CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

IN THE WOODS


The clearing in the woods is perfect; out of the way, far enough from town and any stray hiking trails. A rocky cliff side that will be perfect for what he has planned and the treeline surrounds them enough that not an ounce of the dawning sun shines through the canopy.

It took him time to drag her half-limp body all the way out there, time he knew he didn't have to spare. Not when he was unsure when her boyfriend would return - the boyfriend's leave of absence was unexpected, but worked in his favor. He knew he would have time before the boyfriend would even be able to find them when the doctor realizes his precious girlfriend is missing, but he cannot take any chances.

Thankfully, the serum works exactly the way that Father Kinley - may he rest in peace- said it would. Of course, the other priest expected to use his own sample of the serum to send the devil back where he belongs and he expected Briar to do the same should he fail, but honestly, Father Briar could care less that the devil was roaming the world. The devil took care of the rest of the sinners in the world and it was less sinners for him to worry about.

Ariel doesn't put up much of a fight as he tosses her toward the ground vicariously. He can't imagine how silly the world must feel and look to her; how foreign it must feel for such an angelic creature. He watches her for a moment, curiously, as her nails dig into the ground and she groggily tries to stand to her feet. She pathetically wobbles, uneasily, as she can't find any strength. Her limbs are too heavy and too numb to hold her weight.

He presses his foot into her back. He doesn't even have to use much strength or force for her to fall back to the ground. He keeps his foot there, pinning her, as he glances around the clearing. He's pleased when he sees the preparations he made earlier are undisturbed.

"I have to admit, you are definitely fighting this more than I thought you'd be able to," Father Briar comments offhandedly. "It's almost admirable, but there's no use in trying to fight, sweetheart. I've searched way too long for an angel like you to let you get away so easily and I am not prepared for so much work to go to waste. Weeks of careful watching, always from a far distance, of course. I couldn't take any chances with that doctor hanging around, could I?"

Father Briar continues, "No idea what the hell he is, so I couldn't take any risks, but he just would not go away, would he? Well, now I have you all to myself, beautiful."

Her head throbs too much for her to even pray, her thoughts blurring together as the world spins around her. His words sound so distant and far away despite him being so close. His foot finally leaves its spot on her back and she takes in as much of a deep breath as she can. She tries to crawl away, but before she can even attempt it, Father Briar is back again. A vice hold on her wrist pulls her back, when she tries to screech, her tongue is too numb to make sound.

She can vaguely make out the chains that wrap around her wrists before she's pulled up against the cliff side, hanging limp against it. Her mind spins as she tries to make sense of what he plans to do, her back facing him makes it impossible to see his face.

"The Vatican said they'd never let me back in, can you believe that?"

Father Briar searches through the kit he had tucked away, just for this moment, before he pulls out what he needs. The curved knife resembles a bird's feather with its markings, odd symbols etched into the sides of it. He stands and saunters over to where Ariel hangs limply by her wrists against the cliff side. He waves the knife around as he continues to rant.

"Just because I actually believed in what Father Kinley was preaching? I wasn't the only one, of course, that chose to follow him, but I was the only one he chose to confine in. Split the serum he said would work on even the devil. A back up plan."

Father Briar laughs bitterly, "Of course that was before they kicked me out. Now you're going to be my way back in, sweetheart."

She can feel his breath against her. He gently runs his hand down her cheek and despite being as groggy as she is, she pulls away.

"I hate to ruin such a beautiful angel, but your wings are the ticket I need to go back."

She turns her head toward him, just enough to spit at his face. He winces, wiping it away with disdain. She spots the knife in hand and squints her eyes before recognition dawns on her. Her head feels so foggy, but she knows that knife, just as she knows what it will really take to kill her in a way that she won't come back - and that is not it. Azreal's blade, sure, but a demon blade? It will hurt, but not in any way that she won't eventually come back from. She's snuck out of Heaven before, she will do it again.

"Show them to me," Father Briar's voice distorts around her. It gets harder to stay awake. "Show me your wings."

The tip of the knife digs into her back. The serum numbs her, but she can still feel the warmth of blood flooding the spot between her shoulder blades. Even as it digs deeper, she laughs - the sound less melodic and more dark.

"You are the stupidest human I have ever met." Ariel's voice is soft, her words slurred, but she cranes her neck just enough for him to see the burning flames in her eyes, "That blade won't kill me. You don't think I'll come back? You don't think that my family won't come after you?"

The knife digs deeper, the anger and frustration burning in Father Briar's eyes. His own anger blurs the fear that he feels seep into his veins; he reminds himself that none of this will matter if he can get her wings. She still continues to laugh at him, through her drugged state, bitterly and hauntingly.

"You better hope that my brothers find you before I do when I come back," Ariel's voice distorts, even as the world darkens around her, the energy that pulses off of her starts to make him almost hesitate. She coughs as the world spins, but through her daze she continues. "Or even Carlisle."

She continues to laugh, her body shaking as drugged and heavy as it feels, the world seems so far away now.

"He's going to rip you to shreds," she bellows, her voice roaring, "Before I even get the chance to, how upsetting."

She cranes her neck toward him again, her pupils dilated and dark, her eyes glowing with a warning, "So go ahead, take my wings. Kill me. Do whatever the hell you want, I dare you."

The darkness floods her vision and she falls limp as the last of the adrenaline in her system fails her, the world disappearing around her as she hears Father Briar curse her name, the knife digging into her as if he could really dig out her wings himself.


Carlisle has trouble settling down the moment that the coven leaves Forks for the day; an uneasy crawling under his skin, every bit of his instincts just scream at him to not leave her. He can still feel the ghost of her lips on his as she kisses him goodbye and the monster in his chest relishes in that sensation, as it claws at him to go back to her, despite the sunlight that could still be beaming down on the town. He could be subtle; he should have stayed with her, just stayed at her house where no one could have seen him. Just so that he could still smell her nearby, know that she is okay.

He just can't shake the feeling that something could hurt her; that something will hurt her. As much as he argues with himself, trying to be logical that she can take care of herself. That she could take down any nomadic vampire that may have wandered into town while they were away, any potential threat.

"She'll be fine, Carlisle," Rosalie snorts as she watches the way that Carlisle types out a hundred word text to his mate, "She's a big girl, she can take care of herself."

"I know that," Carlisle snaps before continuing more softly, "I know that. I just can't shake the feeling that something will happen to her if I'm not there."

"You've survived most of the day so far," Edward mentions, but Carlisle just gives him a half-hearted glare.

Alice watches Carlisle with a soft grin, seeing the way that he feels as a more sure sign of his and Ariel's commitment to each other. She knows the pull you feel when you're away from your mate, the need to protect them, to be with them. She can't imagine how Carlisle must feel being more than a town over, so far away from just her smell. Jasper places a hand on her waist to bring her closer to him, nuzzling his way into the crook of her neck. His fingers dig into her hip and she knows that Carlisle's emotions about being so far away must be affecting him too.

"Let her enjoy the sun, she already said that she'll join us later." Alice piques up, grinning wildly, "Maybe she'll come back with a sunburn and someone will have to ~play doctor~?"

Edward gags, his head throbbing as he raises a hand to try to silence Alice, "Alice. Please, he's our father."

Emmett laughs, throwing his arm around Edward's shoulders and hugging him too tightly for Edward to get away. "What Eddie is trying to say, is that he is getting tired of seeing daddy and mommy have sex every time Dad comes home."

The rest of the Coven laughs, though Rosalie lightly scolds Emmett for making fun of Edward's discomfort. Carlisle is the only one silent, eyes still plastered on his phone as if Ariel will call him any second; he watches the seconds tick by and each minute that goes by makes his leg twitch.

From Ariel

I'll be leaving soon, won't be much longer, love. I love you, darling.

Carlisle's eyes light up at the message. Alice leans over to read it over his shoulder and grins. Carlisle matches the grin, watching his daughter light up as she rereads the text with joy.

"See," Alice's voice twinkles with delight, " I told you she'd be fine, she'll be here before you-"

She stops suddenly, her eyes glossing over as a vision hits her like a hurricane, knocking whatever air would have been in her lungs out. Any remains of color in her face drains drastically as a look of horror spreads across her face; her expression makes Carlisle pause, looking at her with frantic concern. His eyes flicker between her and Edward, who mirrors her expression of acute horror.

"Alice? Alice, what did you see? What's wrong?"

Alice's hands go to her mouth as her knees grow weak. Jasper is at her side immediately, catching her before she falls as she softly whispers, "So much blood."

She can't rid her mind of Ariel's limp body hanging from chains with more blood than skin. A man dressed as a priest, a sadistic grin on his face. A knife digging into her body. Edward is the one to come to first, stepping forward with a pained expression. He places a shaky hand on Carlisle's shoulder. Carlisle struggles to stay in place long enough for them to talk, everything screaming inside of him to just run - every bit of his instincts screaming at him that whatever Alice saw, it involves Ariel.

"It's - It's Ariel," Edward finally speaks up, confirming the worst fear that has taken over Carlisle, "-She - she's in danger."

Everything around him blurs as Carlisle's head spins, the beast inside of him bellows at the fear that starts to flood through his body. Alice looks up at him with wide, pleading eyes, her voice a soft blur as Carlisle wastes no time in heading straight toward Ariel's house.

"She looked dead," Alice calls after him, "Carlisle - you have to hurry."