The Rose Witch - Chandelle LaVaun Page 0,80

double-take. “What?”

I licked my lips. “Angel…”

“Oh.” He smiled. “We’re on the Heavenly plane now. I will always be in my true form here.”

I nodded. That made sense. Angels had to look like angels in Heaven. I was just grateful he could look different on Earth, otherwise a vampire and an angel would look strange walking down the street together. I frowned as my plan for immortality came back to me. It was still the only way to achieve it, but it meant I needed to be stronger than this. I clenched my teeth, took a deep breath through my nose, and pushed with my feet.

The world spun as sharp pain shot straight up my legs. I cried out and shook my head. I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate on breathing through the pain. Every step was unbearable. Every breath burned. Every brush of hair along my body felt like razor blades.

“Chloe, love?” His voice was sharp. “I need you to open your eyes for me, okay?”

The panic and fear in his voice was the only thing that gave me the strength to open my eyes. The small movement alone was excruciating. My eyes burned like I had sand in them.

“Thank you. Just stay with me.”

When I looked up my jaw dropped, making me wince. Gone was the white desert and blank sky. In its place was...paradise, of every kind. Everywhere I looked, there was something to see. Sprawling mountains with high peaks and waterfalls gushing from their sides. Luscious green grass and trees of every shape and size. In the distance, I spotted lakes with glass-like surfaces reflecting the white puffy clouds above. There were spots of color and light. I wanted to discover all of it.

We were moving better now that I could put some strength in my legs. I could help us hobble along. In no time, the cobblestone pathway turned into bright green grass. Birds chirped in delight as they flew over our heads. Rabbits and squirrels chased each other across our path. Butterflies fluttered around my face. The warmth of the sun soothed my skin.

Everything around me was absolutely beautiful, but I couldn’t keep myself upright. Malachi was basically carrying me, yet the pain was still too much. I grew weaker with every step, every breath. Every other step my pulse stopped and skipped beats, like something had startled me. I kept feeling eyes watching me and fingers running down my spine.

Something moved in the corner of my eye. I flinched and looked toward it but saw nothing but the paradise around us. When I turned back I spotted an intersection of sorts. Off to the left, the grass faded into golden sand with soft ocean waves rolling onto the shore. To the right, there was an intricate archway made of limestone that was covered in flowery vines, and beyond it a thriving garden of vibrant flowers beckoned us in. Up the center, the path disappeared between the trees and led into the tall mountains basking in the sunlight. Each option looked inviting.

A dark object moved in my peripheral vision. I turned, but again there was nothing. My stomach tightened. I turned to face forward and slammed into a black wall. I gasped and dug my heels into the ground, then cried out as pain radiated through me. Everything was dark. Pitch black. I couldn’t see a single thing.

Malachi?

Malachi??

MALACHI—

“Chloe!” He shouted through the darkness. I felt his hands squeeze mine. “I’m here. You’re still here. Listen to the sound of my voice and fight it.”

My pulse beat frantically. I blinked and shook my head, crying out with every sharp shot of pain. I pushed with my magic and felt the coolness of my smoke rush over my fingers.

“That’s it. Push harder.”

Malachi’s voice was the lighthouse in the storm. I clung to it, focusing everything on it as I pushed with my magic. Bright light poked through. So I gave it more until the darkness vanished, leaving me clinging to Malachi’s body like a life raft. I sighed and sagged into him.

“That was Lilith. She’s trying to get to you, to stop you from getting to the chalice—”

“What—”

“She cannot outright attack you or harm you, but she can mess with your head—”

“Like Eve...and the apple…”

“We need to keep moving,” he said as he hoisted me back to my feet and started dragging me forward. “Just focus on the sound of my voice.”

I nodded and tried to breathe but there was too much pressure on my