Elina watches as Jake slowly gets up, a groan escaping him, and walks away to talk to Makaio and the other warriors. They agree to scan the woods and surrounding area for more creatures. Silently, they fade into the woods, leaving Jake and Elina alone.
She feels him before he lands, behind her. “Oh no,” she thinks and turns slowly, Malach.
“Perhaps if you had trusted in me, this battle would have been won, Elina.” Malach says staring at her with hard green eyes. He drinks in the sight of her and she steps backward remembering how close he was to falling.
“Malach, are you Shadow or Light?” Jake questions as he pulls Elina behind him.
Shocked by the sight of him, Elina is speechless for a moment.
Malach snaps his enormous wings out and snarls at Jake’s protective stance.
“You dare to ask me that, human?! Shall I show you what I am?” he snarls.
In a flash, Elina is in front of Jake. She presses a hand on Malach’s chest and quickly jerks it back as the contact shocks her hand. “Malach! He is helping me. Truly. Why have you come?”
“Elina, we have much to discuss and I would prefer to do it, alone.” He snaps through gritted teeth looking at Jake.
“No. Whatever you wish to say, must wait. Malach, things have escalated and I will be leaving soon.”
When Elina turns to look at Jake, Malach seeks her mind. “Elina, have I failed you somehow? You trust this human more than me? I will not leave you again, let me help you!”
Jake sees the broken look in her eyes before she turns to look at Malach, and his anger builds. “Enough. The demons have Scott and it will not be long before they know everything. Seth’s family is no longer safe here. We must move them, Elina.”
She nods her head before looking back at Malach. “Malach, if you wish to help, find a safe place for this family,” she drinks in his face, his beautiful eyes, whole now and his wings unbroken and she smiles through a tear. “Thank you for coming.”
Without a word, Jake grabs her around her waist and ports back to the house. Elina is trembling when she glances at Jake.
With a laugh, she tells him, “You certainly should not antagonize an archangel, Jake.”
“Yeah, but he’s so easy.” Releasing her, he steps back, “Okay, so how soon do we leave?”
“Jake I need to think. The plan was to get to the family before the demons, and I don’t think that can change. What I can do is go early to observe, and make sure nothing gets in the way of Maeling finding the pen. I only know the moment that the demons hunt them, and that is when I have to be there.”
Jake and Elina both turn when they hear Makaio enter the room.
“To blend into a culture without being seen, will take the skills of a ninja, and the mastery of a Lua Warrior.” Makaio comments quietly. “We will stick to our plan, and could one of you tell me why a large, angry, dragon just landed on my beach?”
“I will go to him. Jake stay here. Malach can be very difficult when he gets like this!” She disappears and lands ten feet from, Malach, her feet sinking into the warm sand.
Makaio looks at Jake, and smiles. “She does not know you very well does she, my friend? We will all go. The Keeper will be protected.” Makaio turns to leave while he sends a call to his Lua to meet him down by the ocean.
The group of warriors gather together as Jake and Makaio walk to the beach. They can hear the dragons’ pain filled roar, mixed with the sound of the ocean waves crashing on the soft sand. The Lua begin to chant prayers as they cross the last sand hill.
Even the calm and collected Lua stumble in their prayers for a second upon cresting the top of the hill and seeing Malach in all of his dragon glory on the beach.
He is immense and his dark blue dragon scales glint in the light like the finest armor. His wings are massive and as they move and thrash around. Sand blows in all directions from the force of the air currents created by them. His head and mouth are big enough to swallow a man whole, as long as he makes it past the foot long teeth without being torn to pieces.
In front of this tormented beautiful beast stands Elina, unmoving. Tears can be seen streaming down her face and she is crying with heart wrenching sobs.
Makaio, Jake and the Lua continue down the sand hill surrounding the Dragon and the Light on the beach. They know she will need the help of all to tame the beast tonight.
Malach throws his head back and roars in agony at the sky. He has fought this for so long, and now she comes to him with fear, hurt, and doubt.
Elina stands in tears watching Malach struggle and every time they are together, the struggle grows harder. Leilani’s words echo in her mind, “We must each walk this path alone.” Afraid to stay any longer, she speaks to Jake.
“Jake, do you remember what I told you? That no matter what happens, I must keep my covenant? With the other Keepers, you can tame his beast. Hold him here until he calms and do not release him before that!”
Jake feels Elina’s pain as she softly says, “I love you, Malach, but I must keep the Covenant!” She turns away and leaves throwing a dome of protection around Malach.
In a blink, she moves through time and space alone once more. “Makaio, your family needs you. Seek me when it is safe and I will guide you to the past.” Elina shutters at the roar of outrage in Malach’s mind. The Lua surround the shimmering dome, and hold him
