Lapidary

I looked in the mirror and smiled at myself. The peach-colored dress hugged my body tightly and revealed my leg through the slit. I had tied my hair up, to expose my neck. The heels were comfortable enough, and I moved easily in them. When Ava and I had gone shopping, we had certainly chosen the right outfit for date night, at Reverie.

A knock sounded on the door, and I went to open it. Devton was there, wearing an all-black suit, which to my eyes, was the equivalent of lingerie to his. The suit was well tailored, hugging his curves. In his hand was a rose, which I accepted with a smile.

His mouth was partially open as he took me in. For a moment, I thought it was game over, the only place we were going was the bedroom. But then Devton stepped aside to allow me out. I left my rose behind and closed the door.

“You’ve not even said hi,” I pointed out.

“Haven’t I?” he responded.

“Is it because I have swept you off your feet?”

He laughed and lifted me into his arms.

“Hey!”

“I don’t want your shoes to get dirty,” he said.

“Such a gentleman,” I teased.

Devton carried me to a taxi, which took us to Ocelos. We stared playfully at each other the whole way, feeding off each other’s energy. From Ocelos we crossed Center Canal by bridge and walked to Reverie. The stadium was big, round, and filled with a cheerful, energetic crowd. Devton and I didn’t stand in the ticket line but went right in. Inside, we passed the cheaper seats, in the back, passed the more expensive seats, in the middle, and headed to the golden circle, closest to the stage. We were going to be so close to the performers. My soul soared, and I remembered what it felt like to have a violin in my hands, music in my ears, and happiness in my heart. Why had I given that up?

“Where should we sit?” I asked Devton.

“We shouldn’t sit just yet.” He took my hand. Devton led me to the stairs, at the side of the stage. He then took me past the curtains, backstage.

“We are not supposed to be here!” I told him.

“Of course we are,” he responded.

“Welcome, Natka.” Rhinsel was standing backstage, close to the stairs which led to the other performers, with a violin in his hands. “This is for you.”

“What?” I gaped and turned my cautious eyes to Devton.

“You’re the opening act,” Devton told me.

“What?” I cried.

“I’ve heard you perform – on the radio. You have so much talent, a real affinity to music. I thought it would be good for you to play,” he explained.

I looked at Rhinsel, head of Vesea. “You agreed to this?”

He nodded, and I slowly reached for the violin’s black case. I knelt, undid the buckles, and opened it. The violin was more beautiful and precious to me than any diamond.

“You don’t have to do this, if you don’t want to,” Devton said.

“I want to.” I took the violin from its case.

There were several chairs backstage, and a ladder leading into the roof, and I sat down on one to study the perfect violin. Devton sat down next to me, with a smile quirking his lips. Could he tell how nervous I was? I hadn’t played in over a year! But, feeling the violin in my hands, I somehow knew I wouldn’t fuck up. Maybe this was my angelic side, that connected with the music.

“I’ll take my seat then,” Rhinsel said.

I considered thanking him for allowing me to play, but my throat was too dry to get any words out. I remained silent as he left the stage, and I knew I’d see him in front of the crowd.

“Are you going to keep our seats warm?” I asked Devton.

He shook his head. “I’ll wait for you here.”

“Okay.” I kept my eyes on the violin.

“How long have you been playing?” Dev asked me.

“I played a bit when I was a kid, but I only became really good at it when Ryker sent me for lessons.”

“He must have seen your talent and passion,” Devton said.

“He did,” I replied.

“You made immense progress really quickly,” Dev said. I couldn’t tell if he was intrigued or skeptical.

I nodded, humbly. Ryker had always said he had never seen anyone learn music as fast as I had. Even my music teacher was surprised by my talent. I didn’t know of anyone else who had been invited to perform at such big stadiums, after only taking a few lessons. Maybe it was because a part of me was magic.

The crowd began cheering, and the seats had filled up. I got to my feet and took a deep breath. I was alive, like the music in my soul.

“Do you know what you are going to play?” Dev asked me.

I could play almost anything and had all the famous and best classical pieces memorized. I had played them plenty of times in other shows. But after everything that had happened, I felt like those pieces were a part of my past.

“An original piece.” I used to play violin all the time, and I had composed many songs while sitting on the balcony. Ryker would listen to me play, while he was working from inside the apartment.

“What’s it called?” he asked.

“Fly Away,” I replied.

“That’s the last name I expected from someone who hates flying,” he said.

“I don’t hate flying. I hate the idea of falling,” I corrected him. “Besides, I wrote this piece before Ryker… you know. I wrote it after Ryker took me off the streets. I wrote about my hardships and how I sometimes wished I could fly away, like a bird, to a better place and have a better life.”

Devton’s eyes lingered on me. “If you ever again feel like you want to fly away, all you have to do is ask.”

His wings were folded into tattoos, which were covered by his blazer. For some reason, I was tempted to take him up on his offer.

“Go,” he told me. “The crowds are waiting.”

I looked up at the roof, at all the lights hanging there from different planks and logs. I smiled, drew a breath, and went on stage. The spotlight was instantly on me, making me feel like I belonged. The crowd cheered, and I waited for them to quiet before I began to play. My song began with a few simple, slow, low notes. Then it went slightly faster, but the notes stayed the same, like an angel that was running, preparing for take-off. The song then became faster and faster, as if the angel was gaining speed. Suddenly, it was higher, and the angel had taken flight. My notes were higher and higher, like the angel. Faster and faster, as if he was flipping and dancing in the skies. I picked up the pace, my pulse quickened. My fingers flew across the violin, playing every note with perfect accuracy and rhythm.

And then I stopped. As if the angel was hovering, and the crowd cheered. Slowly, I began playing again, the notes lower and lower, as if the angel was landing. I ended the song with a loud, double stop and pictured the angel planting his feet in the ground.

Sweat was dripping from my brow, and I was panting. I dropped the violin to my side and remembered to bow for the crowd that had faded away in the music. The crowd was going ballistic, clapping, cheering, whistling. I even got a standing ovation.

My smile was real, and happiness radiated from me, like sunrays, as I left the stage. Devton was smiling, clapping, and I interrupted him with a kiss. I pulled away and loved his surprised expression.

“That was amazing!” I cried.

“You were amazing.” He wrapped his arms around me again and kissed me.

When the kiss ended, I couldn’t help but think of the last time I had played before this. It had been at Serenity Stadium, on the night that Ryker had jumped. Ryker had been too busy to attend; he hadn’t made time for me.

I pushed away the negative thoughts and reminded myself that this was a happy moment. I returned the violin to its case and left it on one of the chairs. As the band made their way onto the stage, Devton took my hand and led me down the stairs at the side. Our seats were vacant in the front row, and we sat before the show began.

Devton was still holding my hand and didn’t let it go, not even when we sat down. He traced circles on my knuckles with his finger, and goosebumps rose on my arm. I was looking at the stage, embracing the music as it started soft and sweet. Devton’s eyes remained on me, and I couldn’t help but smile. The show was good and lasted for an hour and a half, but something told me that I would be the talk of the night. I’d probably make it into another newspaper or magazine.

Once the show ended, we stood up and clapped. I was surprised when Devton let go of my hand, for that moment. He took it again, and we sat down before the people began to leave.

“Any more surprises?” I asked him.

“Yes,” he said, serious. “Volgrun is going to try and kill me tonight.”

I tensed. “How do you know?”

“Luther told me what happened in the alley. I knew after failing to kill Luther, he’d come to me. So, I told Rhinsel that I would be here tonight and asked if you could perform. Rhinsel is tired of Volgrun giving him shit. He told me he’d help me to take over – if I wanted. I agreed. It is time for Volgrun to step down or die. He is somewhere over here now, waiting for me.”

I swallowed.

“I want you to leave – by the back entrance, the one the performers use. There are several members of The Risen who will escort you to safety.”

“You’re going to fight him…” I realized.

“I am going to beat him.”

I shouldn’t fear for Devton – he was powerful enough to take on an archangel. Surely, he could handle Volgrun, but I couldn’t help but be scared.

“Don’t look so worried,” Devton said.

“I can’t lose you,” I told him.

“I love you too much, to let you lose me,” he responded.

Oh gods, Devton Embers had said it! He loved me. I was so surprised I couldn’t find the words to speak, and when he looked away, I realized he might have thought I had remained silent because his feelings weren’t returned.

“Dev—” I wanted to explain.

“Go, Nat,” he said. “We don’t have much time.”

The stadium was emptying quickly, and I got to my feet. “Be safe.”

I went up the stairs, onto the stage, and disappeared behind the curtain. Instead of going to the back door, where the performers were leaving, I climbed the ladder, into the roof. I sat on a plank, and it creaked beneath my weight. I didn’t look at what was going on in the roof; it was quiet, and I was alone up here. I gazed down, at the stage, waiting.

It wasn’t long before Devton headed to the center of the stage, calm and confident. He faced the wall and stood there for a while. He unexpectedly spoke. “You’re late.”

“How’d you know I was coming?” It was Volgrun’s voice, but I couldn’t see him from where I was sitting.

“Rhinssel Grosstreet is tired of your shit,” Devton said. “Like I am tired of your shit. You killed Rhain and attempted to kill Luther. No more. You are not fit to rule The Risen, and therefore, I will take your place.”

Volgrun stormed up the stairs onto the stage and stopped when he was a few inches away from Devton. Now I could see both clearly.

“Who the fuck do you think you are, boy?”

“I don’t have to think about who I am because I know who I am. I’m Devton Embers, son of Alinac Embers – former leader of The Risen. I am blessed with hell fire and shadow form by the god Ento, and I am fit to rule. Therefore, I challenge you.”

Volgrun stepped backward and looked toward the empty seats. He was still, and I wondered what he saw.

“You’ve brought each and every member of The Risen here….”

From where I was in the roof, I couldn’t see them, but I could picture Luther, still as the night, standing between the chairs, ready for vengeance; Astaroth, transparent between the chairs, eager to watch a fight; and the rest of The Risen, eager to see who was worthy of leading them.

“I want them to witness this as a fair fight.”

I slowly crept forward on the planks so that I was in the center of the roof, with a better view. I was surrounded by lights and cables, and my foot touched something behind me. I wanted to see what it was, but then Devton spoke.

“You can’t run from this.”

“I’m going to make you bleed,” Volgrun said.

He pulled a knife from his pocket and slashed toward Devton. I bit my tongue as Devton shifted into shadow form and moved. Volgrun slashed like a maniac, but it didn’t seem to do any damage. Devton resumed solid form at the back of the stage, and Volgrun ran toward him. Devton grabbed his hand, twisted the knife free, and tossed it away, before he flipped Volgrun over his hip and left him on the ground.

“Surrender, renounce your title, and I’ll let you leave Vesea alive,” Devton said. Devton’s mother had told me that his heart was too good for him to become leader. No one else would’ve spared Volgrun, not after the things he’d done.

“No,” Volgrun said.

“Then you will die,” Devton told him.

“If I die, you’ll all die with me,” he threatened.

Devton was clearly not in the mood for his threats. He clicked his fingers together, and Volgrun was suddenly engulfed in hell fire. His screams sounded in the stadium, like the music had, sharp and high pitched. The hell fire burnt so hot and so fast that, in a matter of minutes, Volgrun had become a pile of ash. The fire died out.

The Risen began to cheer and chant. “Devton Embers! Devton Embers!”

I didn’t know if Devton had killed anyone before this, nor whether he regretted it. I certainly didn’t regret killing Istrag, nor did it keep me up at night. I shifted my weight and my foot bumped against something behind me. I had mistaken it for a light, until I turned around and looked. My breath caught.

If I die, you’ll all die with me, Volgrun had threatened. And now I saw that he was true to his word. He had planted a bomb in the roof on Reverie Stadium, and the timer was ticking down. Three minutes.