face. I could barely see the outline of Malachi’s body. It felt like bee stings on every inch of my body. Burning and swelling like my skin was going to peel from my bones. I screamed. The golden lasers burned hotter and I cried out. Ice cold chill wrapped around each of the five laser holes in my body and then the lasers turned red coming out of me. It inched toward the angels, red battling gold.
Their chanting sounded like thunder though I could barely hear it over the roar in my body. My throat was raw and sore but I couldn’t stop screaming. Tears streaked down my face.
The black cloud twitched and wailed. It swirled around in itself, like a snake tying itself in a knot. The cloud billowed and I thought I saw a face from within it—
And then it exploded into dust.
The pressure in my chest vanished. A soft blue glow illuminated the front of Malachi’s body. Those golden lasers turned white as snow. There was a pop and a flash, and then they were gone.
I dropped toward the ground but Malachi caught me before I hit. I landed in the cradle of his arms but my body had no strength left. I felt myself drape over his arms like one of Salvador Dali’s melted clocks. All I wanted to do was to close my eyes and sleep—
“Chloe,” Malachi whispered and cupped my jaw. The panic in his voice sent my eyes flying open. He cupped my face, stroking my cheek with his thumb. “It’s over. Stay with me now, okay?”
Of course I will, I tried to say, but I had no strength to speak. I wasn’t going down that easy. I had plans. I had to get turned into a vampire so I could spend eternity with him. Death was not coming for me. I would fight it.
I blinked up at him only to find that glowing blue crescent moon shining on his face.
Jophiel appeared beside him. She crouched down and brushed my hair back off my face. She gave me a bright, warm smile. “You did amazing, Chloe.”
Michael walked up behind them. He lifted his arm and the clear quartz crystal pendant dangled from his hand. The crystal was cracked and partially shattered, the edges of it black like it was burned. The chain was broken and charred.
I frowned and tried to speak but my breath left me in a rush. Malachi lifted me up so I was sitting and the world spun. I sank into his chest, unable to hold myself up. The blue crescent moon was now glowing against the boulder across from me.
Gabriel stepped out behind him and cleared his throat. “Michael?”
Uriel held his hand out. “The remains?”
Michael nodded and dropped the broken locket into Uriel’s open hand. Then he growled.
Jophiel put her hand on my cheek. “You are strong, my child. And now Lilith knows that.”
“We leave you now. We’ll speak soon, Malachi.” Uriel looked to me and nodded. “Chloe.”
Bright light flashed and then the three angels were gone, leaving me with just Malachi and Spot…and Gabriel.
“Your task is not yet complete,” Gabriel’s voice sounded from behind me. He moved to stand in front of us, his face grim as he stared at my chest. “You must enter the Garden of Eden now and seek the chalice of Heaven. You must drink from it to be purified of the evil that was put on you.”
My jaw dropped. My pulse quickened. WHAT?
Malachi cleared his throat. “May I go with her?”
“You may escort her to where she needs to go, but she must do it on her own.” Gabriel looked down at me and nodded once. “Good luck. The power of Heaven is with you.”
The second he vanished I cried out and buried my face in Malachi’s chest.
“I know. I’m so sorry, Chloe,” his voice was soft but raw. “Once you drink from the chalice all the pain will be gone. I will be with you every step of the way.”
I nodded and licked my lips. “O-kay,” I said with every ounce of strength I could muster.
Spot whined and leapt over to us. He licked my face then licked Malachi’s.
“Spot – no, Spot, look at me.” He ducked down and ruffled his ears. “Go home to Dad. Wait for me there. As soon as we’re out, I’ll call for you.”
He cocked his head to the side and whimpered.
Malachi smiled. “I promise. Go ahead. Go.”
I tried to speak, to say something to poor Spot