Frosted Torment (Marked Mortals Saga #1)

Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

S asha was on the brink of death. But she wouldn’t die, not unless I granted her the mercy of a swift end. Maros and Vincent had ensured I’d be her executioner.

When I peered over at the man Baz brought to us, I saw wrinkles etched like a roadmap on his face. He began praying over Sasha as everyone formed a circle around us.

After he finished speaking, his voice shook. “I need to administer the last rites to her.”

“O’Neil, wait.” Lex’s voice was firm as his eyes flickered a warning.

“I’m giving her what she deserves, young man.” Ignoring him, O’Neil moved to sit across from me, taking Sasha’s weathered hand in his.

“You’re the priest,” I said in a hushed whisper. “Can you help her?”

Jossy huffed and rolled his eyes. “This is for show now, old man. ”

“I’m doing what’s right.” O’Neil’s tone was severe as he glared at Jossy.

“It’s a damn insult,” Jossy retorted. He grabbed Nakoma’s hand, and they walked off toward the house. He turned back one more time to address me. “I detest this for you, Noa. We’ll find them both and end this.”

Agony seized me as I swayed back and forth, grappling with the air that refused to stay in my lungs. “This. Is. Wrong.”

Nevaeh holstered her gun, then settled next to me and Ena, who refused to leave my side as Vincent broke down.

“Noa,” she said, trying to hold back her tears. “None of us could’ve imagined any of this, and Vincent will pay for what he’s done, but Sasha?—”

A regretful sigh escaped Lex, cutting off Nevaeh. “When word about the fire reached us,” he said, his voice heavy with sorrow, “Sasha thought you and your mom both died that night. She couldn’t bear it and—” He paused, not needing to say more.

The world spun as I took in Lex’s words. Guilt washed over me, twisting my gut. I was prolonging her pain. Anger surged, directed at Vincent for causing this.

Nevaeh placed her hand on my back and whispered, “She already knows where she’s going, Noa. You have to?—”

The atmosphere suffocated me.

“None of that makes this any easier,” I countered.

“You’re right, but it’s time.” Lex pulled the dagger from the ground and clutched it in his palm. He grabbed one of my hands and closed my fingers around the hilt of the dagger. “Take this, please. ”

“Why does it have to be me?” I cried, the weight of the world threatening to crush me into nothingness.

“She’s sufferin’ girl.” Dawson stood over me, his gun still drawn and uncertain of our safety.

Nevaeh looked up at him, horrified. She shook her head fiercely, her lips pursed in a silent plea for him to stop and not to make the situation any worse.

“Where was he hiding her?” I demanded, shaking with rage.

“We don’t know, honey,” Nevaeh said with helplessness in her tone.

“Help me do this, Baz,” I begged him, pushing back the bile rising in my throat.

With a low, warning growl, Baz made it clear I needed space. He sat next to me, and I leaned into him for support.

“Turn the dagger around, Noa. I won’t leave you,” he promised.

Sasha’s wolf let out a torturous cry, and my body stiffened as I felt it pulsate to my core. Ena offered her hand to Nevaeh so they could both stand.

Nevaeh turned to Dawson and whispered, “Babe, why don’t you check the perimeter and prepare the pyre? That’s best, considering.”

Dawson gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. “Of course, my love,” he agreed. Then he looked down at me with regret. “I’m sorry for this, Noa.”

I nodded, tears falling onto Sasha. I laid my head on her, and as I pressed my cheek against my grandmother’s chest, her heartbeat grew weak beneath my ear. Time was running out for me to end her torture.

The weight of the dagger in my palm grew heavier with each passing moment. I knew what needed to be done, but could I bring myself to kill my grandmother? Sasha’s eyes fluttered open, clouded with pain but still filled with understanding.

Another weak squeeze from her gripped my hand. It was a soft plea for release that shattered what little remained of my resolve. I hesitated while Nevaeh, Ena, and Lex stood with Father O’Neil, who prayed quietly behind us.

Their voices were a steady murmur in the background of my turbulent thoughts. I could feel Sasha’s weakening pulse beneath my fingers, her breaths growing shallow and labored.

Every fiber of my being screamed for me to end her suffering. With trembling fingers, I squeezed Sasha’s hand one last time and swept stray hairs away from her now-aged face. Her skin was cool to the touch, a stark contrast to the fire burning in her eyes.

“Please forgive me,” I said, patting her shoulders lightly.

My heart pounded in my ears, and I gritted my teeth, begging the merciless universe to help me. There was no answer, only the sound of crushing silence. I wiped each of my cheeks and sniffed. Then, as if someone else were in control of my body, I raised the dagger over her heart, my fingers struggling to keep hold of it.

A strangled sob caught in my throat as I plunged the blade forward, piercing through flesh and bone. Falling onto my grandmother’s lifeless body, I pleaded for her forgiveness. Then, consumed by guilt, I tore out the dagger and hurled it across the field.

A blinding light erupted around us. It seared my vision and blasted me into the cold, damp grass. My body writhed in agony as I struggled to regain my senses. Through blurry eyes, I saw Father O’Neil darting across the clearing in my direction .

“Noa,” he gasped, crouching next to me. “Are you injured?”

I groaned and tried to sit up, but my body refused to cooperate. Instead, I pressed my hand to my head and let the ground consume me.

“The secrets.” O’Neil took his thumb and, in a gentle sweeping motion, drew the sign of the cross on my forehead. “You have them all now.”

“Oh, thank god,” said Lex, as he hovered over me with fear in his eyes. “I thought that was it for you, too.”

“It was her body taking in the secrets,” O’Neil remarked. “The most powerful reaction we’ve seen.”

“She’s the last one,” confirmed Lex as he stood looking around the field.

I forced myself to turn to my side, ignoring their exchange. The lifeless body of my grandmother and the image of her sweet face were imprinted in my mind. She was gone, and I had killed her. Dead for the second time. Shivering, I rolled onto my back again.

Lex reached a hand down to help me sit up, but I shook my head. O’Neil stood and looked around for any threats, but there were none. At least, not yet.

“Vincent is a dead man,” I finally muttered. “I’m killing that prick. Vallen and Maros too. The nerve of angels thinking they can fuck with humans like this.” O’Neil cleared his throat, and I looked up at him, squinting with one eye closed. “Sorry, Father.”

He nodded with a polite smile. “You’re forgiven, child, but there’s still a lot for us to figure out.”

“Plot away, but that’s the endgame. They’re all dead,” I reiterated with a little more force this time.

I glanced to my left and saw Nevaeh and Ena absorbed in a conversation. I was confident it was about what took place and how to bury Sasha’s body. I would let them sort it out and I’d help if they needed me. Baz and Sasha’s wolf bounded toward me.

“Are you all right?” Baz asked, a tinge of worry in his voice.

I rubbed my eyes with the heels of my hands. “Yeah, just need to figure out where they imprisoned Vallen,” I replied. “I have a hit list of my own.”

Across the field, Dawson ran up the steps into the house and slammed the door. Nevaeh and Ena looked our way, then turned with heavy footsteps to join us.

“Are you able to sit up now, Noa?” Lex asked, regret filling his stare.

I nodded with a half-smile and lifted my hand for help. He grasped my forearm and lifted me to my feet. I dusted off my hands on my damp jeans and immediately craved a shower. What I needed was sleep, but that would have to come later.

I gestured toward the house with a nod of my head. “Where are they taking her?”

Ena’s eyes flitted to Father O’Neil as she avoided my gaze. “They’re going to gather Sasha for a cremation ceremony.”

“Oh.” My tone went flat. I looked down and started picking at my fingernails. “I thought I heard the word ‘pyre’ earlier, but it didn’t register.”

“Yes,” said Father O’Neil with a nod. “I should help them. Then we make our plans, which include scouring the books in the vault room.” He glanced at me and warned, “You’re the last one, Noa. I don’t know what that’s going to mean, but there might be more than fallen angels and demons after you now.”

My eyebrows rose. “What the hell are you talking about? ”

“Yeah, care to fill us in?” asked Lex, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. He was still wearing his sweatshirt and pants from earlier, and I could tell he needed a shower and was starting to feel uncomfortable.

“This ought to be good, but I figured it was coming,” quipped Baz as he released a deep breath and lay next to me.

O’Neil released a long breath. “The Vatican,” he murmured.

I shook my head as the three of them surrounded O’Neil, hurling information back and forth. They lost me when I heard someone mention the Roman Curia. Lex threw up his hands, and I swore a vein bulged in his neck.

The Catholic Church was foreign to me other than the television shows I’d seen about secrets and conspiracy. Apparently, secrets were real. Maybe it wasn’t about conspiracy so much as it was about protecting humans, but I wasn’t sure, and I didn’t have the strength to listen to them argue.

Then, my grandmother’s wolf walked up next to me and lowered his head. I reached up, cupping one hand under his chin and stroking his snout with the other. It was a calming distraction from the group chaos.

Baz stood close as we watched Dawson, Nakoma, and Jossy wrap Sasha in white sheets. They tied pieces of rope around her to hold them in place. Then, the three of them hoisted her up and carried her to the funeral pyre at the foot of the totem pole.

They composed it of wooden boards, firewood, and branches of trees they found lying around the side of the house. They placed wildflowers they found on the edges of the trees on top of her, then tucked bundles of sage around her body. As beautiful a gesture as it was, I couldn’t watch, knowing my grandmother was in hell.

I looked back toward the house, then twisted around to scope the area of the field behind me. My grandmother’s wolf peered at me with his deep amber eyes and followed my movements. Studying him, my heart broke as I wondered if he would stay with us since Sasha died.

“Can he understand us?” I asked Baz.

“Yes, and the pack communicates through telepathy as well,” he informed me.

It dawned on me that this other wolf, a fallen guardian angel, had heard every agonizing word before I let my grandmother go. He had likely been comforting her somehow. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks again. I couldn’t bear to dwell on what I’d done. The taste of iron still coated my tongue.

“And he talked to Sasha.” It wasn’t a question. I stroked the wolf’s coarse fur to comfort us both.

When I glanced back at the altar, Jossy and Nakoma stood entwined, while Dawson doused the top with lighter fluid. Ena strode toward them, leaving Lex and Nevaeh embroiled in a heated debate with Father O’Neil. Dawson struck a match, and flames engulfed the pyre with a roar.

I let out a deep sigh and returned my gaze to the wolf. “What’s your name?”

“Callum,” Baz answered for him, his voice low.

My heart ached for all of us. Because of selfish angels who decided to rip away souls to hide ancient secrets within humans. So many lives were lost between the Veil and here. I wrapped my arms around Callum’s sturdy neck, embracing him, but he went limp and fell to the ground .

“What’s happening?” My breath shuddered, and I froze where I stood.

“He’s decided to leave.” Baz’s tone was oddly tranquil.

Lex halted mid-sentence, wheeling around to face me, eyes wide. “Callum, wait,” he pleaded.

My muscles tensed as Callum lifted his head with a whimper. “Where are you going?”

“Back to the Veil.” Baz stretched his neck toward the inky sky, releasing a long, mournful howl.

My confused eyes darted to Baz. “I thought your punishment for falling was eternal damnation, too?”

“We can’t reenter the Veil, but we can serve by guarding it from the outside,” he explained. “Falling is unforgivable, but if we don’t completely succumb to the darkness here, we’re allowed to join the army in the Veil.”

“Brother,” Lex edged closer and sat down next to Callum. “We still need you here.”

Callum lifted his head for a moment, heartache shining in his eyes. Forcing him to stay would only prolong everyone’s agony. “He’s in pain, Lex,” I murmured, recalling Dawson’s same words to me about Sasha.

Lex raked his hands through his hair. “Fucking Vincent,” he growled.

Nevaeh and O’Neil kept their distance as I stroked Callum’s head. Cosmic electricity surged through my hand, crackling against his fur. I stared at my hand in bewilderment, then back at Callum.

“What’s happening?” Lex asked, his voice rough with emotion.

“I don’t know,” I answered honestly, continuing to stroke Callum’s fur.

Callum released a long, anguished howl, then slowly morphed from wolf into man, then dissolved into shimmering energy. My pulse quickened as his presence swirled around me. Amidst the glimmering mist, rugged features crystallized. A strong jaw, flowing snow-white hair, and sparkling amethyst eyes.

His radiance caressed me before he disintegrated into what looked like stardust. In a single movement, he wrapped around me, raw energy jolting my body. Callum’s essence fused into my veins, mingling with the potent secrets harbored inside me.

As he faded into my being, the scent of pine mingling with euphoric lilacs embedded itself in my nose, and a thought fluttered in my mind. Baz stared skyward, then he dropped his snout to the ground. I scanned the empty field, feeling consumed by the cosmic flames of the universe.

Lex was so still that I thought he’d shed his mortal form and travel somewhere beyond. Glazed, his eyes flickered like strobe lights. I waved my hand before his face, breaking the trance. Lex jumped back to the present.

“What... What happened?” My faint voice trembled.

Lex’s brow pinched together. “Callum was saying goodbye, but he decided you needed a fighting chance.”

“He…he gave me his essence?” I studied my open palms in wonder.

Lex nodded. “He did.”

Father O’Neil approached, face etched with concern. “Let’s get moving, everyone.”

Baz snarled in irritation, making O’Neil’s eyes bulge. “There’s time, and we need to talk,” said Baz .

“Wait,” I breathed and blew out my cheeks. “I need a minute.”

A surge of emotions threatened to consume me. It all weighed on my shoulders, and my lips turned numb. The realization I had taken my grandmother’s life, because it was the one way she could die, was a burden too heavy to bear. It would haunt me for whatever time I had left here.

O’Neil fidgeted with his rosary beads, eyeing the sky. “Don’t linger. I trust nothing, and we don’t know when Maros or Vincent will be back.”

“Come,” Nevaeh linked her arm through the priest’s, leading him to the porch where the others waited. “We need to get out the maps and strategize.”

Father O’Neil nodded as he lifted a finger. “Yes, we need to find a way to check the wards.”

“Then we need to find ourselves a tree,” she confirmed and patted his arm.

Lex began to follow them, and I called out to him, “Stay with us.”

He cocked his head and eyed me curiously. “Sure.”

I gazed down at the faint shimmer of Callum’s essence lingering on my skin. The comforting yet unsettling warmth radiating from it was a stark reminder of Callum’s sacrifice.

Feeling a gentle nudge from Baz, his fur brushing against my leg, grounded me in the present moment. My guardian wolf’s eyes held a depth of understanding that spoke volumes without uttering a single word.

Lex admitted, “I’m as hard on Father O’Neil as anyone else, but he does have a point.”

His words pulled me back to reality as he looked off into the tree line. I turned to Baz and whispered into his ear, “You said Lex was trustworthy.” Baz nodded in agreement, eyes narrowing as he weighed my words. “Let me tell him I can talk to you.”

He chuffed and lifted his chin. “Pretty sure you’re going to, no matter what I say at this point.”

“We need him, Baz.” My eyes pleaded with him. “I need you both, now.”

Baz’s eyes softened as he blew out a deep exhale. He nuzzled my hand to offer me silent comfort. A reassurance I desperately needed.

Lex’s gaze shifted between us, confusion creasing his brow. “What is going on between you two?”

“Baz and I,” I glanced up at Lex with my stomach doing flips, “share a connection deeper than what you might think. We can communicate.”

Lex’s eyes darted between us as if searching for some rational explanation. “But... how is that even possible?”

Exchanging a knowing look with Baz, I tapped my temple twice.