Ruin: Archangel Trilogy II, #2

By Joseph R. Meister

               Lilith has discovered she is a witch and that her element is fire. With the help of her new companions, whose powers are earth, water and wind, she must face the evil striges that seek her doom and ruin, although behind them the Elohim hide, the nine angels who defied God and were expelled to the underworld. In this battle between heaven and hell, Lilith will find new and unexpected allies such as the luminous Uriel and the mysterious Yago, even the sinister librarian Zebulon.

                Addictive, enveloping and overwhelming, this novel continues the Archangel Trilogy, overflowing with witchcraft, romance and action. For fans of series like Charmed, The Secret Circle and Supernatural.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Editorial Karibdis
• Release date: Nov 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9781071575895

Book preview

ONE

That night, the nightmares gave me no quarter. Nevertheless, they weren’t the angst filled reoccurring dreams I’m used to. They had changed. This time the fire that encircled me didn’t burn, it didn’t force me to cough and gulp for oxygen. The flames danced around me with glee, they were warm and protected me, giving light in that pit of darkness. In my dream I saw Uriel, stained with blood, his eyes full of fear. Next to him, badly wounded on the ground was Yago. Shrunken with pain, over a black pool of his own blood, he still held the katana with a shattered blade. I screamed till I lost my voice, but no one heard me. The flames girded me inside a protective shield and my voice echoed within. I wanted to run towards them, but something was holding me back. A living and palpable darkness, which vibrated and suddenly threw itself on them. The fire was extinguished and I woke up.

That Sunday I was exhausted and sore, so I decided to rest and meditate, to think about what was happening in my life, which used to be bland and routine, but was now dragged about by a whirlwind of chaos. Elisa and Gabriel left for the day and I had the house to myself. As I lay on a felt couch staring at the pages of a book, I thought of Saray… she had not frozen before the demon that had been kissing her seconds earlier, the one she had splashed with a vial of holy water in the face… she had initiated the escape and had stopped the rain that would have eventually flooded the swamp, which would have caused the death of many kids at the party. I thought of Ana… she had led us to the cave and had used the Magnetite to deal with the three diabolical beings, sent by the Elohim, who wanted nothing but to end our lives. I thought of Victor… he had not hesitated when the time came to battle the powerful fireball demon, despite his disgust for violence… he had closed the circle to keep us safe in its interior, ready to give his life for ours.

I also thought of Yago, about his pain and his secrets, of his way of wielding the sword against those dark beings that were hunting us, in the coldness of his stormy eyes when I mentioned Mila’s name, and in his silence, which hurt me more intensely that his rejection.

And finally, I thought of Uriel, in the mystery that surrounded a silent boy, soft and sweet, beyond anything earthly, who had finally revealed himself. Why was it so hard to accept? Why could I so easily admit that I was a witch that could control fire, that demons existed and were trying to escape form the abyss, but I couldn’t accept even the possibility of the existence of God and his angels?

Simply for one reason.

If I accepted the fact that Uriel was a divine angel, I would have to accept that he was beyond my reach, the feelings that had germinated in my heart would weaken and die before they flowered, and my love would never be requited.

Was it possible to love two people at the same time? Was I blinded by fear, by vulnerability, by solitude? In any case, it was no use giving it anymore thought. I had lost Yago, because he refused to forget about the past, then I had lost Uriel, because we had no future.

I sighed, and exhaled all the air from my lungs so as to lighten the emotional burden and release all negative thoughts. I had to be strong and get over it. If I wanted to remain alive, I would have to adapt to the present, to the decisions and the will of my companions. I would have to control and master my powers, learn to use them and never hesitate.

After all, I was a witch.

I would study, practice, learn. I would stop being afraid, stop looking for shelter in the group, stop being passive and frightened while my friends put their lives at risk and strived to protect me. Soon the day would come when the Striges, the demons and even the very Elohim would fear me.

That Monday, when we all returned to calls, everything had changed. Uriel wasn’t waiting for me in the front patio to say good morning with one of his smiles, he wasn’t even in the classroom. Yago was tardy and he sat next to me with a stony silence, more distant than ever. From the desk she shared with Alicia, Mila turned to give me a viper’s gaze and her eyes were exultant with a barely contained joy. In her corner, separate for the rest, Suzie licked herself like a contented cat. She looked at the empty seat where Uriel sat and shrugged her shoulders with feigned regret.

Are you all right, Lilith?, asked Victor telepathically.

Yes, I answered automatically. We have to talk.

The morning passed like any other, between reading assignments, taking notes and complex mathematical equations that took me for a loop.

I barely remembered how we had escaped from the cave, after Zebulun had scrutinized the terrain with his strange eyes and declared that the road was clear and it was safe to enter the night. Nor did I remember how we returned to the party, where no one had noticed anything strange. Uriel had dried his tears and disappeared without saying goodbye, so had Yago who left with Mila and Alicia. Saray’s friends took us home in their car. I couldn’t even recall the instant in which a vitriolic Zebulun had desisted from invectives and disappeared in a whirl of black smoke.

When the lunch bell rang, I quickly shoved my things into my backpack and got up.

Wait, Lilith, Yago had also gotten up and was looking at me with his storm blue eyes. His voice was soft and caressing.

I can’t, I said. I’m in a hurry. I don’t know how I resisted his magnetism, my whole body gravitated towards him, as if Yago were a sun that pulled me into its orbit.

I turned my back on him and left the classroom with Victor. Ana and Saray were waiting for us outside.

We should hurry if we want to get a damned table in the cafeteria, said Ana stridently. It’s too cold to get stuck with a bench outside.

Could we find some place a little more relaxed? said Victor in a casual tone. We have to talk about certain… things.

Who wants to listen to all of you? At that moment Alicia and Mila were leaving the classroom. Mila turned and added with contempt, Losers.

A second later it was Suzie exiting the classroom door. She heard the insult that Mila had thrown our way and burst into strident laughter.

What are you laughing about? challenged Saray, Is it because all that makeup makes you look like a clown? That whipped the smile right off her lips, which twisted into a hateful frown.

Evaporate, ordered Ana with an implicit threat etched in her dark eyes.

Suzie clenched her fists but said nothing and followed Mila and Alicia down the hall.

Is he coming with us? asked Saray.

I turned and saw Yago, who was observing us undecidedly, not daring to take a step towards us. That indecision, like so many others, made me speak for him.

No, I said in a loud voice, so he would hear me, He has better things to do.

I walked down the hall without turning around. Being so hard with him required great effort on my part, there was a too much conflict within, but I couldn’t accept Yago not trusting me, that he kept his secrets when we had shared ours.

A lovers’ quarrel? whispered Saray next to me. I could have sworn her lips hadn’t moved. Among her many talents, which included sarcasm, ventriloquism could now be added.

Shut up! I snarled. And suddenly, a trash can in the hallway began to smoke.

Saray grabbed the water bottle that never left her side and emptied its content into the trash can. A sizzle could be heard.

Watch out, she said with cunning. The girl is on fire.

I couldn’t resist. Saray would twist a smile out of anyone if she wanted, even if the majority of her comments were hurtful and incisive.

We went out to the schoolyard, empty and lifeless because of Uriel’s absence, under a gray sky, depressing, and from there to the street, to look for a less crowded place so as to speak in peace.

We will miss the next class, said Victor.

That would be a tragedy! said Ana sardonically. I don’t know if I could get over that.

We arrived at the coffee shop Dolce Vita and entered. There were a few occupied tables, but the landing, where some sofas surrounded a low table, was free, so we lodged ourselves there, after ordering breakfast from the waiter. The wall was painted an intense red, the low lighting, a pair of candles shining inside Moroccan shades, and the soft Chill Out music created an atmosphere of relaxed intimacy.

The waiter arrived with a tray, handed out the breakfast plates and left quietly.

This place is nice, I said, just to break the ice.

We come here sometimes… said Victor.

Ok, Lilith, interrupted Ana, What’s up?

Where should I begin? said Saray ironically. This situation is out of hand. It was fun being a witch, with the paranormal powers and all that. But this is a nightmare.

I want… I began with a stutter. That is to say, I would like to study the grimoire, I would like to learn, I would like to wield my powers the way you do it. I’m not going to be the scared girl who hides behind her friends anymore.

It would be good to practice together, said Victor, with lively eyes sparkling with emotion, We should put into action the knowledge of the grimoire. I’ve discovered interesting things. But before, we should have the gemstones. They supposedly have the power to enhance our abilities and it’s very clear that we need them.

This afternoon I’ll go to the jewelry store and pick them up, Ana said nodding her head. Tomorrow we can begin practicing with them. Victor will teach us. Won’t you?

Of course. Then Victor paused and said, Nevertheless Zebulun was right about one thing. We have been clumsy and careless. We exhaust our energies in one attack, we let it all go with no restraint, and that can be a fatal error.

The librarian already gave us this chat, blurted out Saray annoyedly. You’re starting to sound like him.

Well I think that makes a lot of sense, I said cautiously.

For example, continued Victor, despite the reluctance of Saray and Ana’s dangerous silence, "what Saray did in the cemetery, collecting the rain