Читать книгу Stolen Halo - Mackenzie Grace - Страница 8

2

When I opened my eyes, I was not in the room I remember being in last. I turned my head from my position on the bed and sighed. This was not my bed, not my room, and not my house. Keeper has taken me out of the coven and brought me to his happy home, just like he said he would.

A throat cleared, and I turned my head, looking for the source of the sound, and found Keeper at the foot of the bed, watching me.

“What?” I sighed, tired of the drama and wishing for more than anything in this moment to be mortal.

“I forgot to wake you up yesterday, but you needed to be moved somewhere I could watch you,” he said.

“Okay…” I said, not seeing where he was going with this.

“You will stay with me until your seventeenth birthday, and then, I will tell you what I have been waiting for the past sixteen years.” He grinned, and I shuddered. Sixteen years—what was that supposed to mean?

“What do you mean, when the other witches turn seventeen and have their reveals, you don’t come. Why did you have to come to mine?” I asked him.

“Bella, I will give you no other answers other than you are very much not a witch,” he said and got up. He walked to the door. “And your upstairs daddy was not a happy camper for a long while.” He grinned at his words and left, locking the door behind him.

“What?” I whispered. How was I not a witch? Was what I believed I was for the past sixteen years of my life really a lie. If I have been lied to, I don’t even know what I am now. What was I supposed to believe or what I would do? Even more important, what would become of me and Trinity. Most girls look forward to their seventeenth, but not me, I dreaded it. I don’t know what is going to happen to me, and at this point, I didn’t even know who I was.

Sitting in a room with just a bed and a bathroom was one of the most boring prisons ever. At least, I was not being physically tortured, just mentally. All there was to do in this room was thinking, and I really didn’t want to do that right now, because then, I would have to think about how sucky my life is and how I have been lied to, I don’t even know how to react.

I got up off the bed and slowly made my trip to the bathroom. Maybe, I could accidentally trip over air and fall and get a concussion, at least then, something would happen. I had only been in this house a day, and I was already going nuts.

I cracked open and the bathroom door open and closed it behind me. I decided I would take a shower. Maybe, I could use up all the hot water in the process, haha! That’s it, then, everyone will have to use cold water. “Dio sono così zoppo,” I murmured and got in the shower. I stayed in the shower until the water turned cold and then stayed in another ten minutes. I got out of the shower slowly and put on a pair of sweatpants that were left for me, along with another pile of clothes. I looked at my back in the mirror before putting on my shirt. I saw the beautiful tattoo that was Trinity. Even on my skin, she still had her purple eyes, and I wished so bad I could let her off my skin, but I could not take the chance. Keeper could somehow see.

He hadn’t visited me since he told me about—no, I’m not going to think about it. I threw on the shirt that which thankfully covered all of my tattoos, except for some of her head on my neck, but as long as I had my hair down, he should not see her.

I plopped down onto the bed and watched the door for what felt like hours, until a woman came in to give me dinner. She smiled politely and set the food down at the base of the bed. I smiled at her and watched her leave and lock the door behind her.

As soon as she was gone, I dove at the food like a wild animal. I shoved the hamburger in my mouth and stopped when I saw the cup that held the pill I was supposed to take in it, but nope, I was not going to take it anymore. If Keeper gave it to me, it was probably not good. I left the pill in the cup and ate the rest of the food on the plate. I put the tray of food near the door when I was done and put the pill in the night stand next to my bed; I had no trash can. I rolled my eyes. What did he think I would do with a trash can, what was so bad about it that I couldn’t even have one in the room with me. I snorted. He probably thought I would try to break out with it—me, Trinity, and trash can, the crime fighting duo. I smiled and fell asleep on the bed in a prison, where I would most likely die of boredom.

“Bella?” I heard my name being called. “Bella, can you hear me?” came the voice of a boy. “Bella?” he said again, and I looked for his voice. It was calm and sounded like music.

“Hello?” I said. “Who is there, where am I?” I asked. I stood in a void of whiteness—nothingness.

“Oh! Bella, sorry, just a second,” he said again, and the scenery changed to a forest, with tall green trees and vines and all sorts of flowers and animals, then the scene changed again, and I was at the ocean. I gasped. I had never been to the ocean. I rubbed my bare feet in the sand and smiled at the sun on my skin. “Is this one fine for you?” he asked.

“This? The beach?” I looked around.

“Hum,” came his voice again.

“Yeah, I have never been here or to any beach, really,” I said and smiled at the sounds of the birds cawing. “Is this real?”

He laughed sadly. “No, this is a dream, it’s the only way I can talk to you.” He sighed. “But don’t worry, I am coming to find you, to free you.”

“How do you know where I am?” I asked him, “Where are you?”

“Your parents sent me to find you, and I can’t be in the dream I’m too far away,” he said, and his voice floated to me.

“Your voice is pretty, it’s like music.” I was not sure why I said that, but it was true. “What is your name?”

“Aiden,” he said, “and I think you have a beautiful voice as well.”

I flushed. “Thanks,” I said, then it hit me. He said my parents sent him. “Who…who are my parents?” I asked him, looking for answers.

“What?” Aiden asked.

“Who are they, you said they sent you to find me,” I said.

“Oh, Bella,” he said sadly. “Their names are Michael and Gabrella,” Aiden told me.

I felt my eyes start to get watery. “What are they?”

“Archangels,” he said nothing for a few seconds then said. “Bella, the dream is stopping, hold on! I’m coming for you, just hold on!” Aiden said, and then, he was gone.

He was gone, and the beach was gone. I was in the dang room again. It was my very own prison, and I didn’t know what to think anymore. I slid off the mattress and got on my knees, taking the blankets off the bed with me. They draped on the floor at my knees. I bowed my head and pulled the blankets close to my chest, and I cried. I cried for what felt like hours. The tears burned as they slid down my cheeks, and I hated that I was crying. Each tear that came, I cursed, but it was so hard not to cry when I felt so helpless and confused. All I wanted was to be given some reassurance, but every time I sought that out, all I got was more hurt, and those were the thoughts that lulled me to my sleep.

When I woke up, I was sore, and my eyes felt like they grew twice the size of the sockets. I stretched out on the floor then climbed back into my bed, and I stared up at the gold ceiling and remembered Aiden. He said he was coming for me, and he was sent by my parents, Michael and Gabrella, who are archangels. Then, I remembered the reason for the tears. I always avoided them if I could, but I just could not hold theses ones back. They came, and they were the kind you couldn’t breathe around, the kind that broke other’s hearts and shattered your own. I also prayed and said little things, hoping whoever heard them could deliver the words, but I doubted they could understand what I said; the words were silent or sobbed into prayer, and they were all the things I wish I could say to my parents like how much I miss them, even though I have never met them or how much I love them even though they haven’t given me a reason and that I didn’t blame them. I felt Trinity flick her tail around my sides, and in a way, she confronted me and made it seem like she was a person who cared for me and would hold me as I cried out my grief, but there really was no one.

The doorknob to my room rattled, and I quickly shot myself onto the floor and pretended I was asleep as it opened. “Bella,” Keepers voice said, “where did you go?” I closed my eyes. I shut them tight and faked sleep as best as I could.

Keeper moved around the room, and when he got to the side I was “asleep” on, he chuckled. “Little rascal,” he murmured and scooped me up in his arms and set me on the bed. “Causing trouble even in your sleep,” I heard the evil smile in his voice, and I kept my eyes closed. “Stay there, now, you better get all the rest you can, busy day today,” he said as if he were talking about the weather and not a human being held captive. I heard his feet shuffle and, then, the door close and lock behind him.

Damn, I deserve an Emmy for that. He didn’t even question it, he totally bought it! I opened my eyes and spotted a plate of food, waiting for me by the door. “I’m hungry,” I said to myself, and Trinity flicked her tail in agreement. I smiled and took the pill out of the cup and put it with the others and ate my breakfast.

The door opened, and of course, Keeper walked in. He had a smile on his face, and he looked pleased. “Are you ready?” he asked.

“For what?” I asked and pretended like I was thinking. “Oh, I know, no one cares!” I said as if I found out I got the top score on a test.

“Nope, you are wrong.” He grinned. “We have a field trip today.”

“What?” I said puzzled. “We are leaving?”

“No, it’s more of a trip for you, not me.” He smirked. “Because of course, I can leave whenever I want, you, on the other hand, have some guests.”

“Guests? I don’t know anyone.” I groaned and smacked my head. “Really, not in a socializing mood.”

“Too bad. You better behave today, you give me one no, and I can make your stay here much more interesting,” he said, and I saw a glint of black in his red eyes.

“Tutto quello che vuoi,” I murmured.

“What was that, don’t speak different with me.” He scolded me. “What did you say?”

“I said, whatever you want. You need me to translate that too?” I asked.

“Smart mouth you have there.” He said, “You better watch it.” He turned toward the door. “And put on something nice, your guests will be here shortly,” he said and left me in my room with the dumb door locked.

“Douche,” I murmured as I got up to get ready. I put on a black T-shirt and a white maxi skirt. I had no shoes, so I just left my feet bare and brushed out my hair. I sat down on the bed and waited for someone to come and get me for my guests. Who would try to visit me? I didn’t know anyone outside the coven, and the other witches are not allowed to be at the Keeper’s house. My birthday was also coming up in five days, and that meant five days until I learned what Keeper had in store for me.

My door creaked open, and I saw Keeper there. “Ready?” he asked.

“Yep.” I stood and looked down. “Is there a chance I will get a pair of shoes?” I asked.

He threw a pair of black Converse on the floor, and I quickly put them on. I got up, and he put my arm in the crook of his. I waited for him to tell me who was coming to see me, but he did not say anything.

“Can you tell me who is here to see me?” I asked.

Keeper looked straight forward as he answered me, “Just a couple of my friends.” He turned and looked at me, He shoved me roughly to the floor. “And you better be quiet and listen, you are there only for show.”

I bit my lip to keep myself from yelling at him and carefully nodded my head. “Okay,” I said quietly.

I slowly lifted myself off the floor, and Keeper grabbed my arm and, once again, guided me down halls, and after what felt like fifty turns and ten flights of stairs, we came to a giant room with a huge oval table in the middle. There were at least twenty men. Some were mortals, and some were demons, and they were all sitting in a chair around the table. As soon as I came in the room, each one of their eyes came to me.

I recoiled back, but Keeper tightened his grip and lead me around each of the men. I followed him, only because I had nowhere else to go. Keeper sat in a chair and positioned me to stand beside him. I looked down, staring at my hands.

“Who is this?” said one of the men.

Keeper smiled and nodded in the direction of the man. “This is Bella, daughter of Archangels Michael and Gabrella.” I stared at Keeper with so much hate in my eyes that it was terribly obvious. “And I kidnapped her sixteen years ago. She will be seventeen in five days, and you all know very well what that means,” He said, and everyone nodded and cheered.

“Quiet!” he roared, and everyone stopped talking and watched him respectively. “Bella,” he said, “Bella, is going to help me take over, and I want you all to swear your allegiance to me.”

My mouth dropped open. I never agreed to help him. That was something you never did, you never made any promises, you never tell anyone that you are unsure of what you can help, and never give any demon or witch an opportunity to have you in their debt.

I heard a deep chuckle from one of the men. I turned my head and saw the source; he was a demon. He had black horns and wings, and his skin was black as well, but his eyes, his eyes were all white, and I immediately knew who he was. He was Vetis, tempter of the holy. I took a step back from him, and he smiled at me. Keeper growled. “Vetis.” He growled. “Do not even think about it, you may be Lucifer’s favorite right now, but I will not let you play your tricks on her. She is mine.”

“For now, she is yours, but not for long.” Vetis growled.

“Shut your trap,” Keeper snapped, and I silently cursed him. He brought me here to put me out as if I were a trophy; he was showing me off. “I have watched her grow. I know all there is to know about her, not any of you, especially not you Vetis,” Keeper barked. “Swear your allegiance!” he demanded. “And I will make it so we are all unstoppable!” He offered, and the demons and mortals looked mildly interested, and some even were raising their hands and shouting that they would join the fight.

Keeper stood up, and everyone had their eyes glued to him, eager to hear his words. “I am a man of my word,” he started, “and I know I am not the only one who agrees when I say that we are sick of the angels running us. We want our freedom!” He roared, and people started nodding their heads in agreement. “I have stolen and raised the greatest weapon in this realm! Nothing can stop me, even Michael will be on his knees, begging me for mercy!” Keeper demanded, “So join me! Join me and fight for our freedom!” and was answered with cheers.

Vetis’s rough bark of laughter interrupted the sounds of agreement that Keeper had started. “Look at her, Keeper, you obviously raised the thing wrong, she looks mortified.” He looked me square in the eyes, and then, his gaze went to Keeper. “The poor small girl, you sent the mouse into the lions’ den with this one.” He laughed. “She has the power to rule the world, and you stuck her in a witch coven, even the basic mortal could understand how stupid that is, I would have started her in her place from the start.”

I snapped my gaze to Keeper, and his face looked stricken. “Who is the one who took her!” he asked. “Me! That’s who, and I did what was the proper thing to do.”

“Stop it!” I shouted, horrified that they were fighting over me. “This is stupid.” I looked at Keeper nervously then cleared my face. “I will not take this, you can’t fight over me like this.”

“Look at this!” Vetis barked. “She fights back.” He looked appalled. “She talks back to her captors, look at me, little girl,” he said and waited for me to meet his all-white eyes. “This is your destiny, this is the only reason you were born—to be used,” he said, and each word stung.

I looked at the floor, but I felt the hateful stare of each demon in the room. “No,” I whispered. I felt a wave of power wash over me like a blanket. “I am not some doomsday device, you can’t use me! I won’t let you!” I shouted and felt Trinity move around on my back. We are getting out of here, now.

I backed away from the table, and Keeper and Vetis both were watching me with angry eyes. I felt my back hit the wall and lifted my arm and saw a puff of white smoke come off my skin. It floated around for a second, deciding where it would be best to land and settled right next to me. The puff of smoke started taking form—four legs, a tail, and a head. She stood tall, about up to my hip. Trinity. She roared, and all eyes were on us.

“A leopard,” said Keeper. “All that trouble that day was over this oversized cat!” He chuckled.

“Careful,” I spat, “she is more than just an oversized cat.” I felt a zing of power shoot through me again. “She is my familiar.” Trinity looked up at me, and I saw a gold collar around her neck. I smiled at her, and she roared lightly. I nodded my head, and she looked back at the group of people. “You messed with the wrong angel,” I said lightly and felt a rush shoot through me once again. “Mia grazia,” I murmured and felt the power form a ball. I lifted my hand and saw white orbs sitting in them. “My grace,” I said in English this time.

“What is this?” said Vetis.

“She has been off the pill!” Keeper yelled and kicked his chair. A growl erupted from him, and he turned into his true form—wings so long and vile they made Steven King look like a baby, and his horns were like the devil himself. “Bella, we are not playing around, you need to stop this foolishness. Remember what I told you, about your stay?” he snapped.

“No, you won’t need to worry about that,” I said, and the orb got bigger in my hand. “I’m leaving,” I said.

“How?” Vetis laughed. “There is nowhere to run, we will always find you. I will always find you.” He corrected himself.

“I can leave, by my own hand,” I said, and I don’t know how I did it, but I threw the orb on the floor, and in a cloud of smoke, it took me and Trinity away, and I could hear the shouts of all the men, but the only one that stood out was Keeper’s, and he was mad.