Angelo Lacrima, Arnica [best self help books to read TXT] 📗

IN THE BEGINNING
HAVASU CANYON, ARIZONA
23RD NOVEMBER, 1862

Around midnight, the moving shadows at last took shape.

Annabeth moved swiftly through the darkness, searching, but not finding, a decent spot to hide.

He was still following her.

She could feel his eyes on the back of her neck. She could hear his footsteps growing louder as he drew nearer. She could still feel his hot breath smothering her as he held her tight. Her legs were growing weak with every step that she took.

"Annabeth, my love, stop running." The sound of her name rolling from his tongue was bittersweet. His voice, thick and seductive, reached out to her.

She came to a stop, heart pounding, legs shaking. Although she wanted to keep on running, she couldn't. His voice prohibited it, and, although she hadn't moved her feet, her body was slowly being drawn toward him.

"Why do you run from me, my love?" His voice brushed against her body, his eyes filled with mock sadness. His fingers, cold as ice, brushed across her cheek, forcing her to meet his gaze.

She instantly felt mesmerized by the sweet blue of his eyes. How could she ever have thought him a bad person? He couldn't be capable of all the things she'd thought he'd done. Hidden with his eyes she saw the young boy he once was. No, he couldn't possibly be capable of anything harmful.

Hesitantly she reached, with a trembling hand, up to touch his pale lips. Those perfectly sculpted lips, the lips that had spoke her name a thousand times. Her fingers continued to move higher, past his delicate cheeks, past the calm seas of his eyes, until they reached their place hidden within the soft, dark hair falling perfectly around his face.

"That's it, my love. Come closer" he whispered pulling her closer and closer.

With a contented smile he took her face gently between his hands as though she were a delicate flower. Almost unknowingly, Annabeth leant into him, their lips meeting half way.

Liquid desire burst within her mouth, consuming her every thought. Everything else ceased to exist as she drowned in his presence; his arms, his back, his lips.

His hands moved down to brush across her spine causing her to shiver in response. His lips moved to her neck as he wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace. His laugh was content, rumbling within his chest.

"I've been awaiting your return, love," he murmured, softly pressing a kiss to the hollow of her neck.

Something suddenly snapped within Anna as the cloud lifted from her senses.

"No. I'm not your love" She said quickly pulling away so that he wouldn't hear her voice shaking.

She couldn't even begin to make sense of the confusion that clouded her mind. Why had she done that? Why had he made her do it?

"Why must you fight the truth? I can feel Alexia's presence in you. She calls to me." His voice was a caress, awful yet wonderful, compelling yet terrifying.

"No!" She shrieked shoving him back.

"I am not your love. I am not Alexia. And you cannot control me like one of your foolish puppets!"

His mood instantly changed.

"Do not try to anger me child. You do not want to know what I am capable of," he warned.

"What can you do to make me obey? You need me." She retorted. Without her his plans would never succeed. He needed what she had to offer and she knew it.

Tendrils of icy black smoke snaked around his body, clinging to him, waiting for the official order.

"I will give you one last chance. Surrender to me Anna, surrender and I will give you all your heart desires"

"I will never surrender to you. Never!" Annabeth was growing ever impatient with his mind games.

"As you wish." He turned towards the shadows and addressed them in an ancient language.

Almost instantly a low hiss filled the atmosphere. The tendrils grew into larger shadows barely visible amongst the night sky.

"Annabethhh," the creatures hissed, their red eyes glowing. Baring their teeth, each of them advanced towards Annabeth, their wings unfurling.

Stumbling a few feet back she tried to watch each shadow, but there was too many.

They quickly had her surrounded, each hissing her name.

Turning she met the hungry gaze of each shadow. Breathing heavily she came to realize that this would be the end of all hope. Once he had her his collection would be complete. He would finally be able to carry out his diabolical plan. Control of all Heaven and Earth would finally be his.

The sound of the water crashing around the rocks broke through her thoughts of fear. She was struck with an idea.

Filled with confidence as hope prevailed, she realized there was one other option. It would only temporarily stall his plans, but that was all that she needed.

Stepping back, her feet barely resting on the edge, she spared him one last apologetic smile before she closed her eyes.

He blinked in surprise. She was going to jump, he could see that thought racing through her mind. Many thoughts overwhelmed him in the few seconds it took him to understand, but only one mattered. Stop her.

"No!" He leapt forward reaching for her, but he was too late.

With one last breath Annabeth stepped back, her arms open wide, and fell.

The last thing she saw, as the raging current swallowed her, was the longing hidden deep within his eyes.

* * *

Azrael watched in anger as the canyon, once again, claimed his love .

That day he made a vow to himself; never to let her get away again. He would keep searching for her until he held her safe in his arms where she belonged.

Publication Date: 02-20-2011

All Rights Reserved