Sophia's Chronicles
Chapter 52: The End of Paradise
(Zara POV)
Clarksburg, West Virginia – 29 October 2011, 4.33pm
Zara felt a tingle at the back of her neck. She thought nothing of it at first. She just kept walking on the sidewalk towards the pub. Her shift would start soon and she preferred showing up early to help with serving drinks and logistics. Then it hit her again and her heart palpitated in her chest. She stopped abruptly, posing an obstacle to people walking behind her. Ignoring their remarks, she looked around, finding nothing out of the ordinary. Cars cruised down the street, an old man fed bread crumbs to the pigeons in a park across the road and people played with their dogs. Just an ordinary day. No cause for panic. Zara carried on. She'd barely taken a few steps when she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand. Repressing a shudder, she blinked her kohl-lined eyes, activating angel vision – a little trick that allowed her to see through Sophia's eyes, even if the archangel wasn't there(it had something to do with her ability to channel angel magic, she thought). People appeared normal – their souls glowed blue, like nonluminous fire. That's when her eyes caught something different. A black, smoky being. It watched from the park, blocked only by the newspaper it held up. Zara gasped. A demon. Her heart was beating so fast she worried that it might jump out of her chest. She immediately averted her eyes and walked in the cover of a group of people, hoping that the demon wouldn't notice her.
Her stomach turned in its seat, brewing anxiety in the deep recesses of her mind. As she entered the pub, she tried her best to put it out of her mind but thoughts of the demon swirled in her head every time she closed her eyes. She kept telling herself that it was probably a coincidence and that there was no way that the demon was there for her. But no amount of consolation soothed her tense muscles and the horror-show running in her head. So far, things had been so good for her and Nick. They began to enjoy life, though it had its challenges. They were happy together and actually liked each other's company. She prayed so hard that it was what it was. Luc, I think I saw a demon, she prayed. I hope he isn't after me but I can't be sure. I feel like I just began being happy. Is this how it ends? Just pretending that the little archangel could hear her made her feel better already. But just in case, she dialled Nick. "Hey, before you swing by later, could you… maybe… bring my blade?"
"Your blade?"
"Yeah, it's in that leather bag. Hide it in a jacket or coat or something."
"No, I mean… why? Is everything okay?"
"I don't know," her voice was almost like a cry. It was like how people sound when they don't know what to expect and thought that they could be going crazy. "It's probably nothing. But it doesn't hurt to be safe, y'know?"
"O…kay…" Nick drawled. "Will do, sugar plum." She managed a smile at that. She got butterflies in her stomach every time he gave her a cute nickname. Can't believe I missed out on that for so many years. The last boyfriend she had disappeared mysteriously without leaving a trace and she was just left to wonder whether it was her fault. And maybe that contributed a little to her single-status throughout college and its accompanied virginity. And then she wryly thought, can't believe I lost my virginity to the Devil. She huffed, almost laughing. She felt safer already.
Later, as her real job as a singer began, she scanned the crowd and was reassured by the sight of Nick in the promised coat. When he caught her gaze, he patted his side as though to confirm that he had the blade. The whole time she was there, she was just waiting for the ball to drop and for the earth to explode or something. But things seemed eerily calm. In fact, it was a great shift with a particularly enthusiastic audience. The crowd was quite good and Cecil, her boss, seemed quite pleased with her work, even adding a bonus. Yet she still didn't trust the laughter and reward, ever so sceptical of the universe. When she was done and out of everyone's sights, she scanned the room with angel vision again, heaving a sigh of relief to find that everyone had a normal soul.
The feeling of a warm hand resting on her arm caused her to flinch. "Whoa," Nick held his hands up in surrender. "Are you okay? You seem a little on-edge."
She exhaled and shook her head, unsure of how to word it. Grabbing his arm, they both headed out and back home. Zara hooked her arm around his elbow as they sauntered in the midnight breeze. "I uh…" she rubbed her sleepy eye, though she was just worried she would sound crazy. "I thought I saw a demon," she said as she looked around them in the dark street.
"A- a demon?" Nick frowned, trying not to think of the worst possible scenario immediately. He was just trying to be rational and think of all the possibilities first, not wanting to rush to conclusions. "You saw a demon?"
"Yeah, a demon. Black eyes, black soul – demon," Zara spat out, hopelessness filling her voice. She felt like her grave was already waiting for her. "In the park a few blocks away. He was reading a newspaper."
Nick nodded slowly but it was more in contemplation than in agreement. He was still unable to piece together how that made sense or how to think about it. And from how flustered she seemed, he wanted to remain level-headed to keep her calm. "Zara, lately you've been acting strange…" It was true. The nightmares haunted her every night. She barely got enough rest most nights. Yet she became restless, always moving around and going for walks. When she was home, she'd stare out the windows often at the streets, not even trusting the empty quietness of the nights. A quivering feeling in the pit of her stomach also prevented her from maintaining normal eating habits. Nick was beginning to get worried that she could be having some kind of anxiety disorder. It wasn't easy to watch someone you cared about slowly go insane while they constantly denied it.
"It's not that, Nick. I know what I saw. It was a fucking demon!" Her grip on his arm tightened.
"There's that mouth again," he sighed, noticing her furrowed eyebrows. It became her default expression. She was quick to anger these days, whenever he pointed out her unhealthy eating and sleeping habits. "How can you be so sure, anyway? Maybe you're just being paranoid."
"I'm not," she didn't give up, constantly looking back to make sure they weren't being followed. Observant as ever, Nick noticed her shallow breaths, paled skin and fidgety behaviour.
"Zara, stop," he halted, pulling her in front of him so that they were standing opposite each other. "I'm worried about you…" He noticed her looking over his shoulder so he rested a palm gently against her neck and his thumb nudged her cheek, bringing her attention back to him. It was this tenderness that snapped her out of it momentarily, being a refreshing change from the tumultuous noise inside her head. "Hey, look at me." Zara looked into them, the deep abyss of his icy blue eyes. It always felt like the road between their souls. "And all these dreams you've been having recently… maybe it's a side-effect? You should get it checked out."
"Checked out? I don't think doctors are going to know what's up with me," she huffed, quick to defend her waning sanity. Her eyes held a kind of desperation like her head was going to explode if she didn't know what was going on. Nick ran through different lines of reasoning in his head, seeking one that would calm her down and rationally evaluate whether she actually saw a demon or not. Because right now, she seemed a bit overwhelmed. Her strong heartbeat pulsed under his palm and he'd noticed that she was a little more than jumpy. Her sharp brown eyes, accentuated by her ancient kohl, somehow managed to look both weary and fully alert at the same time.
"Yeah, well, I want you to do something. Because right now, you're just going off of your feelings and that's not going to be accurate. You're just making yourself paranoid!" He sighed, uncertain that anything he was saying was actually going into her head. "I mean, how could you even know that it was a demon unless it was standing close enough for you to see its eyes?"
"I just know, Nick," she said firmly. "Trust me."
"How?" He remained unconvinced. It wasn't that he didn't want to believe her. Things had been going well for them and her bringing up literal demons of the past was just holding them back, he thought. The moment they decided to forget the archangels was the moment they decided to have a future for themselves. And for the first time in a long time, Nick finally saw a future for himself. With her. They may not have known each other for very long, but they both knew they only had each other and they would stick by each other no matter what. Nick even thought… there was a possibility for a real happy ending – marriage and kids and all that. All this talk of demons was just putting a damper on their happiness.
"Because I just do. I have a thing that helps me see demons," she explained, using a finger to point to her lined eyelids.
"How convenient," he threw his arms up.
"I'm not kidding!" she hooked her arm around his elbow and they began walking again. "It was a gift from Lucifer to Sophia and whenever I use it, it's like I'm seeing through her eyes." A small, demure smile lit up her face - a hard-won victory. "It's… kinda sweet actually, now that I think about it," she chuckled shyly. Though she didn't know much about the history between Lucifer and Sophia, just thinking about how such ancient beings must have come to love each other so deeply restored her hope in romance.
"Lucifer's a smart guy," Nick smirked. "He got his lady make-up." Zara shot him a bored look. "What? It's a gift that has utility. Not like flowers or food. You know, I never understood that."
"It's just a romantic gesture. It doesn't need utility," she argued. Admittedly, she was a sucker for some good flowers or chocolate.
"Sure, but with a useful gift, she'd think about him every time she used it. Now that's romantic," he stood his ground.
"Well, what if you're out of ideas?" Zara pressed. They continued like this with light-hearted banter till they reached home, unhindered. Soon, the demon was completely out of her mind, like it was never there.
Across the road, from a dark alley, a figure watched her. Under the cloak of shadows, his red eyes flashed momentarily and a satisfied smile spread across his face. His job was done – the demon was gone. He crept backwards further into the darkness, never to be noticed by a single witness, only known to an audience of one. Stay safe, Zara…
Back in Heaven…
Raziel averted his eyes in shame. He didn't even want to look it. "Here we have it, brothers and sisters," Naomi spoke in front of a small group of select angels, consisting of people from her department and Raziel's as well as a few other influential angels. She held in her hand the Word of God like a trophy. "The Leviathan tablet. And we have the prophet too." The audience clapped, Raziel and team only joining in reluctantly for the sake of politeness. "This is just the beginning of a series of victories for us. When we regain possession of the other tablets, our kind will truly be safe and free to learn that which will strengthen and protect us." More applause ensued in agreement.
"This is bad," Raziel mumbled as his crew gathered furtively around him later.
"Don't worry too much, boss," Dinah said, chewing gum in her mouth as always. "It's just the Leviathan tablet. It's not that important anyway. We'll get the other two."
"Yeah, and we should be glad that the tablet is safe in Heaven anyway," Rahab added.
"That's not the point. This is under our jurisdiction. We should have been the ones to safeguard it," Raziel lamented. "How did she get to the tablet so quickly anyway?"
"I'll tell you how," Naomi interjected, entering their circle. "You were careless and I cleaned up your mess, proving once again that you lot are replaceable." She shot a smug smile in Raziel's direction. "Just give up now, Raziel. You've fought well. You and your team are welcome to serve us in the new order, where your skills can be put to better use."
"Save it," Shemsiel snapped, rolling his eyes under ray bans. "We don't like what you're selling."
"Don't be too quick to judge," Naomi advised in her sly, self-assured tone. "You may change your mind once our brothers and sisters find out about your mentor's hobbies." The team exchanged mortified expressions, shocked that Naomi was aware of Sophia's pursuit of Lucifer's freedom. "Who do you think they'll rally behind when they hear that Lucifer's free? And more importantly, who do you think they'll blame for it? Just some food for thought."
"Okay, what the hell?" Shemsiel whispered sharply as soon as Naomi had gone off to chat with other angels in important positions. "How did she know?"
"I don't know but she's always a step ahead of us," Pahaliah inferred, her thinly-pencilled eyebrows creasing into a frown. "She's hiding something."
"She's head of intelligence. Of course she's hiding something," Shemsiel dismissed.
"But this time, she's stepping onto our turf," Pahaliah said firmly. "She's playing dirty. We need to get ahead of it."
"Pahaliah's right," Raziel agreed. "If we find out what she has up her sleeve, we can avoid getting side-stepped by her again." He paused, contemplating on their next strategy. "How are we looking on the repository front?"
"It's bad," Rahab informed them sombrely. "It's like the vessel just vanished off the face of the earth."
"Did you try the GPS on her phone?" Shemsiel suggested.
"Her phone's off."
"Great, a technologically-informed human. Just what we need," Shemsiel sighed.
"Keep looking," Raziel ordered. "We can't afford to give up on this. It's the only thing we have that she doesn't."
As silence eclipsed their conversation, they belatedly wondered how Sophia might have handled the situation. No doubt she was capable of taking control and proving to the angels that she could be on their side. She hated being a leader in the strictest sense of the term. She preferred to be more of a collaborator or mentor, having influence but never wielding it overtly. It was less conducive for tyranny and it was definitely the kind of approach that would restore the faith of the angels in her. But what Naomi knew would jeopardise that. If the angels ever found out that Sophia tried to release Lucifer, they would freak out. Even Sophia, they could learn to accept albeit begrudgingly – she was not out to destroy the world. Lucifer was a different matter altogether – he was the condemned one and the one who condemned Sophia. Lots of different opinions on who was to blame for what floated around but this was the most popular one. Heart heavy with despair that Sophia might never return in time to help them, Raziel formulated a different plan in his head. This time, he would work secretly and alone.
(Zara POV)
Clarksburg, West Virginia – 1 November 2011, 7.33pm
"Boxes are all checked and labelled," Zara reported, patting a cardboard box as a sign of accomplishment. She stood in a storage room at the back of the pub which was full off boxes that had a large stock of alcoholic drinks of all kinds. They'd just received a new delivery and Cecil needed help taking inventory.
"Wow, that was… fast," Cecil remarked, eyebrows raised.
"They don't call me nifty for nothin', boss," she gloated, a fulfilled smile on her face.
"You got that right," he patted her shoulder and returned the smile. "I'm glad to have you with us."
"Aw, you're too sweet, Cecil," she shyly giggled. It meant a lot more to her than he realised that she fit in here.
"I mean it," his eyes firmly held hers. "I don't know what your story is and I won't ask if you don't wanna tell me. But you're a good kid." Zara blushed, averting her eyes to the ground. "Although… I just wanna know, because I'm concerned, are you alright?"
Her head jerked up to see him. Cecil, though he was a stocky man with a scary beard, was really a teddy-bear at heart. In the past few months, he'd looked out for her, given her a job and shared stories of his life with her, imparting his own wisdom – almost like a father. And so she could tell that he was genuinely curious. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
"Maybe it's just me, I don't know. But you've been acting a little different for a while now, like you're afraid someone's out to get you. I mean, you just spent hours sitting in this dark and musty storage room doing nothing but opening and arranging boxes. I almost forgot that you were in here," he ran a hand through his dark hair, rubbing his scalp in worry. "Is everything okay between you and Nick?"
Zara nodded defensively. "Oh, yeah, he's great. It's not him, I swear."
"Okay… if you say so. But you know you can talk to me, right?"
Zara exhaled slowly. She really didn't know how to put it and as it appeared, everyone around seemed to notice that she wasn't doing okay. In fact, she was also tired of keeping it in, seeing as Nick didn't seem to grasp the gravity of her every instinct telling her that she was in danger. It weighed heavily on her because now she had something at stake – her life with him. "Okay, so…" her eyes narrowed as she searched for the words. "I… maybe… ugh…" she shook her head in resignation, regretting opening her mouth at all.
"Go on," Cecil encouraged.
I can't do this. "I used to… uh… throw in with some bad people and… and I think they've found me and…" her mouth opened and closed with uncertainty, surprised that she even said as much about her current predicament. How deep in it am I? She gave him a half-shrug, like she herself didn't know what to make of the facts. All this ambivalence just felt like a tight brace around her chest and a sinking feeling washed over her. Now she was confused as to why she felt so sad about it but she realised that emotions rarely make sense. "I'm just… trying to get away from that- that life and start fresh… but I think they're after me, Cecil." She let out a sharp exhale, surprised that she ever shared such a personal detail with someone other than Nick. As she collected herself, she realised that Cecil had been quiet. She looked up to see his eyes filled with more concern than was there before.
"It'll be okay, Sarah," Cecil said, using her fake alias. "You've got us now. Me and the boys. We'll make sure no one hurts you. You ever shoot a gun?" He pulled back the side of his jacket to reveal a .45 in its holster.
"Yeah, yeah I can shoot a gun," she answered. Even Nick had let her practise with some of his handguns a few times.
"Good. Get yourself one of these. Cheer up, kiddo," he patted her on the back again. He gave her a solemn nod, making a promise with nothing but the force of goodness in his heart. "You just do your thing out there. No one's gonna get you with us here."
"Thanks," she said, managing a weak smile. Although she knew that guns were probably useless against demons, she did feel reassured by Cecil's willingness to help despite her sketchy background. It was really heart-warming to think that he'd offer to protect her like that, no questions asked about who was after her or why. That was when she recognised the true extent of attachment she'd grown towards this place. In this small corner of a God-forsaken world, she felt safe and protected. She had people that genuinely cared about her and she cared about them too.
Later, after her shift ended, she stayed behind at the bar with Nick. It had been a lively night, as usual, and the sound of the occasional laughter along with people murmuring in conversation was a comforting, constant rumble in the background. She'd ordered two shots and in an instant, the glasses were emptied. She and Nick looked at each other and chuckled, reminiscing old music that they both liked. It was just an ordinary night for the two of them. "We'll have two more," Zara gestured to Cecil, putting up two fingers in the air.
"Maybe the both of you should try the really strong stuff. Just arrived today," Cecil brandished a minimalistic frosted glass bottle which showed an insanely high alcohol content that neither of them had tried before. Normally, Zara would totally be on board with trying new things, no matter the risk, but this time, she had enough foresight to resist because they both needed to get home in one piece.
"Oh it's alright, maybe another time," she dismissed, exchanging agreeing looks with Nick.
"No, I insist," Cecil immediately brought out two glasses and began filling them with the liquid. The way he moved so boisterously with the bottle was a bit unsettling.
"Woah, no- really," Nick shook his head.
"Cecil, stop, please," she got off her seat and reached out a hand to stop him, becoming mildly concerned.
Cecil's hand immediately seized hers, causing her to gasp. "Sit the fuck down, Zara," he growled, giving her hand a good shove which pushed her back into her seat. Zara's heart froze in her chest. Her breath got caught in her throat as her eyes wandered up to his and there they were… stark black.
"Zara, get back!" Nick exclaimed, putting his arms around her and pulling her away. He too was immediately sobered, looking on with sheer horror at the creature before him.
"Oh no, Cecil," Zara's voice became choked as she realised that the paternal man she looked up to was now lost forever.
Wasting no time, Nick dragged her to the door, knowing that running was probably the best means of escape in the moment. A sudden strong wind blew the doors shut, resounding loudly and catching the attention of everyone else at the pub. Silence fell over the room though a few murmurs were audible. All these people… Zara feared to think what was going to happen to them. "Not so fast," the demon teased. Just then, a few demons stepped forward and brandishing guns, began firing at the innocent people. Each gunshot pierced the air without mercy, finding a target no matter the resistance. Screams erupted in the room as people bled and people died. Zara dug her head into Nick's shoulder, consumed by the thoughts of what that meant for them. She flinched every time a gunshot was heard and Nick wasn't unaffected by the scene unfolding before him either. His hold on Zara tightened and his only priority was to protect her, though he felt his stomach churn at the sheer brutality of the evil before him. He wondered what kind of monster he would have to become to face off these demons.
It was almost unreal as the both of them stood, unable to escape and frozen in time. As the last human fell to the ground with a pained groan, the duo simply stared, heaving heavy breaths. Now it was just them and five demons. "There, now we can talk," the demon inside Cecil said, smug smirk plastered on his face. After what seemed like forever, Zara finally snapped out of her daze. Now she had to find a way out of this and she knew it wasn't by cowering. She pulled away from Nick, standing firmly on her own two feet though she shivered on the inside like a leaf in the breeze.
"What have you done to Cecil?" she snarled, getting herself riled up to fight in case it was necessary.
"Oh, Cecil…" the demon looked at his arms and then back at her. "He's screaming for you to run, you know? Such a real sweetheart…" the demon drawled in a Southern accent as he made his way around the counter and leaned against its side as he regarded them. "But you know, he doesn't have our history, Zara."
Her head tilted in confusion. "I don't know what you think we have, pal," she replied sternly. Something about demons just made her skin crawl. Even when they had been accommodating to her in Hell, being around them always felt like being in a cloud of sulfur. Though they wore people, it was almost like she could sense the evil radiating through their skin.
"Oh don't worry about it, baby. I'll make you remember soon enough," the demon's black eyes bore through her as he eyed her up and down, sending shivers throughout her body.
Suppressing a shudder, Zara squinted her eyes and then flipped on angel vision again. That's when she realised that she did in fact know this barbed, perverted prick. "Martin," she recognised, eliciting a surprised look from Nick. He remembered too – it was the demon that was supposed to be her bodyguard. He was the one who was vexed by the task of looking after her. "Still kicking, are you?" she said, beginning to formulate a plan in her head.
"Sure am, ma'am," he said, fixing his gaze on her.
Taking a deep breath, she confidently took a step forward towards the counter. Nick grabbed her elbow, trying to keep her away from the demon but she placed a reassuring hand on his, urging him to let go. "I'll be alright," she whispered as she nodded slowly, trying to convey with her eyes that she had a plan. Nick frowned back, unwilling to let her walk into a trap but eventually relenting with a "you-better-know-what-you're-doing" nod. Zara sauntered towards the counter and took a seat a few feet away from the demon, resting an elbow on the counter as she faced him. "What do you want?" she asked with a level-headedness so unlike of her.
"Well, now that you ask…" the demon's eyes scanned the room in contemplation. "I want nothing more than to gut you like a fish and string your intestines on the ceiling like party streamers. But we can't all have what we want, can we? I've got orders from the King."
Zara gulped as she looked over to Nick. His left arm discreetly patted his left side, telling her that he came prepared with her blade. Good, this is good, she thought. She had come prepared herself and she just waited for the right opportunity. "Being Lucifer's bitch always suited you," she taunted with a daring bitterness in her voice.
Before she knew it, she felt strong arms grabbing her by the shoulder and neck and slamming her head against the counter. She let out a loud yelp and as Nick instinctively took a step forward to help her, he was stopped by demons who trained their guns on him. Zara groaned in pain as the world spun in her vision and a sharp pain blared from her left temple. A wince escaped her lips as Martin's hands held her neck in an iron grip close to his face. "You better watch that naughty mouth of yours," he threatened, his warm breath brushing against her ear.
"And you better watch your hands," she rebutted through gritted teeth. "Whatever your orders are, I'm sure Lucifer would want us unharmed."
With a hearty laugh, he let go of her and took a few steps back. She exhaled, rubbing her eyes to get her vision to focus again. She thought she might have suffered a concussion but tried to keep it out of her mind, as though wishing it away would work. "Thing is," he stopped to laugh again. "Lucifer-" he doubled over, his laughter only growing. Finally, his laughter faded into a self-assured grin and he rubbed a tear from an eye. "Lucifer's not the King. Not anymore." Her eyes widened and she felt the blood draining away from her face. At least with Lucifer, she had a chance of talking to him. Who could it be now? she wondered, just as the demon was ready to enlighten her. "It's Crowley! You know how much he resents you? Gotta love 'im for that alone! Long live King Crowley."
Her heart sank in its seat. None of that made any sense to her. But it wasn't time to dwell on Hell's politics. All hope faded away. She had to find an escape. This would be easier if the demons didn't have guns. "What does Crowley want?" she decided to ask, to keep him talking. Meanwhile, her hand reached into her satchel, moving slowly not as to attract attention.
"I don't really care, to be honest. He just wants the both of you alive, but that leaves us a lot of space to have fun so don't you worry, sweetie," he wagged a finger at her. He wants us alive… that's a start.
"Look, you want us, fine," she began. "But you leave Cecil alone. You leave him alive."
"You're not in any place to be making demands!" he snarled. He pulled out Cecil's .45 and pressed it to the bottom of his chin. Before Zara could yell at him to stop, he pulled the trigger. With a loud boom, blood sprayed out the top of his head, splashing the ceiling with his brains. The deafening sound of the gunshot reverberated in her chest. Zara was utterly lost for words. She simply gaped, her face contorting into an expression of hopelessness and shock manifested at the same time. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes but she tried her best to keep it together. The demon giggled. "Do you see now, Zara? Unlike Lucifer, Crowley doesn't have a soft spot for you. He'll give you the world-class treatment that you deserve." The demon paused, watching the growing look of horror on her face that she tried to mask in vain. "Good talk, but we're kinda running on a deadline, so…" he made a hand gesture at the other demons in the pub, who promptly moved to apprehend the two of them.
"Nick," she cued as she fished out an uncapped bottle of holy water. She splashed it on the two demons approaching her, causing them to hiss and groan in pain. Nick, on the other hand, sprung into action, taking out the archangel blade and stabbing the nearest demon. The other demon grabbed his free arm and he kicked the demon in the gut, doubling him over before driving the blade through him. Zara grabbed a stool by the counter and swung at the two demons, knocking them back and putting distance between herself and Martin as Nick kicked down the door. Wasting no time, they both ran out of the pub with a flustered Martin yelling after them.
"We need to get to the apartment," she said as they turned down an alley to take a shortcut.
"There's no time for that. We need to get a ride out of town!" Nick argued.
"Nick, I need to get the leather bag. It has everything Sophia left with me. The bronze hawk, some books. It might be the only thing we need to survive. We can't just leave it behind!" she reasoned.
They both came to a stop at a junction which was eerily silent at this hour of the night. "Fine. Make it quick."
When they finally reached the apartment building, they both scrambled to pack clothes and other necessities. Hauling their bags into the rented car, they took off, relieved that they weren't interrupted by demons.
West Virginia – 2 November 2011, 2.04am
Zara's eyes were weary and stung with tiredness. She wished she could sleep but fear kept her awake. The constant drone of the car's engine and the stiff spine of the car seat didn't help either. Neither did her blaring headache. She consoled herself by telling herself that it was good to keep Nick company as he sped down the highway. They were way out of town by now, though they had lost all sense of direction. The plan was to drive until they could be sure that no one was following them, which was a goal so arbitrary that they could probably never be satisfied. A metaphor for my life, Zara thought wryly. Rain pelted the landscape, making the cold night even colder.
"I'm sorry I didn't listen to you," Nick apologised, the sudden sound of his voice startling her. With the loud pattering of the rain, his voice boomed in her ear, making her flinch. She tried her best not to let it show and act normal but the pain in her head just made everything worse. "You tried to tell me that we were in danger and I should've listened."
"It's okay, Nick," she kept her voice as mild as possible. "It's not your fault the demons are after us. If you hadn't met me…" she shut her eyes tightly and put a hand to her head as a car drove past them in the opposite direction on the other side of the road, its headlights blinding her. "… you wouldn't be in this mess," she managed to finish her sentence with a drained voice.
"Hey, hey, are you okay?" Nick stole a glance at her. There was a strained expression on her face and she had a hand fixed to the side of her head. "Jesus, is it a serious concussion?"
"I'll live," she grumbled, just as her stomach turned and threatened to heave. "Uhhh…" she groaned. "I just need an aspirin." Her fingers fumbled in the glove box looking for a bottle of aspirin.
"I don't think you're supposed to take an aspirin for concussions…" he worried. "We need to get you to a doctor."
"Nick, I'll be fine," she waved it off, popping an aspirin into her mouth and leaning her head back onto the headrest. "Just keep driving and find us a motel to stay in."
The next morning, Zara found herself waking up on an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room. For a moment she was disoriented, utterly confused about how she'd ended up here. She flinched as the door opened, rushing to grab something to protect herself. "Relax, it's just me," Nick said as he walked in with food in his hands.
Her head still spun a little and she blinked furiously to make it go away, to no avail. "Where are we?" she asked, looking around the room.
"You don't remember?" He set the items on the table and knelt before her, taking her face gently in his palms. "We checked into a motel in the middle of the night. You came in, plopped onto the bed and slept like a baby." He inspected her pupils, checking their relative sizes. "So far, so good…" he remarked, noting that her pupils were equally-sized. "Just take it easy, okay? We'll see a doctor after breakfast."
As they sat down at the table in the motel room to eat, Zara realised she had a greater lapse in memory than she realised. "What happened last night again? I remember bits and pieces… but not the whole thing…"
"What do you remember?" he asked as he dug into a take-away.
"I remember…" Images flashed in her head in an incoherent string. "Shots… guns… demons…"
"That's pretty much it," he confirmed. "Though I'd say it was ballsy of you to talk to that demon that way." Her eyebrows crinkled, struggling to remember the encounter. "You trash-talked Martin… he whammied you," he reminded her with a stern, paternal look.
"Martin…" she recalled. Now it was all coming back to her. "Never liked that imp."
"Yeah, figures," he inferred. "Next time you wanna dangle yourself as bait, give me a heads-up."
"Can't guarantee it, but I'll try."
After much convincing, Nick managed to drag Zara in the general direction of a clinic, holding her hand tightly like he was afraid she would float away like a balloon if he let go. She insisted on bringing her leather bag with her and after what they'd been through, Nick wasn't one to argue. He only wished they had something more… like a gun that could kill demons. A sudden flash of a distinct memory caught him by surprise – he remembered the sudden lurch he felt when Lucifer was shot by the Colt. Being possessed by an archangel meant that he never knew what his body could and could not handle and that was one of those moments when the scene before him just confused him. But Lucifer never bothered to explain things to him. Sophia, on the other hand, gave Zara plenty of information – the two of them shared a more intimate connection.
"Nick, stop," she requested. She detached herself from his anxious grasp and leaned against the outside of a nearby building, pressing a hand to her head. Her tummy wasn't cooperating with her and she felt so nauseous that it felt like taking more steps would cause her to puke her breakfast. She bent forward, pressing her head against the wall and waiting for the spell to pass.
"We're almost there, Zara. Just a few more blocks," Nick said, rubbing her back.
"God, it feels like I'm pregnant again," she lamented. Then she froze, now seriously considering the thought, and looked at Nick. She didn't remember having a period in a while. I probably just forgot. Must be that concussion.
"Wait, are you?" Nick bent down to her level, scanning her expression. He sincerely hoped not… Not that it would be a bad thing – he would be happy if the circumstances were different – but being on the run from demons and angels made it difficult to think of kids.
"That was rhetorical," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder for support. "I'm not actually pregnant. At least, I don't think I am."
"Zara, a million thoughts are running through my head and this isn't helping," he said slowly, keeping as calm a tone as possible. "How sure are you? Because this…" His voice grew more sombre. "…this changes everything."
"I realise that…" she gulped, thinking through her response. "I've been on the pill, okay? I'm not pregnant. It's the concussion that's making me nauseous." Her hand absently rested on her tummy, painfully remembering the joy of having a child. "What do you mean… it changes everything?"
"It means… I'll do anything to protect what is ours," he looked her in the eyes and she could tell from the way he regarded her that he was speaking straight from the heart. "And I mean… anything."
She leaned into the comfort of his neck as she felt the spell of dizziness wear off. His arms welcomed her and his hand caressed her cheek. "I… I love you, Nick," she blurted out. And she meant it, truly. She'd never felt this way about anyone before. She knew that to love was a decision and she was sure it was him she would fight for. As his head turned to her, she rested a palm on his jaw and pulled him in for a kiss. He reciprocated, digging his lips into hers with the full force of his affection.
He pulled away shortly, rubbing her chin with a thumb as he gazed at her with gentleness. "I love you too." He kissed her again on the bridge of her nose and her forehead. "Let's just get to the doctor and maybe stop on the way to buy a pregnancy test."
Zara anxiously waited on the toilet seat, holding the test in her hand. It felt like forever as the moments passed. Then, slowly, a vertical line faded into view. Her heart sank. You poor child… she thought in dismay about the chaotic world that this child would be born in. Her world of broken promises and blood sacrifices. As she exited the toilet of the clinic, the positive test in hand and her bag swung over a shoulder, she froze in her step. The smell reached her before anything else – a mix of sulfur and blood. Fuck. The clinic was almost empty, though she spotted a pool of blood from behind the reception desk. She chucked the test into a bin nearby and rushed forward. "Nick?" she called out. As she turned the corner, she was greeted by a horrifying sight. There he was, kneeling on the ground, hands tied behind him. Standing behind him were two demons and one held a sharp blade to his neck.
But that wasn't the worst part. "My favourite whore," the demon King greeted, standing between Nick and her.
"Crowley," she growled.
"When I heard what my informants found, I must say, I was surprised," he began. His hands were dug into his pockets with a self-assurance that she could not share. "It's like a two-for-one deal!"
"You keep talking, scumbag. Before Lucifer knocks your teeth in!" she taunted, still confident that the archangel was in a state to help. Without any options left, she prayed. Lucifer, if you're hearing this… Crowley has me…
"Oh, don't bother. Lucifer's busy," he told her, anticipating her every move. "He's in a bit of a pickle, thanks to yours truly."
"What-What do you mean?" Zara's heart raced. Where's Lucifer?
"He's in a lovely pit in the bottom of the ocean. You might recognise it. It's where you found Sophia." Her jaw dropped and her breath was stuck in her throat. The vault? Her head shook slowly as if to deny the possibility.
"That's… impossible…" she stuttered.
"Well, do you see him showing up?" Crowley held out his arms, awaiting the angel.
Zara's eyes met Nick's. He gestured with his head to ask her about the test, being wary of the blade pressed to the base of his neck. She didn't know what to say. She didn't want to worry him with the truth. If he did anything stupid, that blade would be the end of him. She wasn't going to let him die. But her dismayed eyes told him everything he needed to know. "It's me you want. Let him go," she negotiated.
"Zara, don't-" his protest was cut short by the demon who pressed the blade closer to his neck, almost cutting his skin.
Crowley looked between the two of them, not oblivious to their dynamic. "As above, so below, it seems," he remarked, connecting the dots. "Such a shame. Couple's torture is always the best torture."
"Do we have a deal?" she pressed him.
"Well…" he scratched his salt and pepper stubble. "We would if you were right about what it is I truly desire. But you are so very wrong…"
He waved a finger and Zara immediately felt hands grabbing her from behind. She struggled, pulling at their grasp but these men were much stronger than her. Two men held her tightly while more stood around. As she blinked into angel vision, she saw the most curious thing. These men, in formal suits and all looking pale, were human. None of them were demons. She struggled again, trying to break free. She spun to see Nick's panicked expression and widened eyes that wanted so badly to help. Suddenly, she felt something prick her neck. A soft groan escaped her lips. Her muscles became weaker, every tug and push becoming half of what they were supposed to be. Wha- What's happening… Black spots grew in her vision and her body began to feel heavy. As Zara desperately tried to hold onto consciousness, she managed one last look at Nick. She would never forget his eyes – his angered, resolute eyes that she saw in that dangerous neighbourhood – as the world faded to black and she was hauled away.
It was dark. It was cold. Zara tried to rub her arms to keep warm but found that her wrists were bound. Her heart raced. Some murmurs sounded to her right. A door opened and she gasped. "Relax. We're not going to hurt you," a voice with a polished British accent said. With some fumbling at the back of her head, the blindfold came off, revealing a brightly-lit interrogation room. Lower lip quivering, Zara shrank back into her seat. She immediately shut her eyes tightly, caught off-guard by the brightness of the room. "Oh, sorry about that," the woman quipped as she adjusted a dial on the wall. The lights grew comfortably dimmer and Zara slowly opened her eyes. "It's quite a concussion you've got there."
Now that she could see properly, Zara studied this woman. She was lean and had blonde hair, with thin lips and dead eyes. "Wh-Where am I? Who are you?" Zara stuttered. She gulped, realising her mouth was dry.
The lady took a seat next to her. "My name is Toni Bevel," she introduced herself.
