A/N: Thanks for the great reviews, guys!!! Sorry I left you with the cliffhanger. I hope I can make it up to you with this chapter. Oh, and as for the leering...uh, no comment.
Enjoy!
It was pitch black at the school - except for the weird flickering lights in the windows of the chapel. I took this as an invitation. I crept along the fence until I got to my usual entrance, and, using my expert thievery skills, I crawled under the fence. I tiptoed to the entrance, whipping out my set of lock picks.
Well, it turned out I didn't even need to. The door swung open before I even touched it.
And I nearly dropped the lock picks in shock of what I saw.
In the exact spot of my exorcism, there was a huge pillar of purple light. That's the only way to describe what I saw. My mouth was literally hanging open. I mean…it was beautiful. The whole room was glowing with the weird light.
Recovering from my shock, I glanced around. There was nobody there.
No Paul, no Bianca, no Jesse. This was strange.
I cautiously began to walk down the main aisle, making my way towards the pillar of light. The closer I got, the less beautiful it looked. It looked way more threatening. But it still didn't seem to be posing any threat.
I stopped about a foot away from it. I glanced behind me, making sure that nobody had materialized behind me or anything. Then I reached out my hand, and slowly stretched it out towards the light…
"No, Susannah."
I looked up. "Jesse!"
He was standing in the center of the light, gazing at me with this incredibly sad look in his eyes. "Don't touch the light."
"But Jesse - how can I -"
"Susannah, listen to me. Don't touch the light. You - you can't handle this. They'll rip you apart. Please…just go back."
I couldn't believe what he was saying. Like I was going to go home and leave him here. "No, Jesse. I won't leave you."
"Querida -"
"Don't you 'querida' me, mister. I'm not letting them take you."
And I jumped into the light.
Or I tried to. Except that I couldn't. I couldn't move. Not this again…
"You should listen to your boyfriend, Suze," Paul's voice said right behind me. "Jumping into the light like that would not be a good idea."
I looked at Jesse. He looked back at me. Then his eyes focused behind me, and a look of hatred crossed his features.
"Step away from the light, Suze, and come here."
My body obeyed, turning around and walking towards Paul. A few feet behind him, Bianca was standing, no longer looking like me, with a very smug look on her annoyingly pretty face.
If only I had control of my body, her face wouldn't be so pretty anymore.
"Suzie," Paul said, shaking his head and chuckling. "I had a feeling you would come."
"You let him go," I growled into his mind. "Or I'll -"
"Or you'll what?" Paul replied, out loud. "Jump into the light and destroy both yourself and Jesse?" He chuckled, folding his arms. "I don't think so, querida," he said mockingly. He turned to Bianca. "Well," he said. "What happens next?"
Bianca stepped forward. She glanced at me, smirking, then turned back to Paul. "Now, I will perform the ritual. And -" she looked back towards me, "-your precious ghost will be destroyed, and the gate will open. Then Paul and I will have complete control over the armies of hell, and you -" her eyes narrowed, "-you will be a slave to us."
"Bianca," Paul said reproachfully. "I told you she would be my queen."
"Whatever," Bianca said. "It's the same thing anyway."
"You," Jesse's voice growled from behind me, "will leave Susannah alone! She didn't do anything to-"
"You," Bianca said, her eyes glowing purple, "will shut up."
"I," Jesse replied dully, "will shut up."
Bianca laughed cruelly. And there I was, completely powerless to stop what was about to happen. My eyes started to fill with tears. Paul looked at me, and his face actually showed concern for me.
"Suze," he said, and he stepped up to me and stroked my cheek lovingly. My tears spilled over and rolled down my cheeks. I hated Paul's touch. "Don't worry about him, okay?" he smiled reassuringly. "It'll be over soon, and you'll forget him." He leaned towards me, and whispered, "You are a half demon, just like me, Suze. We'll be together forever. We'll be happy. I'll make you happy."
If I could, I would've spit in his face. "I'll never be happy with you," I said into his mind. "I will never want you."
Paul just looked over my shoulder at Bianca, still stroking my cheek absently. "Begin the ritual."
"As you wish," I heard Bianca say. "Kalib hatmah hrobif lorekhmah -"
I shut my eyes. The tears were coming out uncontrollably. It was happening. I could hear the whooshing sound behind me, like there was lots of wind. I couldn't see what was happening, and I didn't want to. I could tell Jesse was saying something, but I couldn't hear it over the noise. I opened my eyes again. Paul was looking into my eyes, an unreadable expression on his face. He was still stroking my cheek, now wet with my tears.
"Make it stop, please," I whispered into his mind. "Make it stop."
He smiled faintly. "You are so beautiful, Suze," he said. "I've dreamed of you every night since I first saw you…" He began to lean towards me, his eyes closing. And I had no choice but to lean into him, my eyes closing as well…
This was it. This was the end. Paul was going to kiss me, and I would be his forever. Bianca was still saying the weird incantations, I could hear Jesse, he was screaming now…he sounded like he was in pain. All I wanted to do was be back in my room, talking with him…kissing him…holding him… But never again.
I would never see my Jesse again.
As the thought struck me, something weird happened. I can't explain it, but it's like…a warmth started spreading through me. I opened my tear-filled eyes, and I saw Paul's face. He had stopped coming towards me, inches away from my lips. His eyes were wide and shocked. I looked into his eyes, and I saw myself reflected in his eyes.
A mild shock hit me, but I realized, that somehow, I had known all along. Reflected in Paul's disbelieving eyes, I saw my eyes…strangely sad and beautiful. And my face…was glowing with a bright, pure white light.
I was no longer under Paul's control. I looked down at my hands, and realized that my entire body was glowing with that same light. I turned away from Paul. There was Bianca, still chanting, her arms raised. The pillar of light was no longer a beautiful purple, but a deep, horrible red. At the top, near the ceiling, I could see what must have been the rip in the dimension, only it wasn't to the Shadowland. It was to someplace much worse.
I saw Jesse, floating towards the portal, flailing his arms and legs wildly, still screaming…
My eyes narrowed on Bianca. She didn't notice how I had transformed. Her eyes were closed in concentration. I approached her, angrily, and punched her right in the face.
Okay, not the most graceful of approaches, but I was mad, okay?
Bianca's eyes opened in shock. "Wha-"
Behind me, the pillar of light was still glowing red, and Jesse was still going towards the portal.
Oh, no. It was too late to stop the ritual. It was going to happen.
I turned around. Paul and Bianca were both standing, watching me with…fear. I looked back at the light, at Jesse…
And I jumped.
The red light engulfed me, the noise was deafening, a constant roar in my ears. I felt the familiar sensation of my spirit leaving my body. I looked down. My body was lying there, unconscious, but not glowing. I was still glowing though. I looked up. I saw Jesse. He was going through the portal now. And I realized with a start what was in the portal.
It was Hell. And I could see a huge gateway, slowly opening as Jesse came closer to it.
"Jesse!" I called out. I couldn't reach him in time. Then I felt something happening…there was a weird tingling sensation at my sides.
I had wings. Huge, bright, blindingly white wings.
I glided to Jesse. Somehow, I had this incredible strength in me. I grabbed Jesse around the waist, and pulled him back. He felt limp in my arms. I pulled him backwards, flapping my wings as hard as I could. It wasn't working. We were still being sucked into Hell.
No…
In a last, desperate attempt, I flung Jesse down, with all of my strength. I watched him as he fell…he fell out of the light, but I couldn't see anything beyond the red vortex. I looked back up towards Hell. The gateway was still opening. I realized with a start…that now it was me who was the sacrifice.
I didn't care. I knew Jesse was safe, and that was all I needed to know.
I stopped struggling, and just kind of drifted towards the gateway. I closed my eyes…I could feel my skin starting to burn up…it was happening, I was fading…I was going to be destroyed…
"Susannah!"
I kept my eyes closed, fighting back the tears. I knew it was Jesse calling me.
"Susannah!"
This time I had to open my eyes. Because Jesse's voice was right behind me. I turned in surprise. Jesse was right behind me, fighting to reach me.
"No, Jesse, go back! Stop it!"
He had a look of determination on his face. "No! I won't leave you!" He reached me and wrapped his arms around my waist, latching onto me. He whispered into my ear, "If you go, Susannah, then I go with you."
We were in Hell now. There was no turning back. The gateway was still opening, and I could still feel myself burning. I ignored the pain, and turned in Jesse's arms. I looked into his eyes, my eyes filling with tears.
He looked back at me, and smiled faintly.
"Jesse," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I - I - I came to save you…why did you come back?"
Jesse pulled me tighter against him. "Because, querida. I love you with…every fiber of my being. There just wouldn't be any point to me existing without you by my side."
I couldn't help it…I started crying again. "Jesse…" I hugged him tight. I hated that he came back for me. But in a way…I was almost happy.
Almost.
I looked back up at him. He had a pained expression on his face. I realized with dismay that he was fading. I looked down at me hands. I was fading, too.
That was it. We were just going to disappear like that.
It would be like we had never existed.
Suddenly, we jerked to a stop. I looked back up at Jesse in surprise. He was no longer fading.
"What going on…?"
"I - I don't know…"
We just kind of hung there in midair, and then there was a noise behind us. The gateway to Hell…it was closing.
"Oh my god…"
Then some invisible force was pulling us back. I didn't know how, but we were going back through the portal, still holding onto each other. The red vortex of light was gone. I looked down. I was being pulled back down towards my body. Then I noticed Paul. His eyes were closed, and his arms were outstretched towards us.
Paul was bringing us back, I realized in shock.
But why?
Jesse reached the ground, and let me slide out of his arms, back into my body. I opened my eyes and gasped for air. I felt incredibly weak. I tried to stand up, but I couldn't.
I was back to normal, I realized. No more light, no more wings.
Where did all that light come from, anyway?
I tried to sit up, at least. I couldn't.
"Shhh…" I heard Jesse say. Strong arms wrapped around me, and lifted me up. I looked up. Jesse was carrying me in his arms. "It's alright, querida. I've got you." He was smiling at me. I smiled back weakly.
"Suze," Paul said. We both looked up at him.
"You stay away!" Jesse shouted.
Paul ignored him. "Suze," he repeated. "You…" He seemed at a loss for words. He had an amazed look on his face. "You're…not one of us. You're not a demon. You're…something else. Of the light."
Of the light…did he mean…an angel????
He didn't say. He just shook his head in disbelief.
"Where is Bianca?" Jesse demanded.
"Bianca…" Paul closed his eyes. "I…had to destroy her." He opened his eyes, and looked at me. "It was the only way to save you, Suze." He took a step towards us. "I…I still love you. And just because you aren't what I thought you were…it doesn't mean you can't be my queen. You will be my queen, Suze."
"You will not lay a hand on her," Jesse replied fiercely.
Their arguing was interrupted when I started laughing. It was a small, weak laugh, but I couldn't help it. It was just funny to me. Jesse, fighting with Paul over me, who wanted to make me his queen and take over the world with me.
And to top it all off, I was an angel. Me, who always prided myself on being bad.
Laughing must have depleted the last of my strength, though, because a moment later, everything went dark, and I passed out.
A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed. I worked really hard on this, and I hope you guys liked how I settled all the demon business. Well, it's not exactly settled, but whatever. So, next chapter will be the final one. PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!
Enjoy!
It was pitch black at the school - except for the weird flickering lights in the windows of the chapel. I took this as an invitation. I crept along the fence until I got to my usual entrance, and, using my expert thievery skills, I crawled under the fence. I tiptoed to the entrance, whipping out my set of lock picks.
Well, it turned out I didn't even need to. The door swung open before I even touched it.
And I nearly dropped the lock picks in shock of what I saw.
In the exact spot of my exorcism, there was a huge pillar of purple light. That's the only way to describe what I saw. My mouth was literally hanging open. I mean…it was beautiful. The whole room was glowing with the weird light.
Recovering from my shock, I glanced around. There was nobody there.
No Paul, no Bianca, no Jesse. This was strange.
I cautiously began to walk down the main aisle, making my way towards the pillar of light. The closer I got, the less beautiful it looked. It looked way more threatening. But it still didn't seem to be posing any threat.
I stopped about a foot away from it. I glanced behind me, making sure that nobody had materialized behind me or anything. Then I reached out my hand, and slowly stretched it out towards the light…
"No, Susannah."
I looked up. "Jesse!"
He was standing in the center of the light, gazing at me with this incredibly sad look in his eyes. "Don't touch the light."
"But Jesse - how can I -"
"Susannah, listen to me. Don't touch the light. You - you can't handle this. They'll rip you apart. Please…just go back."
I couldn't believe what he was saying. Like I was going to go home and leave him here. "No, Jesse. I won't leave you."
"Querida -"
"Don't you 'querida' me, mister. I'm not letting them take you."
And I jumped into the light.
Or I tried to. Except that I couldn't. I couldn't move. Not this again…
"You should listen to your boyfriend, Suze," Paul's voice said right behind me. "Jumping into the light like that would not be a good idea."
I looked at Jesse. He looked back at me. Then his eyes focused behind me, and a look of hatred crossed his features.
"Step away from the light, Suze, and come here."
My body obeyed, turning around and walking towards Paul. A few feet behind him, Bianca was standing, no longer looking like me, with a very smug look on her annoyingly pretty face.
If only I had control of my body, her face wouldn't be so pretty anymore.
"Suzie," Paul said, shaking his head and chuckling. "I had a feeling you would come."
"You let him go," I growled into his mind. "Or I'll -"
"Or you'll what?" Paul replied, out loud. "Jump into the light and destroy both yourself and Jesse?" He chuckled, folding his arms. "I don't think so, querida," he said mockingly. He turned to Bianca. "Well," he said. "What happens next?"
Bianca stepped forward. She glanced at me, smirking, then turned back to Paul. "Now, I will perform the ritual. And -" she looked back towards me, "-your precious ghost will be destroyed, and the gate will open. Then Paul and I will have complete control over the armies of hell, and you -" her eyes narrowed, "-you will be a slave to us."
"Bianca," Paul said reproachfully. "I told you she would be my queen."
"Whatever," Bianca said. "It's the same thing anyway."
"You," Jesse's voice growled from behind me, "will leave Susannah alone! She didn't do anything to-"
"You," Bianca said, her eyes glowing purple, "will shut up."
"I," Jesse replied dully, "will shut up."
Bianca laughed cruelly. And there I was, completely powerless to stop what was about to happen. My eyes started to fill with tears. Paul looked at me, and his face actually showed concern for me.
"Suze," he said, and he stepped up to me and stroked my cheek lovingly. My tears spilled over and rolled down my cheeks. I hated Paul's touch. "Don't worry about him, okay?" he smiled reassuringly. "It'll be over soon, and you'll forget him." He leaned towards me, and whispered, "You are a half demon, just like me, Suze. We'll be together forever. We'll be happy. I'll make you happy."
If I could, I would've spit in his face. "I'll never be happy with you," I said into his mind. "I will never want you."
Paul just looked over my shoulder at Bianca, still stroking my cheek absently. "Begin the ritual."
"As you wish," I heard Bianca say. "Kalib hatmah hrobif lorekhmah -"
I shut my eyes. The tears were coming out uncontrollably. It was happening. I could hear the whooshing sound behind me, like there was lots of wind. I couldn't see what was happening, and I didn't want to. I could tell Jesse was saying something, but I couldn't hear it over the noise. I opened my eyes again. Paul was looking into my eyes, an unreadable expression on his face. He was still stroking my cheek, now wet with my tears.
"Make it stop, please," I whispered into his mind. "Make it stop."
He smiled faintly. "You are so beautiful, Suze," he said. "I've dreamed of you every night since I first saw you…" He began to lean towards me, his eyes closing. And I had no choice but to lean into him, my eyes closing as well…
This was it. This was the end. Paul was going to kiss me, and I would be his forever. Bianca was still saying the weird incantations, I could hear Jesse, he was screaming now…he sounded like he was in pain. All I wanted to do was be back in my room, talking with him…kissing him…holding him… But never again.
I would never see my Jesse again.
As the thought struck me, something weird happened. I can't explain it, but it's like…a warmth started spreading through me. I opened my tear-filled eyes, and I saw Paul's face. He had stopped coming towards me, inches away from my lips. His eyes were wide and shocked. I looked into his eyes, and I saw myself reflected in his eyes.
A mild shock hit me, but I realized, that somehow, I had known all along. Reflected in Paul's disbelieving eyes, I saw my eyes…strangely sad and beautiful. And my face…was glowing with a bright, pure white light.
I was no longer under Paul's control. I looked down at my hands, and realized that my entire body was glowing with that same light. I turned away from Paul. There was Bianca, still chanting, her arms raised. The pillar of light was no longer a beautiful purple, but a deep, horrible red. At the top, near the ceiling, I could see what must have been the rip in the dimension, only it wasn't to the Shadowland. It was to someplace much worse.
I saw Jesse, floating towards the portal, flailing his arms and legs wildly, still screaming…
My eyes narrowed on Bianca. She didn't notice how I had transformed. Her eyes were closed in concentration. I approached her, angrily, and punched her right in the face.
Okay, not the most graceful of approaches, but I was mad, okay?
Bianca's eyes opened in shock. "Wha-"
Behind me, the pillar of light was still glowing red, and Jesse was still going towards the portal.
Oh, no. It was too late to stop the ritual. It was going to happen.
I turned around. Paul and Bianca were both standing, watching me with…fear. I looked back at the light, at Jesse…
And I jumped.
The red light engulfed me, the noise was deafening, a constant roar in my ears. I felt the familiar sensation of my spirit leaving my body. I looked down. My body was lying there, unconscious, but not glowing. I was still glowing though. I looked up. I saw Jesse. He was going through the portal now. And I realized with a start what was in the portal.
It was Hell. And I could see a huge gateway, slowly opening as Jesse came closer to it.
"Jesse!" I called out. I couldn't reach him in time. Then I felt something happening…there was a weird tingling sensation at my sides.
I had wings. Huge, bright, blindingly white wings.
I glided to Jesse. Somehow, I had this incredible strength in me. I grabbed Jesse around the waist, and pulled him back. He felt limp in my arms. I pulled him backwards, flapping my wings as hard as I could. It wasn't working. We were still being sucked into Hell.
No…
In a last, desperate attempt, I flung Jesse down, with all of my strength. I watched him as he fell…he fell out of the light, but I couldn't see anything beyond the red vortex. I looked back up towards Hell. The gateway was still opening. I realized with a start…that now it was me who was the sacrifice.
I didn't care. I knew Jesse was safe, and that was all I needed to know.
I stopped struggling, and just kind of drifted towards the gateway. I closed my eyes…I could feel my skin starting to burn up…it was happening, I was fading…I was going to be destroyed…
"Susannah!"
I kept my eyes closed, fighting back the tears. I knew it was Jesse calling me.
"Susannah!"
This time I had to open my eyes. Because Jesse's voice was right behind me. I turned in surprise. Jesse was right behind me, fighting to reach me.
"No, Jesse, go back! Stop it!"
He had a look of determination on his face. "No! I won't leave you!" He reached me and wrapped his arms around my waist, latching onto me. He whispered into my ear, "If you go, Susannah, then I go with you."
We were in Hell now. There was no turning back. The gateway was still opening, and I could still feel myself burning. I ignored the pain, and turned in Jesse's arms. I looked into his eyes, my eyes filling with tears.
He looked back at me, and smiled faintly.
"Jesse," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I - I - I came to save you…why did you come back?"
Jesse pulled me tighter against him. "Because, querida. I love you with…every fiber of my being. There just wouldn't be any point to me existing without you by my side."
I couldn't help it…I started crying again. "Jesse…" I hugged him tight. I hated that he came back for me. But in a way…I was almost happy.
Almost.
I looked back up at him. He had a pained expression on his face. I realized with dismay that he was fading. I looked down at me hands. I was fading, too.
That was it. We were just going to disappear like that.
It would be like we had never existed.
Suddenly, we jerked to a stop. I looked back up at Jesse in surprise. He was no longer fading.
"What going on…?"
"I - I don't know…"
We just kind of hung there in midair, and then there was a noise behind us. The gateway to Hell…it was closing.
"Oh my god…"
Then some invisible force was pulling us back. I didn't know how, but we were going back through the portal, still holding onto each other. The red vortex of light was gone. I looked down. I was being pulled back down towards my body. Then I noticed Paul. His eyes were closed, and his arms were outstretched towards us.
Paul was bringing us back, I realized in shock.
But why?
Jesse reached the ground, and let me slide out of his arms, back into my body. I opened my eyes and gasped for air. I felt incredibly weak. I tried to stand up, but I couldn't.
I was back to normal, I realized. No more light, no more wings.
Where did all that light come from, anyway?
I tried to sit up, at least. I couldn't.
"Shhh…" I heard Jesse say. Strong arms wrapped around me, and lifted me up. I looked up. Jesse was carrying me in his arms. "It's alright, querida. I've got you." He was smiling at me. I smiled back weakly.
"Suze," Paul said. We both looked up at him.
"You stay away!" Jesse shouted.
Paul ignored him. "Suze," he repeated. "You…" He seemed at a loss for words. He had an amazed look on his face. "You're…not one of us. You're not a demon. You're…something else. Of the light."
Of the light…did he mean…an angel????
He didn't say. He just shook his head in disbelief.
"Where is Bianca?" Jesse demanded.
"Bianca…" Paul closed his eyes. "I…had to destroy her." He opened his eyes, and looked at me. "It was the only way to save you, Suze." He took a step towards us. "I…I still love you. And just because you aren't what I thought you were…it doesn't mean you can't be my queen. You will be my queen, Suze."
"You will not lay a hand on her," Jesse replied fiercely.
Their arguing was interrupted when I started laughing. It was a small, weak laugh, but I couldn't help it. It was just funny to me. Jesse, fighting with Paul over me, who wanted to make me his queen and take over the world with me.
And to top it all off, I was an angel. Me, who always prided myself on being bad.
Laughing must have depleted the last of my strength, though, because a moment later, everything went dark, and I passed out.
A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed. I worked really hard on this, and I hope you guys liked how I settled all the demon business. Well, it's not exactly settled, but whatever. So, next chapter will be the final one. PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!