A Serpent's Kiss

Chapter Five

That night, when the transformation begun, she felt so crushed in mind, body and spirit that she could not summon up the strength to resist it. In a trance, she allowed the pain to consume her, hearing the cracks as her bones broke and merged from a distance. Then there was that familiar sensation of rough tarmac, smooth grass and the crunch of forest leaves. Her forked tongue flicked and she could taste prey nearby. Her body moved forward, moving over dead branches with only the slightest noise. All around her the forest was completely still.

She saw the light gleaming off the blade before it embedded itself in her skin. It had come from nowhere and was now quivering deep in her muscles. Ferocious burning and cramping came from what she guessed was her shoulder. Hissing, she skidded sideways as another silver knife came whizzing out of the darkness. Waves of black were rolling over her and her mind was screaming for her to run.

Gabriel. She whipped around with serpentine grace and headed straight for the darkness in which the blades had been launched. Her body connected with a solid warmth and then she was lying on top of Gabriel. His eyes glittered, even in this poor light.

“Get off me and let me kill you, demon scum,” he growled. Under her body, Alaura could feel his chest and throat vibrating. Half obeying she rose up and fixed him with an unblinking glare. He just grinned and reached for his belt. She was off him and fleeing for her life. There were multiple thuds as he hurled his remaining weapons after her but she dodged.

As she turned back into her human form, she was brutally attacked by the rawness in her left shoulder. Now she was able to see the full extent of the damage. The knife had cut a deep s***h into her muscle and dried blood crusted it. Already, she could see the black circling it. Quietly, she crept into the bathroom and raided the first aid cupboard. The family had everything she needed – cream and yards of bandages. Wincing as he fingers grazed the tender skin, she managed to wrap up the evidence. Carefully, she went back into her room, careful not to lie on the sore shoulder. Come tomorrow she would hide it.

“What happened to your shoulder?” Kate squealed as Alaura changed into her drama costume. “You didn’t self harm did you?”

“I was hoping you wouldn’t ask. I had an accident.”

“Care to elaborate?”

“No.”

She suffered the warm spike in her shoulder all through till lunch. After that however, it throbbed with a sickening pulse. Too concerned about her discomfort, she once again left school.

That night, Alaura knew what she needed to do. She willingly let her body become the snake demon she had long abhorred, and slithered out into the forest and certain death. She waited in a patch of dry leaves, the trees forming a circle around her, and in the full beam of the moonlight. Whilst she waited for the tread she knew would come, she watched as the clouds scudded over it.

A crack behind her gave her warning, and she was able to slip sideways and stare as the knife lay quivering in the spot where she had been moments before. With all her serpentine speed and strength she launched herself in the direction from where it had come. She landed on a soft pile of leaves and twigs, hearing the scuff of retreating footsteps far ahead. He had a head start. Determinedly, she pursued him. Even whilst he was running, he still managed to direct a wave of weapons at her. Most of them she managed to dodge, but some caught her skin, nicking it and drawing blood. Hate surged within her. She would crush this weasel.

After a game of cat and mouse that lasted about ten minutes, Alaura finally managed to reach Gabriel from behind and topple him. With all her strength, she held him down, saying nothing. He thrashed beneath her, hurling insults, but she managed to maintain a hold. It was only a matter of time before he knew he was not getting past his wall of serpent.

Gradually, she felt the force binding her to her demon form begin to ebb and fade and then she was undergoing the shattering transformation. Somehow she kept an iron grip on Gabriel and then finally, saw long arms pinning him down and knees on his chest. Her black hair fell in a curtain around her face.

“Look at me,” she was able to say at last. “I’m not total demon. I’m human. You cannot kill a human, angel boy.” He had grown still and his eyes were watching her in a new light, but she still didn’t trust him. His chest beneath her felt like a furnace but she ignored her slowly blistering hands.

“I need to eliminate all demons, in whatever form,” he retorted, but he didn’t sound convincing. Doubt gnawed at the edges of his tone.

“But would you really kill me when all I need are your tears to make me completely human again? You know nothing about me do you? All you know is that I need to be killed.”

He jerked beneath her but she resisted him.

“A demon is a demon and I have seen you.”

“Let me tell you a little bedtime story,” she began mocking him. “Three months ago I went on a charming holiday with my family to Egypt, the home of the ancient Pharaohs. I discovered more than just mummies and pyramids, I found Apophis.”

Gabriel went rigid, his eyes narrowing.

“You know him?”

“Not personally.”

“Well he popped up to say hello one day went to have me for lunch. But something stopped him. He mentioned angel blood if you’re interested, something which I still haven’t figured out by the way. That’s the only reason I’m still here. His poison managed to transform me. For three months, I have spent every midnight in total agony, changing into some disgusting snake that craves blood. Okay, I have eaten animals but never humans. I’m fighting this. Then you turned up, trying to kill me for a curse. All I need are your tears.” She finished breathlessly and realised that Gabriel was now just staring at her, the fight gone from his body.

A flicker of orange caught her eye and she saw to her disbelief that she was actually burning. Yelping now, she leapt off him, half expecting for him to disappear through the undergrowth. He stayed right where he was, levering himself to a sitting position.

“I had no idea,” he said after a long silence. “You were right. I just had my orders.”

“So, are you going to help me?”

“I can’t just turn on my tears like that Alaura.” A cavern opened inside her. It grew and grew.

“Then what can you do?”

“I don’t know.” These were the last words she wanted to hear and now with all hope extinguished; she lowered her head into the cradle of her arms. She heard Gabriel stir and looking up, she saw he was on his feet.

“Look for now, I’ll leave you alone. I think of something to say to them but I cannot promise that you won’t come to harm eventually.”

Alaura shrugged. It was better than nothing.

“Deal.”

She heard Gabriel’s footsteps retreating into the silence of the night until it was only her left alone with the nocturnal creatures. She waited a few moments and then headed back home.

Getting up to her bedroom presented a slight problem as she had only ever slithered up the wall with her snake’s body. But now she was human. Luckily, a trellis covered most of the distance and she clumsily managed to crawl her way up it. Her windows hung open and she carefully swung her arm out, grasping the ledge and swinging herself over the gap and then using all her muscles to clamber in. Exhausted, she flopped in through her window, landing on the floor with a soft thud. Her shoulder, partially healed and scabbed over, cracked at the exertion, seeped fresh blood. Who cared? She crawled over to her bed and was asleep in a matter of minutes.

When her mum knocked on her door, she woke feeling less smothered. Her shoulder has healed over in the night, crusting the wound. It was bound up. She made a mental note to not chase any angels through the woods for the next few days.

The void inside her was still there but not in as oppressive a manner as before. She actually bothered with her hair and makeup, something she had not done since after the snake bite. Grinning at her reflection in the mirror, she scooped up her rucksack and headed downstairs to a decent breakfast.

The sun was shining and there was the distinct smell of summer in the air and Alaura felt more alive than she had done in months. She almost forgot about the foul demon blood pumping through her veins.

In an impulsive decision she decided to take the long route to school; she had the time to spare and besides it cut through the park which she was sure would look stunning in this weather. Humming, she turned off the main road and after a few minutes came to the gates. Crossing through them she was struck by the profusion of glorious flowers, towering trees and the emerald glare of the grass as the sun hit it.

She made it about halfway down before she heard raised voices. Her step faltered- it was the most awkward thing butting in on domestics - and then she realised it was Gabriel’s voice. Edging closer, she was hit by an overwhelming floral scent, assaulting her senses and crawling smothering her mouth crawling over her. The figures became clearer and she ducked behind a tree to eavesdrop. Peeking from behind the thick trunk, she saw Gabriel and Mrs Forster. Her ears strained to catch their words.

“The Archangel wants you to kill her, and soon. There’s other matters you’re needed for,” it was Mrs Forster, her tone brusque.

“She’s a human. All she needs is tears.” Gabriel’s voice was pleading.

“You know as well as I do that us angels do not cry over anything. It has to be something that is momentous to us. When are you going to do it?”

Alaura tensed. Mrs Forster was in it too? Great. There was no one she could trust.

“Is there any other way?” Gabriel’s voice rose.

“No….yes but…”

“But what?”

“It’s a kiss. Don’t look so relieved. Nothing is ever that simple. The two participants have to have absolute feelings for each other, or the angel will triumph. If you can bear to stay that close, then fine. But there is also something else….”

“What?”

“There is the risk that angel and demon souls will merge so that the two will both become part angel, part demon. Then the claim by devils or angels over the bodies is disputed.”

Gabriel didn’t answer. Alaura guessed he was in as much shock as she was. There was so little hope, other than a kiss, and Alaura wasn’t sure if she felt what she needed to feel. Looking, she saw Mrs Forster tramp away but Gabriel remained like a statue. She waited until she was sure Forster wouldn’t return then crept out and over to Gabriel. The smell wasn’t as bad now that the other angel had gone.

“You heard all that?”

She nodded. “I think it’s time for some more research,” she murmured.

They entered the school grounds together, and sailed right past an astounded looking Kate. The library was very quiet and they were able to find two computers next to each other.

They both hammered all possible ideas into Google: angels, demons, conflict, kiss, merging souls. Each effort turned up nothing. Suddenly Gabriel uttered a triumphant woop, gaining him a sour look from the librarian. He began to whisper.

“The chances of an angel and demon merging into two halves are…” he trailed off, causing Alaura’s blood pressure to shoot up.

“What?!”