Chapter Twenty Two
Confiding in her friends was the first thing that flashed through Melissa’s mind, the next morning. All the same, this was a notion that she soon had to reject. There were many ways to interpret Helena’s heartfelt confession. A conversation about it would lead to hours of speculation. Monica would attempt to analyze every single word, whereas Kate and Julia would get emotional. Of course, Melissa could comprehend Helena’s feelings towards her and her brothers, but there was just one thing that she could simply not wrap her head around: her timing. Why would the witch speak such words, on the eve of a battle against a formidable foe like Azazel? She had to have been hiding something, or so Melissa thought.
Joe was still sound asleep beside her, when she figured that she had to let him know of Helena’s plan. She couldn’t announce it to him, or imply it, either. Therefore, Melissa picked up pen and paper, and left him a note on his nightstand:
“We’re going hunting for deer tonight. Don’t ask details. I’ll tell you more once we get there.”
An ironic fact occurred to her, later on. The first day that she would spend with Joe could well be their last. Despite the witch’s reassurances, she was not convinced. This was a fight unlike any other, where tooth and muscle were of little to no importance. They could have three, large packs by their side, and they could still lose. However, Melissa tried to remain positive. She and Joe had been through too much to give up now. For the remainder of the day, she focused on him, and the happy memories that they shared.
Darkness found her, Kate, Julia and Joe in the front yard, anxiously waiting for the moment to head out to Clover Lake. Monica was at work, whereas the Bradford brothers remained out of Joe’s sight, as Helena had instructed them. Alas, Melissa had to deal with yet another problem: Julia. Her friend was on the verge of tears. She had asked her repeatedly to go with them, but neither she nor Kate liked the idea of putting her in harm’s way.
“Please, be careful out there,” Julia whispered, wrapping her arms around Melissa’s back.
“We will, Jules,” she assured her, struggling to keep her cool. Melissa wouldn’t tell her, but Julia’s reaction was not helping Melissa whatsoever. Still, she would not complain to her. Julia was just demonstrating her emotions. Arguing with her would only make matters worse. Without wasting any more time, Melissa kissed her on the cheek as she eased out of her embrace. With a heavy heart, she trotted off towards the forest, walking between Kate and Joe.
“I still can’t believe what we’re about to do,” Kate confessed, as worry tensed the muscles in her face.
“I don’t think any of us can,” Melissa spoke how she felt. “Are you, um…?” She faltered. “Prepared?”
“Oh, yeah,” Kate gave a short laugh. “I’ve been studying this stuff for days. Trust me, I’m prepared alright.”
At that moment, lightning flashed, painting the trees and underbrush ahead of them a shade of silver, as it lit up the world around them. Melissa looked up into the sky, as a brilliant fork of lightning crackled through the atmosphere, causing the ground to rumble and vibrate beneath their feet. In a mere instant, she felt small raindrops, landing on her forehead and cheeks.
“That’s not a good sign,” she muttered, her voice shot through with tension, as she brought her attention back to the forest up ahead.
“Don’t get superstitious on me, honey.” Kate requested, as the sky once again erupted in light. “So what if it’s raining?”
“It’s the timing that troubles me,” Melissa went on, feeling drops of water streaming down her cheeks. “It hasn’t rained in months. Why now?”
“Focus, Mel,” Kate urged, lifting her leg over a brush pile, as they crossed the forest line. “Don’t let fear get to you.”
“That’s easier said than done,” She thought to herself, tossing a quick glance up at Joe. His silence hadn’t gone unnoticed. However, she didn’t expect him to speak. Discussing what they were going to do would compromise their plan.
Melissa remained silent, watching rain drops bouncing off larger and smaller rocks or rolling off leaves, as the three of them strolled through the trees. Craning her neck, she tried to pick up Helena’s scent, to no avail. All she could smell was wet soil and balsam fir tree, as they closed in on the lake.
The surface did not resemble, at all, the romantic setting that enthralled most of its visitors. It was dark, a notch brighter than its surroundings, as raindrops sent ripples up on it. The large rock on the shore, the one on which Dean had found her on the night that he had faced Marianne, was smeared with mud. Melissa could hear Joe and Kate’s racing heartbeats, as well as her own. The moment of truth was drawing near, as she watched the water washing away the mud. A few paces before they reached the shore, she sensed Kate’s soft hand on her forearm.
“It’s time,” she silently mouthed to her. Melissa blinked slowly, nodding her assent, as Joe halted beside her.
“Grigori angel hear my call
Goat of darkness now arise
Black of heart – black of soul
Show yourself before my eyes”
A tall, male frame, glimmering gray in the dark, began to fade into view, as Kate completed the incantation. He was almost as tall as Joe and he had jet-black hair, and a scrawny face. He wore a beige suit and red tie. The glimmer ceased altogether, as Azazel flashed him an ironic smile.
“Joe Stanton. It’s been a while,” There was an odd richness in his voice, as if it belonged to a man at least three decades older. “Congrats on your decision to date a shape shifter; she’s a little tall for my taste, though.”
“I want out, Azazel,” Joe spoke, his tone steady, his face as hard as stone. “I want my soul back.”
“What’s the matter, Joe?” The demon retorted, his smugness sending Melissa’s adrenaline into the ozone layer, “I thought you liked fancy cars and big paychecks.”
“I gave them all away. I quit my job. Plus, my name’s not ‘Stanton’ anymore. I changed it,” Joe countered, as anxiety cracked his baritone.
“Touching, but…” Azazel paused, pressing his lips together, “…you’re still mine, and that cannot change.”
A ferocious snarl rose up in Melissa’s throat, as she felt her blood pound in her temples. Her inner beast was twitching within her, desperate to break its human shackles, as the rain pelted down around them.
“Amusing,” the demon’s smirk reappeared, as he shifted his gaze to her. “Can you do that again? I like the sound of it.”
Melissa’s fangs lengthened, her eyes glowing yellow, as her beast peered out of them. However, she was in a dilemma: Should she unleash her wolf, or assault him with the dagger? Before she could make up her mind though, the sound of heavy paws, as well as hurried footfalls on the mud drew her attention. The brown and the silver wolf were galloping towards them, parallel to one another, as they loped through the woods. Raul was between them, clutching the dagger in his grasp, his face contorting in a fury of effort. In spite of the commotion, Azazel’s smugness did not evaporate. He didn’t even glance behind him. Instead, he rolled the fingers in his right hand into a fist, and thrust his arm up and over his head. In an instant, Raul and the wolves were lifted off the ground. Their bodies were sent flying back across the forest, as a gasp of despair left Melissa’s lips. Raul’s painful cry tore through the atmosphere as his body was thrown up against the thick trunk of a balsam fir tree. The agonizing yips of the wolves filled her ears, as they both landed hard on their sides, against the muddy forest floor. Melissa tore her gaze away from Dean’s brown wolf, as he rolled over and over. Azazel didn’t give her time to think about her next move. Rapidly putting his arm down, he unfurled his fingers, and then waved her back. Melissa felt a massive force, picking her up from the ground, as the demon waved Kate aside. Her body was sent reeling forward, as her friend landed flat on her back. She crashed into the ground face down, barely bypassing a tree a few yards away from Raul, squashing a twig and a few dry leaves as she did. Melissa reached for the dagger behind her back, her breath coming in gasps, as her eyes snapped open. However it had happened, it was gone. A glance to the left told her that she was not alone. She recognized Helena’s black boots at once, as the witch bent down to pick up the dagger. Thrusting her other arm forward, she pinned her up against the trunk of the tree. Melissa attempted to speak, but she could not part her lips. She tried to flex the muscles in her arms and legs; yet, it was hopeless. She could only draw breath; not move, or speak.
“I’m sorry,” Helena uttered in a soft and weak voice, like she had made the biggest mistake of her life and was asking for her forgiveness. The rain began to slow down. In the blink of an eye, her form lengthened. Shockwaves rocked Melissa to her very core, as the witch assumed her own form. Moving around the tree, she left Melissa behind her, as she clutched the handle of the dagger.
“Azazel!” her voice echoed in the wilderness, as she strolled towards the shore. “Let Joe go! Now!”
“Or what?” the demon wondered with the same, silly grin on his face, extending his arms sideways, as he turned around. Helena did not dignify his question with an answer. She merely curled her index finger, inviting him, as she furrowed her brow.
“Ridiculous bitch,” Azazel grumbled, shuffling off towards her. “I was going to spare you, but now…”
“Shut up!” Helena cried out, interrupting him, as her face twisted with rage. The demon let out a frustrated grunt, as his strides quickened. The witch ran her gaze down his body, and looked down at the forest floor. Holding the dagger at chest height, she began to pace backwards, as the rain ceased altogether. A wicked smile burst upon her lips, as she assumed her regular form. She twisted her arm, so that her palm faced up, before a bright ball of fire sprang up. The demon froze to his spot, as she tossed it at him. The fireball hit the ground, singeing leaves and twigs alike, as a circle formed around him. But, this was no ordinary circle. Azazel tore his gaze from her, to look down at his feet, as the fire raced into the shape, forming triangles. The demon stared in disbelief, as he realized that he was standing in the middle of a pentagram.
“A demon’s trap?” he asked, as he raised his eyes to glare at Helena. “It won’t hold me forever.”
“A second is all I need,” she stated, her red eyes darkening, as she exploded towards him. Azazel opened his hand, his palm facing behind him. Raul’s dagger was lifted off the forest floor, as she hurtled towards him. The knife flew into the demon’s hand, as she jerked her right arm back to stab him. Azazel thrust his left arm forward and grabbed her shoulder. Helena’s agonizing scream shattered Melissa’s heart, as he drove the dagger into her stomach. The witch’s eyes opened wide, as a choked breath escaped her. Her lips twitched, as she stared into the void. The demon’s smirk returned to his face, as he pulled the dagger out of her. But, his joy was short-lived. The weapon slipped out of his grasp, as a pointy piece of wood pierced his back. The tip came out through his stomach, as Joe twisted it in the wound. Melissa felt life in her muscles once again, as Helena’s body tumbled to the ground. Her boyfriend bent down and picked up the dagger, as she ran full tilt towards them. A foul cry rose and reverberated through the night, as Joe drove the dagger into his heart. The demon’s eyes blackened, as a black cloud of smoke started to shoot out of his mouth. As if it had a will of its own, it flew up and then down, as Kate jogged towards their spot. Finally, the cloud disappeared through crevices in the forest floor, as Melissa dropped to her knees beside Helena.
“Oh, my God!” she spoke, too fast, her voice reeking with fear. “Helena? Helena, talk to me.” She added quietly, tears rising up in her eyes, her lips quivering.
“Hold her,” Kate commanded, offering her right hand. Melissa wrapped her fingers around the witch’s wrist, staring down at her half-closed eyes, as a strong gust of wind rustled through the trees. The world around her began to darken, especially her heart, at the thought of losing one of the most important people in her life.