A Serpent's Kiss

Chapter Eighteen

Alaura bucked desperately but strong hands held her down. A knife loomed into focus above her and she nearly fainted. Teasing her, Apophis raised one arm and then just as she thought he would plunge it down into her heart, he made a nick in his arm. Black blood oozed from the cut to match his other battle scars. Taking her arm and holding it down, he laid open her veins for the harpy to cut. She made the action in a swift motion, all the while chanting through her teeth. As her blood dribbled down her arm, Apophis laid his wound on top of hers. Arloh began to feel dizzy and her head felt heavy.

When she opened her eyes, she saw the hunched figure of the harpy drawing a circle in the dust around them with one claw. Her voice had risen to a crescendo. Alaura felt despair, misery and lost hope embrace her. Sensing that the ceremony was near the crucial moment, a tear slid down her cheek. There was no way Gabriel would reach her now. It was too late. He was probably ripped to shreds by those demons that attacked him. And he would die under the teeth of Apophis even if he did get this far.

Without warning, the muscles in her body went loose and she felt like she was floating. Her head started to roll and her fingers twitched. Alaura was losing control. Breathing in, she could smell something strong and like incense hanging in the air.

Her head flopped to the right and she saw that the huge doors at the far end of the room were being opened, slowly but surely, letting light flood in. The chanting stopped and through narrowed eyes, Alaura saw a tiny shadow standing still, backed by a wash of blood red. Two huge wings sprouted from his back. Behind him, Alaura could see two other winged figures. He had come. She tried to laugh but blood pooled from her mouth.

Gabriel began running and shouting but Alaura was swiftly losing consciousness and she couldn’t make out what he was saying. Somewhere closer, she heard a deep command to continue with the ceremony but the words ended in a yelp of pain as something struck the owner.

Hardly conscious now, Alaura wasn’t sure if the bonds around her were loosening and she wondered whether she was floating or sinking. Her eyes closed but the smell of purity, light and beauty filled her nostrils. It was the most welcome smell she had ever known and she plunged herself into its sanctuary. A darkness played on the edges of her mind but this time, she embraced it, wrapping it around herself like a cosy blanket. If she died now, it wouldn’t matter because Gabriel was near and he had not broken his promise.

A steady beeping seemed to pierce through the oozy haze around Alaura and she slowly stretched her limbs, tugging on something at the same time. The smell of disinfectant and the warm, airless atmosphere combined with the beeping gave away where she was before she opened her eyes. Hospital. Her eyes shot open and she found herself staring at a patient lying in a bed opposite her. They stared back with bored eyes.

An emptiness seared through her and she realised something was missing. Someone was missing. Her fuggy mind didn’t have to work hard to realise who that someone was.

“Gabriel,” she almost yelled, scanning the ward around her. No familiar figure rushed to greet her. Disappointed, she slumped back against the pillow. He had fought demons for her, had done everything to find her and now he had simply gone. Involuntary anger battled against her sympathy. She couldn’t blame him for leaving. He had nearly died for her and so far she had done nothing but be a damsel in distress. At the same time, he had promised to always be there.

Footsteps rang around the room and half – hopeful, she turned her head, swivelling her eyes. Her heart leapt. Coming through the doorway was the one figure she was always pleased to see. A smile tore open her face and she felt hysteria welling inside her.

He raced over to her and bent to wrap his arms around her but then jerked midway and withdrew. With a sinking heart, Alaura looked at him in the eye. A small noise emerged from her mouth as she tried to question him.

“We’re back to the stage where we burn on contact.”

“That’s fantastic,” Alaura said sarcastically, feeling tears prickle her eyes. “How did you get me out of the underworld then?”

“A few of us shared the load. But you still burn baby,” he joked, displaying a hand. By squinting, Alaura could see a great red welt on his palm. Grimacing, she realised that was her power as a demon. A power she did not want any more.

“It’s not over yet,” Gabriel murmured.

“What do you mean?” she demanded, her voice rising. Inside her chest, her heart had started to pound and her breath was in small gasps.

“Relax Alaura,” he warned. “I have to find a way to undo the binding. Apophis got halfway there. You’re still demon.”

Alaura clenched her fists and drew in a long breath. Snatching her hand out from under his, she snarled, her voice low and full of menace. “Then why the hell did you ‘rescue me’. I’d rather have been full demon and not known rather than mostly demon and full of regret. Has this all been a game in which you’re some sort of hero?”

A nurse was making her way towards them and when Alaura finally stopped, she knew she had been screaming. Gently the nurse laid a hand on Gabriel’s shoulders and muttered a few words. With the blood ringing in her ears, Alaura couldn’t make out what was said but Gabriel stood up, looking abjectly miserable.

“I’ll give you time to calm down.”

As soon as Gabriel left Alaura’s side, the nurse set to work. She took Alaura’s temperature, made some notes on a clipboard and gave two pills for her to swallow. Mutely Alaura obeyed, still not quite understanding why Gabriel had done what he did. In just a matter of minutes she had gone from loving someone with all her heart to bitterly resenting them. Part of it had to be the demon which still disgustingly lay inside her. Yet she knew forgiving him after this would be hard.

A tear trickled down her cheek and she dashed it away. Trying to calm herself down, she sought another focus. That was when the smell hit home; a familiar smell that was making her mouth water. In that instant, she knew Gabriel was right, as always. The demon in her was so deeply ingrained that only a miracle would get it out of her.

Slowly, although trying to fight against it, the rich, tangy scent of human blood made her stomach groan. Her eyes turned to the woman in the bed next to her. The sleeping form lay so still that for a moment Alaura thought she was dead. A sudden twitch proved otherwise but Alaura began to think what easy pickings she would have in the hospital. “Just wait for nightfall,” she whispered.

A wailing siren jolted her into consciousness. The ward around her was dark with only a silver glow coming from the curtained window. As she stared at that light, the familiar sensation engulfed her. The call to change was growing stronger. Alaura swallowed. It felt like her body was trapped and she would be released if she did change. Human bodies lay around her and she was all too aware of their warmth and freshness. She shook her head, biting her tongue. This was Arloh speaking.

As the sensation grew and grew, verging on the edge of overpowering, Alaura slid out of bed. Her legs seemed like twigs and snapped beneath her. Unsure of how many days she had been in hospital, she knew that her legs were weak. With all her strength, she placed one foot in front of the other and staggered to the door.

Panting from exertion and from the cramps that were now racking her body, she somehow managed to stagger down the corridors, her eyes scanning for signs towards the toilets. Occasionally, she would falter and fling out a hand against a wall for support. Her breathing was growing more and more laboured as a coil seemed to tighten around her middle. It was the fight of her human form against her demon calling that was causing the pain. The smell of humans slumbering was making it harder to fight against.

Finally a bright sign lit her way and it was with relief that she collapsed through the door and into a cubicle. Slamming the door shut, she slumped with her back against it. The smell had gone and already, she was feeling slightly calmer. Pain still throbbed through her body and her eyes were watering but it was nothing like it was earlier.

A hysterical laugh escaped from her. Despite being ninety percent demon, she has the strength to battle with this curse. Triumph was quickly dulling the pain but deep down she understood that tonight she was lucky. Tomorrow it could so easily be the other way around.

An exhausted sleep overcame her and she woke just in time to crawl back to bed before the nurses realised she was missing. They performed the necessary tests and examinations on her a few hours later and after that, she waited for Gabriel to visit.

He arrived as soon as the visiting hours started, coming to her bedside and holding her hand with renewed intensity. His eyes seemed to shine and all the questions Alaura wanted to ask seemed insignificant to what he was about to say.

“It’s a wild shot and I don’t know what it will do to you but if I kiss you, it may well undo what I did before. Because you will have two shots of angel within you, it may banish the demon. Light defeats darkness.”

Alaura paused. There was no guarantee this would work but it was the only option left to her. Whether or not she liked it, the demon inside her would always be there unless they did something soon. Shudders ran over her as she remembered how close she had been to Arloh last night.

“Alright. Let’s try it.”

“I have to get you out of here first though.”

Alaura was immediately on the alert. “What do you mean?”

“I can kiss you but I don’t know what will happen. I’d rather it wasn’t here.”

Listening in disbelief, Alaura shook her head. They were in a hospital for goodness sake. Was there a better place to be if something went wrong? Evidently not. Gabriel looked at her and she felt fury welling inside her. The smell exuding of him was making her giddy and she knew if he did not leave soon, she would do something really stupid.

“Go Gabriel,” she muttered through clenched teeth, deliberately turning away. He picked up on the hint immediately and she heard him turn to leave.

“Wait for me tonight and I will take you out of here. Look to the window.”

“Wait – Gabriel!” she yelled but he was already out of earshot. Cursing she fell back against the pillow. She hadn’t warned him that she still needed to transform when the moon rose. If he came as an angel…Grimacing she shook her head to try and banish the thought.

For the rest of the day and well into the night, she was restless and nervous. Her nerves were so heightened she felt sick and jumpy; the prospect of leaving the safety of the hospital and venturing into the unknown again, as well as the knowledge that she would kill Gabriel had her almost screaming into the pillow.

Alaura sensed the time was drawing near when the hospital fell quiet. The slap of shoes in the hallways and the shouts had gone. Instead, the occasional machine would bleep with a startling loudness and someone would mutter in their sleep. Staring at the window, she willed Gabriel to come. The change was imminent and already she could feel the familiar stirrings.

A gentle tapping woke her. Blearily, she realised she had fallen asleep. For a moment she has a strange sensation that she was supposed to be doing something tonight. It came back to her suddenly. Gabriel. As that thought crossed her mind, she gagged involuntary. An invisible band restricted her body and her mouth was sore as two sharp fangs ripped open her gums. Clumsily, she rolled out of bed, panicking. Gabriel was here and if she left it much longer, she wouldn’t go with him to safety, she would kill him.

Chapter Nineteen

“Dam it, damn it, damn it,” she hissed to herself over and over again. She looked at the window and saw a pale face glowing. Two equally pale hands manoeuvred the window open and carried on the rushing breeze was the smell of beauty. Retching, Alaura staggered forward. Her skin was cracking and becoming scaly.

“Come on Alaura, fight it.” Gabriel urged holding out a hand, then withdrawing it quickly.

Somehow, Alaura managed to stagger towards him and collapse over the window sill. There was the lightest touch that guided her onward and then she was on the ground, writhing. Her body felt as if it had been wrapped tightly with only her legs able to move. That is, her tail was the only thing she could move. It flicked wildly, side to side as Alaura fought to keep the ‘disease’ away from the rest of her body.

“I’m not going to be Arloh again. I’m not!” she yelled, staring up at the bright moon in a cloudy sky. A figure caught her eye and she saw Gabriel leaning against a tree at a distance. He knew he was in danger. Alaura could read in his body language that he was desperate to help her but he could do nothing.

“Please Alaura.” He could talk to her. That was it. “I love you.”

On hearing those words, she let out a breath. She felt her heart thudding in her chest and a wave of new energy seemed to accompany these words. Fighting with her heart this time, she pushed against the demon body that was growing inside out and could almost feel it slipping away.

With a rush of air, the disease was gone. Alaura suddenly saw the stars above spinning in streaks of silver. A sudden blur of colour appeared above her and in her thumping, pressured head, she realised it was Gabriel. His lips were moving frantically but she couldn’t hear him. All she was listening to was a ringing. Closing her eyes, she willed it to go away so she could listen to the melody of Gabriel’s voice.

A piercing scream made her sit up in panic. Blood rushed to her head and for a moment or two she swayed side to side, digging her fingers into the ground. Beneath them, something cool and soft brushed her palm. Confused, she looked down, seeing an expanse of green beneath her.

“I thought I’d lost you…again.”

“Thank God.” Alaura automatically responded to Gabriel. He was sitting by her side, his knees drawn to his chest. His hair was a messy blonde thatch and he looked drawn. Feeling sympathy punch her, Alaura shuffled closer, wincing at the fuss that her muscles made as she moved. Biting her lip, she kept silent. Gabriel didn’t need to know.

Silence filled the slight space between them and Alaura gazed around. They were on a hill that sloped down to meet a river that moved sluggishly around them, disappearing into a large wood which stretched for miles. No houses were in sight, only rolling fields. A brown blob at the bottom of the hill attracted her attention. It was a boat. That must be how she got here.

An exhale of breath from Gabriel turned her attention back to him and she noticed he was nursing his hands. From where she sat, she could see the raw red of burnt skin.

“Sorry. I am too smoking hot for my own good.”

Gabriel managed a small smile, turning his head to face her.

“You know Alaura, I don’t think I can carry on. It would have been better to leave you to become a demon and forget everything.”

Before she could suppress the wave of anger that roared through her, Alaura slapped Gabriel hard on the cheek. In that split second of contact she felt blistering heat explode over her palm. Yelping, she nursed it, completely blanking Gabriel.

When the pain had subsided to a dull throbbing, she turned back to Gabriel. He hadn’t moved at all and on his cheek, a red mark was appearing. “Why would you say something like that?” she demanded.

“Because just then I thought you were dead! I thought after all I had done to try and save you, the demons had won! Do you know how I would feel if I didn’t have you. I was sent to kill you Alaura but I couldn’t. When I saw you I knew I couldn’t be responsible for your death. And I won’t be!”

Alaura gaped at him in shock. Tears were pouring down his face, glittering balls of light that left a golden trail on his skin. He had been shouting, sobbing and whispering those words. She had never seen him so emotion, she had never till now realised how much he felt for her.

A life without Gabriel would be empty.

Alaura bit her lip and turned away, not wanting him to see the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. It took her a split second of thought before she whipped around, clasped Gabriel’s face in her hands and pulled his face to hers. Their lips met and for a moment, Gabriel thrashed and struggled. She held on determinedly, aware of his silky, warm lips under hers.

An explosion of light blinded Alaura and she was thrown backwards by a powerful force. She landed with a thud on the grass and began rolling down the hill. Seeing spots of light and rushing sky and earth, she feebly tried to grasp a hold but she was going too fast now to regain control.

Her body slammed against the side of what she presumed was the boat and she lay stunned. Gabriel was shouting her name and by turning her head she could see him racing down towards her. He gradually halted and knelt beside her, a hand’s breadth away. He raised his arm to support her but then put it down slowly, still unsure whether or not to touch her.

“How do you feel?” he asked, staring into her eyes.

“I’m okay.” Her body felt bruised and battered and she was out of breath, but she felt the same inside. “Wait, am I supposed to feel something?”

Gabriel now had a frown on his expression and he looked concerned. “I thought something would happen, like the first time we kissed. Do you remember?”

Of course she did. A slow smile spread across her features but instantly turned into a grimace of pain as she felt something claw its way through her inside.

“Ouch,” she hissed, sitting up in pain and clutching her stomach. The pain didn’t subside, it kept on growing. Tiny whimpers filled the air and Alaura realised she was making sounds of agony. When she tried to shift position, her limbs wouldn’t move. “Gabriel, is this a good or bad sign?” she stiltingly said, forcing the words in between gasps of breath.

He didn’t answer but his hands slid beneath her and both of them cried out in pain as ferocious heat licked their skin. Undeterred, Gabriel heaved her up and placed her gently on the floor of the boat. Leaping in after her, he took hold of the oars and began rowing as if demons possessed him.

Alaura’s sense of reality, time and the real world was rapidly fading. She was aware of the rocking of the boat but all she could see when she closed her eyes were the wings, tails, eyes of the numerous demons she had encountered as Arloh. She was aware of someone hissing, cursing and snarling in the background.

Gentle hands lifted her out of the boat. They were cool on her skin and as her head uselessly flopped backward, she caught a glimpse of a time-wizened face through her narrowed eyes. But an overwhelming burning sensation immediately made her regret opening them and she snapped them back shut again. Instead, she was concentrating on the movement running through the arms that carried her. They were moving quickly and almost silently.

The world of darkness beneath her closed lids suddenly became darker as they passed into deeper shadows. A chill passed through her and a sense of calm caressed her body, setting her tortured mind at rest. In the distance, a bird called trilled through the silent air. Forcing her eyes open, she caught a spinning vortex of green leafy branches and patches of a silvery sky, the sun burning fiercely like an eye. Finding its light too painful, she closed her eyes again.

“We’re nearly there, Alaura, but I need you to walk. I can’t carry you for this last bit. Please.”

Alaura knew that it would require a superhuman effort on her part to try and retain consciousness. But if this was the last stretch of the journey as he had promised, then she would try her utmost. She tried to relax for a moment, forgetting the pain that was tearing her body apart. Rapidly, she opened her eyes and momentarily withdrew as her eyeballs exploded with a myriad of light.

Gradually they adjusted, and she was staring up into trees that formed a sliver of skylight above them. Struggling upright, with her hands gripping onto the side of the boat, she realised they were gliding through a wooded stream. It was as silent as the grave.

The boat moved slowly forward until a small box formed in the distance, perched on stilts. By peering, Alaura could see that the stilts were slightly lopsided, giving the effect that the house was slowly disappearing into the river that it hung over. A mist eddied at the bottom, rising from the river, partly obscuring a small pier. This, Alaura presumed, would be where they would be docking.

Sure enough, the boat kept gliding forward until with a soft bump it collided with the wooden jetty. Gabriel stood up quickly, leant over, and placed one hand on the pier to keep the boat in position. With the other hand, he beckoned for Alaura to stand up.

Grimly, she struggled up onto her foot, sending the boat rocking from side to side so vigorously, it threatened to tip Gabriel into the water. She shuffled forward and with an ungainly swing of her leg, managed to hook herself onto the wooden surface. Now, more than ever, she wished Gabriel could help her, but one touch and they would both burn.

Grunting, snarling, cursing, and feeling nauseous, dizzy and on the point of fainting, she somehow manoeuvred herself so that she was lying flat on the wooden boards. A light thump beside her told her Gabriel had landed. No doubt he had done it far more elegantly than her.

“Come on Alaura. Walk.” Gabriel’s voice was stern and Alaura was compelled to obey. With the elegance of a floundering fish, she flopped onto her feet and rose slowly, gritting her teeth against the roll of pain.

“One foot forward,” she muttered to herself, trying to get her feet to move. One foot edged forward slowly and she wobbled. She repeated the motion with her other foot, and soon she was walking. It was agonising on her legs, her arms waved like a tightrope walker in an attempt to keep her balance, but she was moving.

Gabriel led the way, shooting worried glances at her over her shoulder every few seconds. He led her to the end of the pier and then indicated some steps that went halfway up a tiny hill.

“Can you manage?”

“Yes,” Alaura slurred, her lips feeling heavy and sluggish.

When she reached the top, she was led along a path and towards a door located in the side of the house. Gabriel pounded angrily against it and the racket made Alaura wince.

“Open up! Please! Icatharius!!! I know you’re here!”

The door swung inwards so suddenly that Alaura lost sight of Gabriel as he tumbled forward into the dark space. She stumbled forward, panic rising. She had to keep sight of him; she didn’t know where she was and she was in serious pain.

As Alaura passed through the doorway, a rush of icy cold air embraced her and she was utterly blinded by the darkness that suffocated her. For a moment, all she could hear was her own ragged breathing. Fear lurked under her surface.

“Alaura,” the voice was unfamiliar, and as she responded to it, whirling around, she yelped. A figure stood by an open door, the room beyond exuding a fierce heat and glowing like a furnace. An awful thought hit Alaura. Had Gabriel brought her to hell? “Walk towards me,” the man commanded.

Slowly, she moved towards him, not knowing what had made her obey.

“Relax Alaura.” Gabriel was next to her, guiding, encouraging.

With his comforting presence by her side, she felt stronger, more confident. Features began to be etched on the figure’s face as she drew nearer. It was an elderly man, a few tufts of hair sticking out of his otherwise bald head. He was frail and his thin frame was encased in a worn dressing gown. In a decaying body, his eyes contrasted with the rest of him. They shone brightly and seemed to penetrate into the very heart of Alaura.

When she was within touching distance of him, he swiftly reached out and enclosed his hand around her wrist. Instantly, he dragged her into the room and forced her down into an ordinary chair. The heat of the room made Alaura feel all the fatigue and pain she was trying to escape from.

“Gabriel, you know what to do,” the old man barked, his hands picking up various objects situated on a table. Her attention flicked to Gabriel as she tried to catch his eye. However, he was too busy drawing a circle on the floor around her. She noticed he was staying on the outside, careful not to step into the inside.

The old man was now muttering and as Gabriel connected the circle, he began to place the items in his hands at various points along the circle. A feather. A serpent’s tooth. A red ribbon. As he placed each item down, a thick liquid seeped from it and into the line. From the feather came a glowing gold stream, from the serpent’s tooth, a black, viscous slick and from the ribbon a stream of red, as if the ribbon was growing.

Gabriel and the man had now become spectators, watching the colours meet with a faint hiss. Then the old man stepped forward, his eyes raised heavensward and Alaura began to feel a tug on her body which quickly escalated into a succession of sharp yanks. Her breath was gone. Some invisible thing was hauling her soul out through her mouth. Waves of black rolled past her eyes.

“Stay with us Alaura!” Gabriel’s voice was from a very far distance.

Her body jerked under the pressure that was pushing down on her and she could feel blood in her mouth. The air around her seemed to reverberate with her own heart beats.

A small part of the mounting pressure within her popped and to her disgust, a small tooth fell into her lap. Disgusted, she stared at it for a few minutes before she realised it was her serpent representation. As she stared at it, a huge burden detached itself from her body and dissipated tangibly in a cloud of smoke.

A feather blew gently from her mouth, and a beam of light struck it mid-flight. Her body felt incredibly hollow. There was nothing inside her, just emptiness.

A sliver of movement from within the circle caught her eye and she saw the ribbon unfurling and beginning to lift off the floor. It headed straight towards her, gliding up over her legs, up her torso and poking open her lips. Reluctantly, she parted them and her eyes widened as the ribbon slid down her throat.

When the tip vanished down her gullet, she felt warmth grow within her and explode. Her head was thrown back, her chair rocked on two legs and coloured balls of light erupted in front of her vision. Then the chair legs came back onto solid floor, and she was left panting, unsure of what had just happened.

A golden head bobbed before her and a pair of silken lips crushed against hers. Gabriel. Alaura hesitated, waiting for the burning sensation to tear them apart but nothing. Saved. She took his head in her hands and breathed him in.

They parted, grinning crazily at each other. Gabriel’s eyes were sparkling and his cheeks were flushed pink. He looked cherubic.

“I’m back?” she asked, not quite believing this was true.

“Alaura’s back.”

A small cough from the corner made both their heads spin around. The old man was glaring a them, clearly expecting some sort of thank you. In one fluid movement, both Alaura and Gabriel shot forward, crushing him in-between their grateful arms.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” they trilled, feeling the man shake with laughter underneath them.

When they released Icarathus from his human prison of arms, Alaura and Gabriel linked hands. Gabriel nodded his head one last time to the man who was smirking and led Alaura outside. The cool air on her face after the sweat of her ordeal was a god-send and she paused, breathing it all in, revelling in the rush of air down her throat.

“I’m human once more,” she breathed to herself.

As if her body was trying to prove its humanity, she felt weak, hungry, exhausted. Staggering she collapsed into Gabriel’s arms. He hauled her close to him, nestling his mouth into her hair.

“I know just the place to go,” he whispered. Alaura barely had time to answer before she heard a celestial humming. Glancing over Gabriel’s shoulder, she saw a pair of magnificent wings sprout from between his shoulder blades. She looked up at his face and saw his skin was glowing. There was a slight ruffle of wind and the ground fell away.