me. Maybe there was still hope for Anwar. But then I thought about his betrayal and underhandedness. He had caused both Nathan and I a lot of grief. I wasn’t sure if I should say something. A moral dilemma began raging within my thoughts. But then Tree spoke, reprieving me from any decision.

“Bael couldn’t create a blood oath with Paige because of Solomon’s power,” he said to Michael. “So it stands to reason you can use it to break the chain between Anwar and Bael, right?”

“It is not Solomon’s power,” Michael corrected. “The power was created by me in a higher realm.” He turned his attention to Anwar. When he moved, the red ray of light, anchored to Solomon’s back reflected off the gleaming ball Michael held between his palms. Several beams bounced from its side, then disappeared when Michael shifted his body toward Anwar, away from the holographic umbilical cord that sustained Solomon’s presence here with us. “I can. However, your body does not have the components to withstand such power. Therefore, it will kill you.”

Anger flashed in Anwar’s eyes, rage distorting his dark features. His mouth fell open, and the sound that sprang forth was like a monstrous beast, growling and clawing its way out of captivity. Anwar fell on his hands and knees. His body quivered. He lifted his eyes to Michael. They were black as coal, and he bellowed in a dark, ghastly voice, “Nooooo!”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Nathan

I held onto Paige the moment she hugged her arms and looked at me with horror creeping into her sad child-like eyes. We all knew it was Bael protesting against this dire arrangement.

Michael kneeled before Anwar and stared directly into his face. In a flash, Brayden stood beside us, poised to assist Anwar to his feet, but Michael shook his head, stopping him.

“If Anwar agrees, brother, through my mercy upon his soul, the binds you placed around it shall be broken,” Michael said in an even, matter-of-fact tone.

Anwar’s lips curled over his teeth, and his chest rumbled. A deep, fierce growl erupted when his mouth formed a circle. “Noooo. He’s mine.”

Anwar hung his head. With shaky arms, he attempted to push himself off the ground. Michael stood and took a few steps back. He nodded to Brayden who immediately assisted Anwar to his feet.

Anwar’s hands were balled into fists. He raised them to his temples and hunched his shoulders. “Do it,” he said between moans.

“Just a minute.” Brayden took hold of Anwar’s arms, turning him so he had to look at Brayden. Anwar’s eyes were closed. He opened them. They were clear and focused. The connection with Bael, severed. “You can’t die. You’re the closest I have to a father,” Brayden tearfully said. “There’s still so much I need to learn from you.”

“I am sorry,” Anwar apologized, a raw sadness in his eyes. “I made a foolish mistake, and I must fix it. You would not want my soul enslaved to Bael, would you?”

A choking sound escaped Brayden’s lips. He shook his head, blinking back tears. My vision clouded, and I swallowed against the lump rising in my throat. I knew the story quite well of Brayden’s father ditching him and his mom for another women. But it wasn’t why I found myself in a sudden state of sorrow. The fond memories I shared with Anwar is what caught me in this web of emotions. He had known my family which–despite the turmoil he’d caused Paige and me–linked us together. Anwar was the only living person, other than myself, I could talk to about my brothers, father, and mother, and in turn he’d share something about them. He helped keep the memory of my family alive, but in my heart of hearts I knew he was doing the right thing.

I released Paige and pulled him into a hug. “Godspeed to you, and may you finally find peace on your next adventure.”

“Thank you, Nathaniel,” Anwar said, embracing me in return. “I had hoped Solomon could break this curse upon my soul, and I thank the stars for this opportunity Michael has given me.” He dropped his arms and stepped back. “I must accept. Do you understand?”

“I do,” I said, wiping the water from my eyes. “If you see my family--” I paused to take a deep breath to keep my voice from faltering.

“I will,” Anwar interjected, knowing me well enough to fill in the blanks.

Paige stepped between us and threw her arms around Anwar. “Take care.”

“You, too, Ms. Paige.” He looked down at her and continued. “I am sure your parents are very proud of you.”

Paige gave him a weak smile and then stepped away, joining Tree, Brayden, and me.

“The four of you must leave now,” Solomon said, looking straight at us. “When Michael locks his arms around Anwar, this room will seal and disappear along with this part of my soul.”

“What will happen when he does hold Anwar?” Brayden asked.

 “The power to control the dark spirits will be pushed into both of them,” Solomon answered, “wheeling it to the realm of its creation. Being the rightful owner, Michael will destroy it, opening the gate to Nirvana where he will once again have access. As for Anwar, it will be up to him where he will reside.”

“And you?” Paige asked.

“This part of my soul will join another part and will only become whole when the light walkers collects and returns their effects to its origin and destroy them,” he told Paige.

“It will be up to you, Jack, and Carrie,” Michael added, “to find these powerful items and convince my brothers to make their wrong a right.”

“The Devil’s third,” Tree whispered to Paige, who didn’t look happy about this load being placed upon her shoulders.

I knew what was going through her mind, because the same thoughts raced in mine. We had hoped, once the incantations were destroyed, we could move on with our lives. Of course, we would still protect humanity against the dark spirits and delve into what abilities Paige possessed, among other things. Knowing Bael’s intentions now, having another yoke placed upon her shoulders was hard to digest.

“Take the torches to find your way out,” Solomon said with a note of finality. “I trust I shall see you again,” he said.

We said one last goodbye and left. As soon as we stepped outside the chamber, a bright white light flashed from it, momentarily blinding us. Red dots danced before my eyes. I rubbed them and blinked a couple times, refocusing. The doorway disappeared, the rocky wall once again solid.