“Baba,” she whispers in horror. Struggling to look at his family, he stumbles into a chair, aided by her mother.
The demon’s face has no form, for he is shadow. The moment Maeling speaks his eyes begin to take shape. He grows stronger, smiling, he snakes a shadowed limb around her Father’s throat and squeezes. Her Father grasps his throat with both hands as he chokes. Eyes wide with fear, he struggles for every breath.
All noise begins to fade; Maeling no longer hears her mother’s screaming or her grandfather rush into the room. A burning begins to build in her little chest.
Elina sits up in her sleep and her eyes glow as she feels her power begin to build.
Maeling’s grandfather runs to her grasping her arm. He calls her name but she can’t hear him. Scared, she grabs his hand and points at her father. Her grandfather looks and sees the shadow for the first time.
“Ying-zi!” he says loudly. The demon opens its cavernous mouth and spews out a smaller demon onto the floor directly in front of Maeling and her grandfather. It snakes its way towards her mother.
The pressure builds and Maeling hears in her mind, “Breath, we are coming! Don’t fight the feeling Maeling, picture it flowing into your hands.” Maeling closes her eyes and listens to the soothing voice.
“Good. Now shape it into a weapon.” Maeling pictures in her mind two throwing daggers, called shurikans. When her eyes open, she holds two throwing daggers made of paper. Watching closely the snake like demon oozes around her mother’s legs and begins to wrap up her body. The shadow hisses at her and a vibration fills the small kitchen, more are coming.
The demon begins to take a solid shape, strangling her father, he hisses, “Oh NO, Not a paper cut!” mocking Maeling. He releases her father’s throat and when he claps his hands, the room begins to darken as more shadows fill the room.
“Maeling, follow the image in your grandfather’s mind. Do it now!” the voice urges.
“Ya-Ya,” Maeling says and she grabs both of his hands, “You are the vessel!” and she channels her power into him.
Hot white light explodes from the duo, filling the room. It bursts through the shadows disintegrating them and freeing her parents from the demons.
“Peace little warrior we are almost there,” and the voice fades.
Her father stares at her coughing loudly, and lifts his arms to his daughter. She rushes to his embrace. “Forgive my ignorance, Maeling. I have failed you,” he begs her through tears.
“It’s okay Ba-Ba, help is coming,” she says assures him. Her grandfather walks on shaky legs to the table and sits hard.
“What do you mean, who is coming Maeling?” her mother wonders.
“We Are,” says a voice from behind.
“Elina!” Alex says, shaking her. Her eyes glow with power and he fears she will kill them both. “Elina, wake up!” he says louder.
“Okay, Okay, I’m okay,” she whispers squeezing her eyes tightly shut. She wills her power to dim. Horror replaces light, as she realizes she will draw the demons here.
“Elina, it’s okay. I shielded us. Drink this,” he orders giving her a bottle of water. Elina drinks greedily and tries to process the dream.
“Maeling!” She looks at Alex and says, “Her name was Maeling.”
“Was? Is she dead?” Alex asks with a sense of dread he can’t explain. Elina nods her head yes. “It is a long story, Alex.” She reaches out and picks up the box carefully. Elina pauses a moment and waits for another vision. When nothing happens, she opens the box and pulls out the cotton wrapped quill and drops it into her hand.
“This pen is special, Alex, but Why?” Frustrated, she runs her hands through her hair.
“I know why,” A child’s voice says. Elina jumps at the sound and Alex sighs a deep sigh.
“Alexandria!” he snaps. “I told you to stay away, you never listen!”
She skips over and throws her arms around his neck, “But you love me anyway, don’t you?”
He growls in frustration, “Go home, Lexy.”
She unwraps her arms from his neck and plops down beside Elina, pretending to pout.
“Alexxx, I’m bored, and hungry,” she whines. The child turns her black eyes on Elina and smiles. She is tiny and beautiful.
“Lexy?” Elina whispers and reaching out she touches her face. Alexandria grabs her hand and holds it against her cheek, reading Elina’s memories, past and present.
Elina does not fight the child, she simply waits while Alex watches. A single tear forms in Lexy’s eye. “Thank you, Elina. I have not seen my Mama like that before. She was beautiful, wasn’t she?”
“Yes, and her spirit was full of love for others. She fought to bring you into this world, Lexy. She loved you very much.” Elina replies with a voice full of emotion.
“She died protecting Lexy from a fallen angel, named Kane.” Alex tells Elina.
“When I find him, he will pay.” Lexy promises and her eyes go completely black and her teeth lengthen. “I will take his red and black wings as souvenirs.”
In that moment, Elina is reminded that she is Raphaim’s daughter too. “I can’t blame you for that. I got a piece of him, but I would like to take his other eye!” Elina snaps remembering the fight before Malach shoved her away.
Lexy smiles and looks at Elina with a new respect. “You shouldn’t blame, Malach. He merely did what he thought was best. He loves
