The Fallen (The Alexandra Denton Chronicles) (7 page)

Chapter Nine

The Breaking Point

I closed my eyes and quickly went through the scenarios in my head causing the visions to slam through me until I found the one that would get us out alive.  I opened my eyes and whispered to Raina,
“Push them all back but Mr. Connors.”

             
She nodded and began to throw the teachers back by giving them a mental push.  I looked at my dad, “Help her,” I whispered and he nodded as he began to blow air out from between his lips so strongly that the possessed weren’t able to get up and walk toward us. 

             
“Kelly, heal Mr. Connors,” I said, frowning as I looked toward Jenna. 

             
“Who do you think needs to be healed first?” I asked, studying her intently, “Who has the strongest demon?”

             
She looked around and her eyes landed on my English teacher, Mrs. Barrows.  She pointed towards her, “She does,” She said.

             
“We have to get the strongest first or we won’t win,” I said as Kelly pulled one of the demons of Legion from Mr. Connors, “Keep telling Kelly who is the strongest.”

             
She nodded and then, moved to stand beside Kelly as Kelly’s voice pierced the air.  She was calling out demanding her gift to work.

             
My eyes widened as I saw a beautiful fallen angel with long blonde hair and deep blue eyes standing before us.  Rope after rope of muscle covered him.  He met my eyes and gave me an evil grin. 

             
“You think this is the end?” He asked, laughing, “We’ll just keep coming back again and again.  We are eternal.  You are mere humans.”

             
“Well, I see how very alike you are to your master,” I said, rolling my eyes.

             
He laughed, “Our master will take over.  Our master will win,” he said, narrowing his eyes, “And you will bow to him.”

             
It was my turn to laugh, “That’s how he got you to follow him,” I said, “You’re stupid.”

             
“We’ll see how stupid I am when he keeps sending me back,” he said, raising his brow.

             
“Keep coming back,“ I said as my brothers stepped up beside me, “And you’ll keep getting your ass beat again and again.”

             
A moment later, Jonathon created a spear of ice and slammed it through his stomach.  Jeremy held his hand out as a ball of fire formed in it and then, threw it at the fallen angel.  Screams of pain pierced the air as Mr. Connors moved backwards away from the blazing demon. 

             
“Daniel, take Mr. Connors somewhere safe,” I said, frowning.

             
Daniel nodded and then, was gone reappearing beside Mr. Connors before disappearing with Mr. Connors again.  A few moments later, he was back. 

             
“Mrs. Barrows is next,” I said, swallowing, “We repeat it.”

             
“Then, it’s Coach Toledo,” Jenna whispered and then, looked around again. 

             
I noticed Coach Toledo’s eyes narrow and I frowned as a female demon was pulled from Mrs. Barrows.  Daniel transported her to safety.  As my dad and Raina released Coach Toledo, he charged Jenna with his teeth bared. 

             
My eyes widened as I stepped in front of her, feeling the slash of his nails slit four long trails across my stomach.  I heard a sharp intake of breath as hot, blistering pain burned paths through my body.  Tears ran down my face as I heard Kelly pull the demon from Coach Toledo’s body.  A moment later, I felt Kelly’s hands on me as I fell onto the soft grass of the field. 

             
“Heal, Alex,” she whispered and I inhaled as the warmth spread through me.  The pain eased and I opened my eyes for a moment but my eyelids still felt heavy. Kelly shook her head, “Lay here and rest while you heal.  We’ve got this.”

             
I nodded unable to hold my eyes open any longer.  I closed my eyes and was sucked down into darkness.

**********

              “You know Legion was right,” I heard Semarias whisper, “They will keep coming back.  You’ll need to find a better way.”

             
I frowned as I opened my eyes and saw Semarias standing with his wings neatly tucked into his back.  He looked like a normal man like this.  Still, I experienced an unexpected burst of relief that he was talking to me.  That relief ended when I saw how guarded he was. 

             
“Are you going to act like you‘re afraid of me every time  I see you?” I asked, narrowing my eyes, “I mean I really think we need to talk about all of this.”

             
“I don‘t want to,” he said with so much force that I flinched, “I don’t ever want to talk about it again.  It’s not important.” 

             
“Did I do something wrong?” I asked, stepping toward him, “Are you mad at me?”

             
He ran his hand through his hair, frustrated and then, shook his head, “There are other things more important than my feelings or even yours for that matter.  For example, I‘m here to give you a message that will help you and your friends.”

             
My lip trembled and I bit my bottom lip to keep from showing the hurt he had caused.  I swallowed and rose my chin, “Tell me what it is you need to tell me and then, you can go back to ignoring me,” I said, through clenched teeth.  It was better to seem mad than hurt.

             
He blinked as if surprised, “I haven’t been ignoring you,” he said, raising his brows, “I’ve been here the whole time.  You just haven’t seen me.  Besides, I am here because you are in trouble,” he sighed as he looked away and then, he turned back to me.  His voice wasn‘t as harsh when he spoke, “Just tell Kelly that she can heal them in groups at the same time.   Tell Jenna to tell her where the most energy is concentrated.  Everyone else will have to fight them all but they can do it.  Tell Catherine to keep them subdued and tell Jace to use his gift to determine which ones will act first.”

             
I nodded, jerkily as I fought back tears from confusion.  I suddenly wondered if I had lost one of my best friends.  I raised my chin, “Send me back,” I said, stepping back from him. 

             
He looked at me pained and then, nodded, “Wake up, Alex.”

             
Darkness took me but not before I saw a single tear roll down his cheek.

             
**********

             
“Alex,” I heard Kelly say, “You have to wake up.  There are too many of them.”

             
I forced my eyes open and peered up at her.  I blinked as I saw the terror on her face.  Slowly, I looked around and realized what was happening. I stood and a tremble shook through me.  It wasn’t only the teachers who were possessed but some of the students too. 

             
“Kelly,” I whispered, “Semarias visited me. He said that you can heal them in groups.”

             
She shook her head, “I can’t,” she said, frowning, “I don’t have that much strength.”

             
“You do,” I said, looking around, “Semarias told me that you do.”

             
“Alex, I don’t know,” she said in a small voice. 

             
“Please believe me,” I said, looking at Jenna, “You just need her help.  Tell her where the most energy is.  Then keep telling her from there.”

             
“Alex, are you sure?” Kelly asked, frightened.

             
“Trust me,” I whispered, “Tell Legion to leave them.”

             
She nodded as Jenna pointed toward a group of students.  I saw Brady within walking within them, “There,” Jenna said, softly. 

             
Kelly stretched out her hand, “Legion you are cast from the bodies of these humans in the name of Jesus,” She said, shakily, “Ever one of you is healed.”

             
“Everyone with an physical gift get ready because you’re going to have to use them,” I said, glancing around as the air broke with unholy wails of fallen angels.  I inhaled sharply as they were pulled from their hosts body.  Kelly continued to follow Jenna’s directions more confident than before and a moment later, there was eerie silence.  I held my breath and I could see that everyone else was too. 

             
“Catherine,” I whispered and she came forward, “Use your gift to subdue them until the others can send them back to hell.”

             
“But they’re not doing anything,” she said, with wide eyes. 

             
“Like what…ripping our limbs from our bodies?” I asked, giving her a sideways glance. 

             
“They aren’t going to do that, are they?” She asked, frightened. 

             
“They’re thinking about it,” Jace said, behind her. 

             
“Close enough,” she whispered and then, projected her voice over the crowd before us, “You have burning blisters all over your skin.  You see them.  You feel the pain of them as they burst.”

             
I winced, “You’re getting more creative, aren’t you?” I asked with raised brows. 

             
“You’ve got to keep it fresh,” she whispered as the moans of pain echoed through the air. 

             
“Jace tell them who is going to attack.  The rest of you, do your damage,” I said, stepping out of the way to stand next to the Appointed with no physical gifts. 

             
I watched with my heart in my throat as Jonathon speared demons and Jeremy singed them quickly afterward.  They made a great team.  Raina held them back with her gift and the ones she couldn’t hold back, Clyde  would throw them backwards by hitting them harder than any human could possibly hit.  Then, I noticed my father who was helping Raina with his gift of wind.  Jace was shouting out which one had broken free of Catherine’s charms.  Daniel was saving the previous hosts from being trampled as Will stood within the fray.  I could not tell if he was using his gift but I suspected he was.  Then, there was Sara who had turned into a lion and was ripping the fallen angels to shreds.  Everything that had happened slammed through my head….Ky’s jealousy…My angel being in love with me…The fact that I could be the reason why he could fall…Lucifer’s visits…The war around me.  A dam of emotion broke and hysterical laughter bubbled up from me as the enormity of the situation hit and I knew I had finally lost it.  Still, I couldn’t stop as I grabbed my stomach and tears rolled down my cheeks.  Great hiccupping laughs poured from me.

             
“Alex, why are you laughing?” Ky asked, frightened. 

             
Gloria stepped up to me and touched me lightly.  She shook her head as she stood in front of me and grasped my shoulders, “It’s okay, Alex,” she said, softly, “You can cry if you want to.”

             
“But she’s not crying,” Ky said, confused, “She’s laughing.”

             
Just like that, I realized that was exactly what I wanted to do…Cry.  I wanted to cry because Ky was upset with me for hanging out with Daniel.  I wanted to cry because my guardian angel was in love with me and risked falling because of it and because he had hurt my feelings.  I wanted to cry because Lucifer was attacking us and I wanted to cry because I couldn’t even sleep without something happening.  Worst of all, I wanted to cry because my friends and family were in the middle of a battle with Lucifer’s minions.   I wanted to cry for every reason I had begun to laugh.  I just thought I wasn’t allowed to until Gloria gave me permission.

             
Finally, the laughter became sobs and then, I collapsed onto the ground and sobbed and sobbed.  Gloria held me close as Ky’s eyes widened in fear. 

             
“It’s okay,” Gloria said, rocking me and then, looked up at everyone who stood around us, “It’s just become too much.  She needed to cry it out.”

             
I heard my brothers running to us, “Is she hurt?” Jeremy asked with obvious concern in his voice.  I hadn’t even realized that it was silent until then.  I rose my head and looked around.  All evidence of the fallen angels were gone.

             
I sniffled as Jonathon looked down and grinned, “You don’t need another vacation at Running Rivers, do you?” He joked and that caused laughter to ripple up from me again.