the dark days (book one of the darkness saga)

Chapter 45 - Goodbye

Chapter 45 - Goodbye

Alex POV

Present time -

Later that evening I couldn’t sleep. The vision I saw earlier today still haunts me. I peel the comforter off, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. I jump off the bed and loosen up, shaking my arms as I paced around my room. I feel a panic attack looming.

The image is stuck in my head—Justin, his head twisted, and Austin, hysterically crying, declaring that I did it. My eyes start welling up again. I shake it off and walk to the window to take my mind off of it.

Michael is outside, meditating. At least he's changing he's routine. I'd expect him to be standing outside my door around this time. His eyes are closed, but he's squarely facing my window. Oh well, I guess he was still watching over me after all.

I kept thinking of what he said earlier; that Xavier and Dameon's presence changes things. That's quite a departure from his usual ramblings that I will end up killing them. But is that necessarily a good thing? What I learned with our angel friend, he's not exactly up front with what he knows. I wonder if that means I get a chance to actually win this thing?

“No, unfortunately.” Micheal answers the question in my mind from behind me.

“What the hell?” I turn around and interject. Him just popping out of nowhere was something that he just normally does. I interject to express my annoyance.

“Hell has everything to do with it." He realizes I'm annoyed from the expression on my face. "I sincerely apologize for intruding.”

“So you're out there, but you're actually listening in to my thoughts?”

"I don't need to listen. I can hear everybody's thoughts within the protection ward. Can't be too careful. Anybody can be a leak, intentionally or not." He says matter-of-factly.

I draw deep and exhale fast, not hiding my agitation. "Fine. But what do you mean, 'no, unfortunately?'"

"I mean no, we cannot continue training. It's futile because the outcome is always the same."

Here we go again. I shake my head, confused. "What do you mean Michael? I just unlocked my gift of sight. With a little more practice, I think I can do better at astral travel. And from what I've seen, I can keep the dark matter to myself and not have it all shooting out. I mean, I know they probably aren't great strides in your book, but I'm at least already past step one, aren't I?"

"It's not enough, Nyx." Michael's eyes widen, realizing his slip of the tongue when he saw my reaction.

“I'm sorry—what did you just call me?”

Nyk-thos. I hear Micheal’s voice in my head.

“Is that who I am? I've been called too many other things of late.”

“When you first came to be, that was what you were called.”

“Who exactly was Nyx?”

“Nyx was the goddess of the night. One of the primordial gods. You are the child of Khaos Erebus, the one humans know as the God. Alone she spawned a brood of dark spirits, including the Three Fates, Sleep, Death, Strife and Pain. The Ancient Greek mortals had different interpretations and accounts, but they mostly got it right. They envisioned her to be the embodiment of night, a veil of dark mists that draws across the sky to obscure the light of the shining blue heavens."

"Dark mists, huh? I get it. But can't you just call me Alex?"

“I did not mean to address you with a name you were unfamiliar with, but it doesn't mean I can start calling you with another name."

“Why?”

“Because I cannot lie.”

"Okay. Have it your way. But what happens now? You can't train me anymore, just like that, so you're leaving? I f*****g just found out I'll end up killing Justin. How am I supposed to stop that? And what about everyone else that might suffer because of me?"

"I never said I was leaving," he looks at me, expressionless.

“You certainly sounded like you were bailing out. Something about futility and same outcomes." I say coldly.

“I said it is futile, but not impossible. The werewolves, they are a distraction. They cloud your progress, and while you are around them you're—“

“—I'm a danger to them. You want to move me away from them because of my vision.” I finally understood why he's being careful with his words.

“Yes.” He replies.

“Fine. When do we leave?” I sigh. Of course he is right. Somehow I knew that training or hiding or what the hell I was doing here would end. I knew I had to face the fact that I was a danger to the people I love the most. It's now more apparent than ever.

“Interesting. I thought you’ll resist.” He walks to the window and looks out.”but I guess you saw the inevitable.”

I chuckle. “I did resist. But I'm letting it go because I’ll do anything for it not to happen.”

“That is impossible. The foundation has been set. All paths lead there. The outcome is what can change.”

“What do you mean? You mean it’s still going to happen—the war?”

“A fight.” He corrects.

“But Justin...“

“Ah, that’s one outcome.”

“Okay, but before we go, I’ll just tell Xavier and Dameon. If I just disappear they will search for us. And it won't look good for you.”

“I knew that's what you would want to do. However, the result won’t be good. You’ve already seen it.”

He's right again. I let it play out in my head—Xavier will agree, Dameon won't. And it will end in a fight.

“You can inform the Lycan prince through your mind once we are gone.”

“Can I at least leave a letter? Or send a text to Justin.”

"I am not barbaric, Nyx. You can say your goodbyes. I’ll give you a few moments." He walks back to the window. I thought he would at least step out, but I guess that's hoping for too much.

A few minutes later I placed the phone down after talking with Justin. I’ve also left two letters, one each for Xavier and Dameon. I place them on my bed. I remove one of my photos with Xavier from my bedside. From one of my books I remove a photo of me, Dameon and Xavier at our wedding. I stick it in the back pocket of my jeans.

I stood next to Micheal and look around one last time. I feel this was it, I was leaving.

I'm not even sure if I'll return. Or if I was headed to my death.

I try to calm my thoughts. Micheal speaks, “Ready?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” I say with a fake grin.

“Now, where we are going requires both of us to astral travel. Hold my hand, don’t think of anything or anyone but me. Keep your thoughts on me. Think of all the things that define me in your mind. Memorize every detail of my face and keep that in mind, if you have to. Just lock me in your thoughts. And whatever happens, don’t let go.”

I nod, and close my eyes. I picture Micheal in my mind. His angelic features. The perfect symmetry of his face. His grey eyes, the wavy black hairs that falls to his shoulders. His broad shoulders, slender muscular arms.

I glue his image in my mind and clear everything else. Micheal wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me close on his chest. When I open my eyes bright lights illuminates around us.

Wait, are those wings? Shaped like wings, but ablaze and radiant. You'd almost expect it would be blinding but it's actually pleasant to look at. It wraps around us, then it's all I see.