The Hallowed (The Scrying Trilogy Book 2) Read online

  “This is your destiny Gabriella, you must not fail. Save them all.”

  Chapter 1

  January 27, 2016, 12:01 am

  The golden mist occupying the room began to fade as did the haunting laughter that echoed through her mind moments before. A faint trace of burnt electricity wafted through the air; remnants of the broken light bulb, which had popped, plunging the room into an eerie darkness. Dane closed her eyes against the throbbing as it ricocheted off the inside of her skull. She knew where it came from, the chilling laughter. It reeked of death and rot and had an unmistakable stench; a heavy saturation of dirt that coated her insides with a sickening chill. It was the ancient dark. The encounter lasted only seconds, but its ability to get inside her mind, even for a moment, was unnerving.

  Her eyes flew open as she heard Stevie gasp. The mist had dispersed, and the dark room was awash with bright strands of silver moonlight. Standing in the beams was Gabby, magnificent black wings spread wide, the tips glowing with iridescent light. Not the insecure, quiet Gabby, they’d been friends with for thirteen years, but a powerful, confident, otherworldly celestial. An immortal who had fallen from another time and place, to live among mere mortals until destiny required her to rise.

  Dane’s eyes locked on Gabby, waiting for her to speak. Rapture highlighted her features briefly until her gaze fell on another and a shadowed memory darkened them. “It’s you,” she said, disgust apparent in her tone.

  Rafe’s energy changed as their eyes met. The feeling of awe her transformation had elicited shifted to something resembling surprise and defiance. “Gabriella,” he responded his tone as terse and uninviting as hers.

  The overt tension in the air was stifling. Dane turned to question Rafe, her eyes narrowed.

  “You two know each other?”

  “We have met,” he stated bluntly. The bland way he delivered the fact made it seem insignificant, but she sensed there was more to this relationship.

  “So, you knew she was here?” Dane questioned, her confusion and frustration apparent in the frown she directed at him.

  Before Rafe could address her interrogation, Gabby’s voice filled the room.

  “The warrior knew nothing of my destiny. His was to guard the Book of Realms not to be privy to what the Guardian of Deities had planned. He is nothing more than an undisciplined and uncouth watchdog.”

  Rafe’s energy darkened, his ire bubbled to the surface as he brushed past Dane. The dark seed of rage that festered quietly in his depths began to grow. Dane could feel it expand as if it were inside her as well. She grasped his arm, squeezing her nails into his skin as the waves of his dark energy drenched her.

  “Better an undisciplined watchdog than a ridged lapdog whose lot in life is to lead a horde of mindless sentinels under the overt shadow of your powerful brother,” he spat.

  Gabby’s wings arched in response, her iridescent eyes flashed with rage as his words penetrated the energy swirling around them.

  “Enough,” Dane yelled, gasping for breath. The power in her voice surprised her, but it managed to quell the rising tension between Rafe and Gabby. She glanced at Stevie who stood dumbfounded beside her, eyes darting back and forth. Her pale face was etched with curiosity and disbelief as she turned to face Dane.

  What the hell is going on? She mouthed, her hands shaking as she reached out to grip Diego’s collar. Dane pushed calming energy toward her friend and gave her a reassuring smile before focusing her attention back to the immortals in the room.

  “We will come back to this little walk down memory lane later,” she chided. “But for now, we have other things we must take care of.”

  She moved cautiously toward Gabby, her foresight pulling at her mind as the ethereal energy pulsed around her.

  “How are you feeling?” She asked gently.

  Gabby tilted her head. Her wings lifted, stretching outward as if she were familiarizing herself with something she had not used in a very long time. Ignoring Dane, she looked down at her hands, watching as the iridescent light highlighting the tips of her fingers ebbed.

  “I am beginning to fade,” she announced, to no one in particular. “I must remove myself from this realm. I need the life force of the ether or I shall cease to exist.”

  “That will not be necessary,” Rafe said, reaching into his pocket and removing the vial. He held it toward her. “We brought the ether to you.”

  Gabby’s eyes narrowed as she looked from the vial in his hand to his face. “You might not be as worthless as I thought.”

  “Gabby,” Dane warned, not wanting the obvious dislike the two had for one another to escalate. She cast Rafe a stern glare to ensure he too got the message.

  “It is fine,” he responded as he turned to face her. His body language softened as her energy reached toward him. “I am not sure what your friend was like in mortal form, but I can only assume she was very different from her true self.”

  Gabby groaned, indignation dripping from the sound.

  Dane gave her a look of disdain, silencing her, as Rafe continued.

  “When Sebastian said, ‘they were nothing like the image of angels that man had created’ he was speaking the truth. Celestials are not empathetic or forgiving; they are distant, judgmental, and forthright. They speak their minds without prudence and do not care if they denigrate other races. They think of themselves as superior. They are neither comforting nor inviting beings, but a warring species. An entire race of sentinels whose mindset is to protect the agenda of the Guardian of Deities at any cost.”

  Rafe’s eyes narrowed as he hesitated briefly to confront Gabby’s penetrating stare. “The Guardian, himself, is an unyielding but equitable entity who has kept the peace within the realms since the beginning. His sentinels, unfortunately, are not as amicable.”

  “Our task is not to be agreeable, but effective,” Gabby countered. “Warlicians are unable to attain such discipline because of your inability to maintain any sort of emotional distance. It is the reason your race carries the dishonor of being a castigated one.”

  “Only in your eyes Gabriella. I had a perfectly agreeable relationship with your brother.”

  Dane watched Gabby wince at those words.

  “Gabriel saw the worlds differently than I,” she said.

  “Perhaps you should have heeded Gabriel’s example.”

  Gabby bristled. Her eyes flashed as she stretched her wings to their full length. “The Seraphs had their position in our societies hierarchy, and I and the other sentinels had ours—neither inclusive of the other. Please do not think you know my kind warrior, for our existence, is far above your inferior understanding.”

  Rafe chuckled, again holding out the vial toward Gabby, “I am encouraged to see after all this time, nothing has changed between us.”

  Nodding, she took the vial from his outstretched hand, removed the cork and drank the contents in one swallow. Almost immediately the iridescent light pulsing just below her skin brightened, spreading outward until she was once again encircled with a heavenly glow. Her wings softened as they folded over one another and dropped behind her. The glow in the feathered tips flickered as they brushed the floor.

  Dane heard a low growl erupt from behind, a raw, instinctive guttural sound. Turning, she was surprised to see Diego, hackles raised, eyes glowing with malice, and teeth bared, crouched in an aggressive stance as he snarled at Gabby. In the shining light of the moon, he seemed bigger. His bulk easily hiding Tyson whose timid eyes peeked out from behind him.

  “Diego, stop.” Stevie hissed, pulling on the collar she still held in her grip. He ignored her, his eyes trained on Gabby as his growling intensified.

  Dane sensed Rafe move toward Diego, surprise evident in his aura.

  “Is that a Dragonwolf?” He inquired, directing his question to Stevie.
br />   Stevie’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Dragonwolf?”

  “I heard there was a possibility that some had crossed through the portals from the fire realm but to see one still exists after all this time is quite remarkable.”

  Dane moved to where Rafe stood inquisitively inspecting Diego. Her hand stroked his back as she clarified. “He is just a dog, Rafe. Diego is Stevie’s pet.”

  Gabby’s voice filled the room behind them. “The warrior is correct, that mongrel is a Dragonwolf. I can smell his putrid scent from here.”

  Stevie’s eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open as if she were about to say something. Instead, she looked down at Diego, her hand impulsively releasing his collar. With the pressure gone Diego began to inch toward Gabby his teeth chattering as he stalked forward.

  Rafe snorted, as he turned toward Gabby. “He still has good instincts.”

  Gabby rolled her eyes. “Dragonwolves are as unbridled as their owners.”

  “An unabashed trait sentinels never appreciated.”

  “There is nothing to appreciate about undisciplined, erratic behavior in any species,” she retorted, waving her hand at Diego, her fingers following the flow of the gentle movement. Abruptly, he stopped his approach. His body language relaxed, and he sat without incident mere feet in front of her.

  Dane’s head cocked, curious about his sudden behavioral change. “What did you do to Diego?”

  Gabby just stared at her, cool iridescent eyes uninterested.

  Rafe responded. “Celestials have an innate ability to calm and control animals. For all their feigned disgust with the unrestrained nature of certain species, their race finds animals quite intriguing. Dragonwolves, by nature, are a suspicious breed and once they bond with a master, their sense of loyalty enhances that distrust. For some reason, their breed has always had a heightened negative reaction to celestials.”

  He looked at Gabby, a smirk emphasizing his comment. She ignored his taunt, stretched her wings, and began to pace. Dane couldn’t decide if the posturing movement was a response to boredom or a subconscious reaction to having her wings back after all this time.

  “I still do not understand what a Dragonwolf is doing here,” Rafe said, moving away from Dane to stand once more beside Diego. He frowned at the animal who sat unmoving, his eyes following Gabby.

  Stopping she stretched her wings again. “Is it not obvious,” she said. Her voice dripped with indignation as she pointed at Stevie. “He has found his Dragon Gypsy.”

  All eyes turned toward Stevie who had retreated to the corner of the room. Her eyes widened, her pale face turned ashen. Confusion and uncertainty once again emanated from her as she squirmed under their gaze.

  “Where did you get him?” Rafe inquired.

  Stevie’s mouth gaped but nothing came out. Her mind was frantic as she tried to understand all the strangeness unfolding in front of her.

  “She didn’t,” Dane interjected looking at her friend with sympathy. “Get him anywhere, I mean. He showed up on her doorstep one night.”

  “So, he found her,” he stated.

  Dane glared at him, her mouth tense. “Can you please tell me what this is all about?”

  “Dragonwolves have an inherent ability to find what they are looking for, including those who possess the blood of their realm. A Dragonwolf lost on Earth would instinctively search for others like himself, those who carry the blood of the Dragon Gypsy. If he came to Stevie and has not left, it can only mean one thing.”

  “What?” Stevie whispered, her eyes wide, her voice hoarse.

  They were interrupted by the sudden flapping of wings as Gabby’s patience reached its breaking point. “Why is it that you Warlician’s cannot just say what is on your mind? It is painful watching you prattle on.” She redirected her annoyance and iridescent gaze at Stevie. “You carry the blood of the Dragon Gypsies, an ancient race that dwelled in the fire realm of our world.” Her hand motioned toward Rafe. “As the warrior expounded, your ancestry is unique. The mongrel has identified you by your specific scent; a scent, I might add, which is less than pleasant.” Crinkling her nose, she looked at Rafe. “She stinks of ash and fire. She is one of those for whom you search.”

  “You are sure?” Dane probed. Shock erupted inside her as she realized that her immortality may not take her further away from her friends, but closer to them.

  Gabby’s wings spread out again as the cool mask on her face slipped. “I do not make mistakes when it comes to recognizing the bloodlines of our realms. As you are descended from earth, she is the descendant of fire. There is no doubt.”

  Rafe nodded in agreement. “Celestials can identify the blood of the races. It was another reason finding her first was so important. If one who is destined is near, Gabriella will be able to detect their blood, especially now that she is connected to the ether. With her heightened senses, we may be able to find the other three without issue.”

  Dane glanced back at Stevie. She looked ill. Her face had lost all color and there was a film of sweat on her upper lip. Before Dane could move, Stevie’s eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed to the floor.

  Chapter 2

  Dane’s immortality allowed her to move swiftly and with heightened reflexes, she had not possessed as a mortal. Sprinting toward Stevie, she caught her just before she hit the ground. Placing her gently on the floor she caressed her head and whispered her name.

  Finally, Stevie’s eyes fluttered open, the pupils dilating back to their normal size.

  “Welcome back,” Dane said.

  “Sorry,” she replied as she struggled to sit up.

  “Easy. You fainted.”

  “What is going on?” She stammered, gazing over her shoulder at Rafe and Gabby. “Who is he? And what the hell happened to Gabby?”

  “There is plenty we need to discuss, but first I have to know you are okay and you won’t faint on me again.”

  “I’m okay.”

  Rafe moved forward, offering Stevie his hand. She hesitated, her eyes suspicious. Cautiously, she took his hand and let him help her up.

  “I am Rafe,” he said smiling as he kissed the back of her hand. “The last of the Morrighann clan.”

  Gabby groaned outwardly. “You would think a binding would put a stop to your insolent flirting.”

  Dane shot her a withering glare before turning her attention back to Rafe, her eyebrow-raising in an unspoken query. He shrugged. “There is not much a celestial does not know. They are very astute and intuitive.”

  She shook her head, looking back at Stevie who appeared more lost and confused than before. “I will explain that later too. I promise.” Dane motioned for Rafe and Gabby to leave the room. “I think Stevie needs some sleep.”

  Rafe moved toward the bedroom door. Gabby followed reluctantly. She released Diego from his trance as she stepped into the hall. He stretched and shook out his fur, trotting to Stevie’s side as she climbed into bed.

  Tyson, who had been cowering in the corner darted over to Dane. His excitement at her return, which he expressed with gusto now that the tension in the room had subsided, the only thing that mattered.

  “Hey buddy,” she said stroking his head as he wiggled under her touch.

  “Dane, what is going on?” Stevie asked as she huddled shivering under the covers. Diego stared at Dane, a desolation reflected in his eyes as if he too realized the magnitude of what was to come.

  “It’s a long story and nothing for you to worry about now. Please go to sleep. I will explain everything in the morning.”

  “I’m not sure I can sleep. Or maybe I already am, and this is all just a bad dream.” Her voice cracked as she spoke, and a shadow passed over her features. “Gabby has wings. Did you see that?” She exclaimed her eyes wide. “And she was so terse, blunt, and rude.”
Her eyes glazed as she thought. “She’s so different.”

  Dane stayed silent refusing to engage further. This was not the time to try to explain the unbelievable or convince Stevie of a new reality. She would find out soon enough. Instead, she sat with her friend allowing her to talk through what had conspired in this room.

  The moonlight cascaded through the bedroom window. Its beams cast a soft, sparkling ethereal glow across the floor. It filled the room with a subtle warmth as it caressed and soothed her nerves. This wasn’t what she had planned when she came here this evening. Then again, she hadn’t suspected two of her best friends were linked to the same ancient prophecy she was. Stevie was not the only one having a difficult time processing everything revealed here tonight.

  “Where did you find Rafe?” Stevie asked, a slight twinkle in her tired eyes.

  “That is an even longer story, although something tells me you might enjoy it.”

  She smiled at her friend, pulling the covers up tightly around her. “Goodnight, Stevie,” she said as she moved from the edge of the bed to the chair and turned the light out. She sat in the darkened room listening intently to Stevie’s breathing until exhaustion pulled her into sleep.

  It was almost ten when Stevie and Diego emerged from the bedroom the next morning. Dane made coffee, tea and prepared a hearty breakfast for everyone. As she passed the pancakes to Gabby, Rafe grabbed the plate. “Celestials do not require nourishment,” he said. “An anomaly that further increases their superiority complex.”