Fate's Demand (Twisted Fate Book 3)

By Sasha Leigh

Finally eighteen, Alyssa Frank has inherited more than the ability to vote. The moment celebrating her birth brought back her memories, reminding her of Death, and tore the barrier time had provided for protection down. Now, as Darkness seeks her, she cannot hide, for where there is light, shadows will dwell.

To keep her safe, the Sisters of Fate demand the Brothers bring Alyssa to Glory Academy in the Celestial Realm. With Suzie at her side, Alyssa trains harder than ever before, and tries to make sense of the role she’s destined to fulfill as the leader of the Pure Souls.

But when a new group presents itself, offering Alyssa the chance to escape her heavenly confinement, will she take it? Who are the Dark Souls, and why haven’t the Brothers heard of them? The more Alyssa discovers, the more questions she has. How do you qualify something so bad when it comes from something so good? And how can she be good if she’s supposed to lead a group so bad?

With both groups vying for her attention, Alyssa isn’t sure she’ll be able to help anyone, including herself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sasha Leigh
• Release date: Dec 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311542250

Sasha Leigh

Sasha Leigh is a self-diagnosed dreamer. When she isn't stuck in worlds of her own making, listening to characters squabble for attention in her head, she's immersed in stories created by others. A lover of all things "weird", Sasha's world is considered complete when she has her daughter at her side, her sketchpad, notebook, and something to write with - even if it's just a piece of chalk. Working by day in the insurance industry, she spends her evenings and weekends devouring or writing new tales of magic, mythology, and all things supernatural (except dragons).

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

FATE’S DEMAND

By

Sasha Leigh

DEDICATION

For everyone who asked for more.

Fate’s Demand, A Twisted Fate Novel

Copyright © 2014 by Sasha Leigh

Published: December 15, 2014

Smashwords Edition

Cover Design: Sasha Leigh

All Images Purchased for use at www.Bigstock.com

Logo Wings: Fiery Wings by blackmoon979

Exterior Photos:

Beautiful sexy blond girl studio shot by babaka

Interior Photos:

Set of Filigree Butterflies with Ornament for Design by mashakotcur

Vector illustration of Feather by Roman__

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, if forbidden without the written permission of the author. You must not circulate this book in any format.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Find out more about the author and upcoming books online at www.SashaLeigh.Weebly.com or @SashaLeighS.

CHAPTER ONE

Tell me again.

Suzie leaned back in her chair, rolling her eyes up to the ceiling as she tapped her nails against the top of my L-shaped mahogany desk placed in the far-left corner of my room. I’ve told you three times, Aly. The facts don’t change.

Right. The facts. Every time she went through her explanation, I hoped to understand better, but how do you explain dying, being saved by good angels, and then getting possessed by the Darkness they couldn’t seem to kill? It was like a dream, unbelievable. Nobody experienced that kind of stuff in real life. But I did, right before I tried to save my mom from a psych ward. That didn’t work. So now I was doing as David, my dead boyfriend who turned out to be an angel, said: listening to Suzie.

I looked at Suzie until she focused on me again, and then asked, "So you get visions?"

Suzie bit her lip and nodded. Yes.

I stood up and paced the floor of my crimson-walled bedroom, hoping the movement would help me think. After being attacked last night, literally consumed by Darkness, I was scared to close my eyes. Worse than that—Suzie knew what was happening and didn’t tell me, and I thought I was going crazy. Heck, she’d thought it. I paused to look at her and opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. I snapped it shut and began pacing once more.

Aly, I wanted to tell—

"So you had a vision, and—and that’s why we stopped being friends? Because of a vision?" I stopped and leaned against my trunk at the end of my bed to glare at my best friend. Or, at least the girl who looked like her, but I wasn’t sure. Were we friends? Or was she another piece of the manipulation machine cranking to play out the events in my life like actors following a movie script?

When I woke from my dream with David, she was here, sleeping in the chair. Somehow she was chosen to instruct me on all the weird in my life. It seemed ridiculous. Until the aftermath of what happened at my birthday party, she had been the only one I thought had been spared, the least connected, and the last person who could explain what was happening to me.

You died in that vision, Aly! She threw her hands in the air. What would you have done?

Me? I pointed to myself, scoffing. "I would have warned you."

Right. She licked her lips and nodded. "Until you died, you wouldn’t have believed me."

I died three times! You didn’t think I’d get it after the first round?

I know how many times, Aly. I saw it.

So what about all the times you could have said something since David died? You knew all about the weird crap going on, and didn’t think, Hmm, maybe I should tell her?" You know, so I didn’t feel like I was crazy? Taking a deep breath, I pushed my hands down to my side, and closed my eyes. One, two . . . three. Exhaling, I opened my eyes. Call me delusional, but that’s something I thought was ingrained into the best friend code. You see your friend die—three times!—and then begin doing magic or . . . whatever, and you’re supposed to tell them what you know."

She sat in the rolling chair between my desk and bed, silent. I could tell she was upset because she was wearing sweats. Suzie was the head cheerleader, the pretty, popular girl who didn’t go grocery shopping without make-up. If the sun was shining? She’d call in sick to school if she didn’t have a clean skirt and barely-there top to match. But she was sitting here, the girl who didn’t own comfy clothes, in a pair of gray sweats, unflattering black t-shirt, and bulky wide sneakers like some sort of Avril wannabe from that Complicated video.

Don’t get me wrong. I mean, even without the make-up, with eyes that were red from crying and loosely piled hair at the top of her head, she was still beautiful. Any guy would want her. They did want her. The problem was that Mike—a freaking angel—had killed the only guy she wanted to have just last night, which also happened to be my birthday. Now, he was gone because of me. Because Darkness had taken possession of Deryk in its attempt to get to me, and angels had to fix the problem.

I need a drink, I said, leaning down to dig into my purse sitting at the foot of my bed.

What? She swivelled in the chair and I help up my keys, swirling them around my finger.

We’re eighteen. It’s legal.

"Aly, you—we—can’t get hammered."

Says who? Lifting my eyebrow, I stood up, watching her without blinking. If what she said was true, and I was so special, consuming alcohol wouldn’t change anything, but it might help me to forgive her.

Plus, I didn’t want to be the girl drinking alone in the bar.

I, uh . . . She looked up to the ceiling.

"What? You think they’re watching us in my bedroom? I asked, tilting my head to the side for a moment before casting my gaze up. If so, then let’s go get drunk so we’re too disgraceful for their holier-than-thou morality. I looked back at Suzie and smiled, and batted my eyelashes. What do you say? You game?"

Suzie picked her chin off her chest. I thought they said you had a pure soul? She grinned and stood up to follow me out of the room. I don’t think you’re supposed to go drinking at eleven-thirty in the morning.

Yeah? They also said I have magical powers and leadership skills, I said over my shoulder, but someone recently told me that the beauty of who I am is found in my flaws. Consider this my vice.

She laughed. If we are called out for this, I’m blaming your leadership skills for their bad influence on me.

Fine! I’m blaming their bad judgement for making me a leader!

She wouldn’t need it, though. If I’d learned one thing from David’s death, it was that you have an excuse for doing stupid things after your boyfriend dies. I didn’t want her to be stuck in bed for weeks like I had. This? Our little misadventure? I was just facilitating a speedy recovery while attempting to find a façade of normalcy in what she’d just finished telling me. After our joint birthday party turned into an exorcism and ended with me carried out on a stretcher, it was exactly what we needed. At least I did.

Three people were dead because of me—David, Brenan—who was the real David—and Deryk. My mom is in the psych ward, I died, and Suzie had visions. Rather than finding an excuse to drink, I needed someone to give me a reason not to, and Suzie hadn’t managed that yet.

We went to two bars before we were served. Hidden Springs, named after the hot springs hidden in the caves on the outskirts of town, only had four bars to choose from. The first two hadn’t accepted my identification and the third, Whiskey’s, almost refused. But Suzie, who ran back to my room to change into jeans and a tank top before we left, had put make-up on in the car while I drove from Rasa’s to Hammer Time—don’t knock the name. It had the most business in town unless the Navy Club counted, which, of course, it didn’t.

The bartender at Whiskey’s looked at the id and opened his mouth to deny us, but then he looked up at Suzie. His eyes darted between us and leaned forward, holding a white bar cloth in one hand as he gripped the edge of the counter separating us. What’ll it be?

Seriously? Wow. Okay, so I looked like I was twelve before chopping my white-blonde hair to my chin into edgy layers with caramel-colored streaks. Since I’d done that and it had grown a few inches, I looked maybe—and even this was a stretch—fifteen. Sixteen at best. At least we didn’t have to try to fit in at Biker’s, which, as the name suggests, is full of bikers, and I didn’t own leather.

I’ll have . . . ? I looked at Suzie for help. I was the one who preferred books to parties. She had been reading the same book she started as a freshman four years ago.

I’ll have a tequila sunrise, she said.

And you? the man asked, turning his head towards me. What will you have?

Uh, I . . . um—

She’ll have a silver cloud, Suzie said to the pot-bellied man who wore red suspenders to keep his pants from falling. She turned to me and smiled. You’ll love it. It even has whipped cream.

Whatever. Rolling my eyes, I glanced behind my shoulder and then back to the counter, feeling tingles dance across my spine. We would’ve sat all day if I had to decide.

I swear you’ll like it, Suzie said while the bartender made our drinks.

Sure. I nodded. Leaning down, I kept my eyes on the man as I whispered, "Whipped cream doesn’t look like clouds, Suzie, and they aren’t silver."

But—

"Yeah, yeah. You thought it was funny, but even with visions, you have no idea what it’s like to actually go there. It’s beautiful, but I was dead, or with the guy I can never see because he’s dead, so yeah. Being pretty doesn’t count for much compared to that."

I—

Here you are. The man set the drinks down in the middle of the counter and leaned forward with a wary expression as though he needed to be close enough to snatch them away. Cash or tab?

Huh? I tore my gaze from Suzie and looked back to the bartender.

He means drink first, pay later. Suzie rolled her eyes. Cash, please.

Oh, I said and nodded. There hadn’t been tabs at Tuckers, the arcade I’d been working at for the past year. But then, there hadn’t been alcohol there. How much do I owe you?

Ten dollars.

Seriously? How did people ever get drunk at a bar if drinks were five bucks a pop?

Hey, it’s Happy Hour. Usually it’s six twenty-five, he said.

Whoa. My parents wouldn’t have to worry about my one-drink limit when I went to college—I couldn’t afford to rebel.

Come on, Suzie said, putting her hand on my shoulder as she turned her back to the bartender so I would follow.

The lounge wasn’t much, just a few tables in the center and booths along the wall. Straight ahead were the main doors, to the left a jukebox, and to the right, a swinging saloon double-door with a VLT’S HERE sign pasted on top. It looked . . . country. The dark panelled walls were coated with a thick polish which, while looking pretty, mixed with the stench of stale beer to make me breathe through my mouth to avoid its stench.

Where do you want to sit? Suzie asked, already enjoying her sunny drink.

My gray concoction didn’t look half as tasty as Suzie’s, even with the promised whipped cream piled on top. But, to make her happy and avoid sitting close to the bar so we weren’t overheard, I chose the table in the center of the room, the only one not writhing in shadows. We were safe inside light. Shadows brought darkness and that brought . . . let’s just go with trouble. Yep, where darkness dwelled, trouble could always be found.

So you say you saw me die? I asked as I slid into my chair, and then set my drink down to pull my seat closer. Maybe, by changing our setting, Suzie would be willing to reveal more.

Every single time. Suzie slurped her drink dry and signalled for another.

If setting didn’t work, spending my savings to get her sloshed might. Then you didn’t say anything?

I didn’t even realize what was happening until David died and I had a vision of you in the bathroom. She rolled her eyes and gestured as she tilted her head to the right. "I tried to figure it out, but until Mike and them explained, I thought I was nuts. I mean, I’d get a vision of you dying, and every time we reached the day you were supposed to die, I’d wake up in my bed again. Try that three times and you wouldn’t think there was anyone you could talk to about it. Seriously, no drug has been invented to could help with that."

I know how you feel, I said. After I died, I would start over again, but I wasn’t lucky to wake up in bed all the time. First, I had been alone with my head in my journal, so other than confusing, it was bearable. But the next two times I was at the supper table with my parents. Despite knowing what to expect, it was confusing. Now, it was so clear, like a movie in my head, I can’t believe I ever forgot—stumbling back into your body mid-conversation wasn’t easy.

Suzie looked up to meet my gaze for a few moments and then, with a faint smile, looked down to stir her drink in circles. As she watched the ice clink against the inside of her glass, I watched her. Two minutes passed before she looked up, serious again, and asked, So, Brenan?

I nodded. Gone. For good this time. I killed him. Or it. Or whatever. I waved my hand through the air. "It’s dead. There was a teeny bit left in my mom, but that’s gone now too." I hope.

I traced the condensation on my glass and watched the whip cream on top lose its fluff to become creamy swirls. Now that we were here, drink in hand, I was wary to try it. Alcohol and milk on last night’s queasy stomach would curdle its way back up to greet me. There had been so much death. How could I think drinking would make any of that disappear? I’d have to stay in a constant state of inebriation to forget everything that the last twenty-four hours had revealed. The danger, the secrets, and the newfound gifts, all topped with my supposed light, made my head spin enough without compounding the situation with the effects of alcohol.

And Deryk’s gone?

I’m sorry. Mike had no choice. Looking up, I nodded. He was taken over before you even met and started dating.

If Mike hadn’t dealt with Deryk, I would have died. Of course, I didn’t say what she already knew. Suzie wouldn’t have done it any other way, and if Mike hadn’t done it, I would have tried with everything I had. Missing the boy she loves despite the darkness that controlled him didn’t mean she wished I’d died in his place. Brenan and Deryk both died, and death . . . was sad. She had a right to mourn.

So, what happens now? I asked, trying to change the subject. The sadness in her eyes was too overwhelming to understand, and I couldn’t open myself up to empathizing with what she felt until I knew how I felt. But, remembering last year when David was killed, I knew I could at least sympathize.

They dated for two years, which means it wasn’t all bad.

Not for Suzie.

What do you mean? She lifted her eyebrow as she slurped her new drink through a blue straw.

Now that I know what and who I am, and what I can supposedly do, what happens next? David said you’d explain. Not that she’d done a great job of it, but Suzie had always done better when prompted. Either she said only what she thought mattered, and didn’t realize it was all important, or she hadn’t been informed of all the facts.

She set her drink down on the table with a calm that contradicted the shock lacing the surprise in her eyes. She folded her hands in front of her on the table and lifted her gaze to ask, "I’m sorry, did you say . . . David?"

Yeah. I smiled. It was a few hours since our last dream had been shared, and I already missed him. His voice, obviously, since I couldn’t see his face. But what we talked about transcended sight. Sometimes we hang out in my dreams.

So the whole time I was worried about how you were dealing, you were making out with your dead boyfriend in your dreams? She finished her drink and set it down with extra force as she raised her hand to signal for another.

Shh, I said, and looked past her to the bartender who suddenly found us interesting. I lowered my voice to a whisper and added, I didn’t remember any of it until a few days ago, so you can’t be mad. Besides, we only kissed like, twice, so it doesn’t count. Waving my hand, I leaned back and rolled my eyes. We talked, okay? Now can you explain what happens next? Please?

She looked at me out of the corner of her eye like she was debating letting the topic go, and then sighed as she reached for her drink to play with the straw again. We’ll go to college and go on living.

That’s not vague at all.

"We’ll go to the same college, Aly, and one day, you’ll be some sort of leader for the Pure Souls, she said. Look, they only tell me what they want me to know, so really, I don’t know a whole lot."

"You aren’t hiding anything?" Like, if the Pure Souls are dead, and I was their leader, why did I keep getting brought back to life, or was that temporary?

No.

I watched as she denied knowing—eyes didn’t lie. Apparently, neither did Suzie because all I found was truth. As far as what I could do, telling lies from truth was pretty cool. So was being able to move things with my mind, hover in the air, and kill Darkness with this really cool silver inner light that hid in my heart. The best, I found, was having the ability to heal, and I really hoped it worked for my mother. I had rid her of the Darkness that had infected her as it tried to get me, but she still murmured about what she’d seen. It was enough for her to be transferred to a place that could help her overcome her so-called instability.

I would get her out and help her to get better.

Do you know what college? I asked, shaking my head clear of sullen thoughts. It would be good to find something I could decide on my own for myself.

I didn’t think to ask.

What did you think to—?

The creak of the heavy front door broke through my words. It slammed with a strong gust of wind that blew through the room, louder even than the quiet fifties music on the jukebox. We looked up and shared a sigh. All the fun and worry-free moments we’d tried to weave into the day after a night from hell evaporated like bubbles popping in the air.

I should have had my drink. If the bartender could beat the new arrival to our table, I’d gulp this and a refill down. Inebriation was one thing, but fortification was necessary. How could they expect me to digest Suzie’s explanation in one morning? Angels. Fate. Death. Darkness. The least I deserved was a day—just twenty-four hours—to wrap my head around what I’d learnt so far.

But the tall figure that entered strode over to our table without hesitation, his discerning blue eyes looking at our drinks with scorn. He crossed his lean arms and, simmered with authority, but I wasn’t fazed. If he wanted to hold power over me, he’d have to be wearing a suit or robe or something—anything but jeans and a ratty black hoody with a skull pasted on the front.

Could angels wear stuff with skulls? Wasn’t that like, promoting death or something? At least when Mike or Gabe were around, they could walk into a room and suck the air out of it, demanding to be noticed. Raffy? Not so much. He was too good at acting like a human. Teenage boy suited him more than celestial being.

I thought you guys were gone? Suzie sat up straighter and nudged her drink away with her pinkie. What happened to watching from afar?

Plans change. He shrugged and studied her without expression until her face reddened.

What do you mean? Leaning forward, I turned sideways at my waist, resting one hand on the back of my chair and the other on the table, and raised my head to look at him. I darted my eyes to Suzie, frustrated that she’d left this out of our conversation, and then back to Raffy. Plans?

Taking his time, he moved his eyes to rest on me. We can’t protect you here.

"What do I need protection for? I kill Darkness, remember?" Seriously.

If Darkness can’t have you, it will kill you, he said. You need to leave to be safe.

What? Shaking my head, I laughed, and darted another glare at Suzie, but she wouldn’t look up. My heart began to work overtime, the blood pumping to echo in my ears, and uneasiness settled inside my nerves. Leave to go where?

Raffy smiled for the first time since he arrived, and my stomach dropped to rest beneath my chair. To Heaven, Aly, he said, looking between me and Suzie. You will need to come to Heaven.

CHAPTER TWO

A minute of silence stretched between us. I looked up at Raffy, and I don’t know if it was because he looked so serious or because the suggestion was so ludicrous, but I burst out laughing. Deep, gut-wrenching laughter, the kind that brings tears to your eyes and makes your stomach ache because you can’t stop. I darted my eyes between them. Why weren’t they laughing?

Of course. I’d forgotten. The humour he’d dropped down over the last year was an act. It said a lot about what he thought of humans, though. As an angel who no longer pretended to be mortal, his personality left without trace of it having ever existed. They all reverted to the monotonous drone of the voice, my visionless panel of judgement that had orchestrated my return to life when dying had been a weekly occurrence, almost like a hobby that I had tried only to set aside . . . for good. Death really wasn’t that scary; it simply wasn’t fun. And the whole coming back to life thing? So exhausting.

Since remembering, I don’t know how many times in the last twenty-four hours I wished to have been left in a state of ignorance.

My lips pressed shut to suppress my laughter and I caught Raffy’s eye. You cannot be serious.

Why is this funny to you? he asked, tilting his head.

Because it’s ridiculous! Rolling my eyes, I raised my arms to shoulder level, and then dropped my palms to smack my knees. "How can you expect me not to laugh, Raffy? It was better than what I wanted to scream into his ear. I am not going there. Nope, I am going to sit here, and then go home and prepare for graduation. You know, get my diploma? Then I’m spending my summer getting a tan ready for when I start college."

This is for your safety.

Really? I licked my lips and nodded, staring at the table. A moment later, I looked up again, all humor gone, and held Raffy’s gaze while watching Suzie out of the corner of my eyes. "The only way you’re going to get me to go is by kidnapping me. I suspect that’s probably more wrong than good, and you wouldn’t dare compromise that good little obedient light inside ya, would you? I squinted my eyes and pinched my fingers towards his midsection, and then dropped them. Now go away."

No.

You guys already ruined my birthday, I said. "I would like to celebrate now, so go away."

Suzie hissed, leaning forward with wide eyes. Aly!

What? I rolled my eyes when she nodded to Raffy, but unlike her, I wasn’t forced to obey, even if they wanted me to think I should be. Oh, come on, Suzie. Seriously? He came here to protect me. He’s not going to hurt me for bruising his ego.

Why wouldn’t you want to go? It might be kind of cool.

"I’m human, Suzie. Humans don’t go to Heaven unless they die, and really, I don’t want to do that again." Though I was dying to say yes. David said I would visit him. Was this my chance? Was I blowing the only opportunity I would have to be with him outside of my dreams?

Suzie looked to Raffy. Does she have to die to go?

He shook his head and she turned to me.

See? You can totally go now.

It was easy for her to say. She hadn’t had it all dumped on her just a few hours ago. Time to digest would be nice, not just an, Oh, by the way . . . What else did they expect from me? Yes, sir, right away, sir? I don’t think so. They might have saved me, but I had a feeling they were part of the reason I was in danger to begin with. The judicial system dealt with murderers because their victims were unable to exact vengeance. I wasn’t restricted by death, and while I wouldn’t be looking for an eye for eye, I wouldn’t be taking orders.

How did you know where we were, Raffy? I kept my gaze on Suzie for signs of guilt. There wasn’t, but she’d caught me checking, and hurt over my obvious distrust illuminated her eyes. Sorry.

The bartender knew who you were just by looking at you, Aly. That is the point I’m trying to make, if you’ll just listen. He raked his hand through his dark wavy hair and sighed.

A glance at the bar showed no sign of the traitorous man, but at least now I knew why he’d served us. "I don’t want to go."

Well, you aren’t safe here, he said, shifting his weight.

Okay, seriously? I loved logic—anything that could be explained—but I hated when it was used against me. If I wasn’t petrified of public speaking I would have loved debate. This sucked. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t want it, and I sure as hell hadn’t accepted it, even though it seemed I may not have any choice. I mean, if I refuse, I’ll probably die, but then I’d rather die young and live a happily-ever-after afterlife instead of eternal damnation because I could have done something good and refused.

Fine. I sighed, turning so that I faced forward, and winked at Suzie. I’ll think about it.

We need to go, he urged. "Now."

"Big. Whoop. I’m not missing grad, and the only way I’m going is if Suzie comes with me," I bargained. What good was giving someone what they want without getting something in return? Good job, Aly.

Seriously? You’d bring me to Heaven? Suzie’s eyes lit up and I would bet if something was said about Deryk, she’d be like, Deryk who?

Leaning back, I tipped my head backwards and smiled at Raffy as I balanced on the hind legs of the chair. "Those are my terms. Now go away so I can enjoy my belated birthday. Make it work, Raffy, or I’m not going."

He looked at me for a long moment and then nodded. I heard him muttering as he walked away in foreign tongue I couldn’t understand, but had no trouble guessing. Though his movements screamed annoyance, he was graceful as he made his way into the back of the bar instead of leaving in the same fashion as he’d arrived.

So the Alyssa watch has resumed. Mike, Gabe, and Raffy had done it before: one stayed guard while the other two went to find and destroy the things that threatened me. Darkness, or whatever body it happened to be inhabiting. I wonder when there’d be a shift change and how they imagined to protect me from a world made of shadows. As far as I could figure, the only way to make sure Darkness couldn’t have me would be to kill me first, which is exactly what Raffy had argued.

Let’s go, Suze, I said, and stood, leaving my drink untouched. Clouds weren’t silver, not in my reality. Just black or white. I was reality’s silver cloud, tinged with blue and white. Right now my silver lining was black as once again, my plans to celebrate my birthday were crapped on.

Since things seemed to happen in threes, maybe next