Angels Crossing: Book II Sword of Hadrian Trilogy

By Chloelia Salome

It is Paris, 2013. Colette, a young teenager, never seemed to realize the significance of an ancient painting of a beautiful woman with red fiery hair and golden eyes that hung in her parent's Mansion. It turns out that Colette is more than just one of the wealthiest girls in Paris. Her blood line goes back as far as 1145 Ad, to a time when magic once existed. Meanwhile, when the world of Carserae is falling to crumbles upon the marriage of Prince Emmery and Sashki, only one person can turn back time and save the future of Carserae. Is Colette willing to accept her destiny? And in the end, when the tides completely turn, a sacrifice will need to be made, one that will alter the survival and destiny of those Colette holds dear. The Sword of Hadrian brings you on a path of wonder and amazement. Now, Angels Crossing continues the journey of magic through time travel, mystery, and adventure. It all comes down to the decision of one girl-Colette

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Aug 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312433236

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Angels Crossing: Book II Sword of Hadrian Trilogy

ANGELS CROSSING

A Sword of Hadrian Novel

Book 2

By Chloelia Salome

Copyright © 2014

Chloelia Salome

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in review, without permission in writing from the author/ publisher.

ISBN 978-1-312-43323-6

This is a work of fiction. Characters, corporations, institutions, and organizations in this novel are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, used fictitiously without any intent to describe their actual conduct.

Cover & Back Covers by Cindy Grundsten

Published in the US by Lulu.com

For all those who dream big: Don’t stop believing…

PROLOGUE

1145 a.d.

The bells chimed once…twice…. Sashki’s heart was thumping beneath her white satin gown. She couldn’t believe what was happening. In several hours she was to become the Princess of Carserae.

After her journey with Prince Emmery to defeat the magic of her villainous brother that was shrouding the kingdom, she had bonded in a way that nothing could explain better than her heart. She was thrilled with the upcoming wedding, and as far as she knew, so was Emmery.

It was only a couple months after their return to the castle but everything was happening so quickly. The king had taken Sashki under his arm, calling her his daughter, and giving her separate chambers within the castle walls. Not once was she questioned about how she defeated her brother and if magic was her key to success. But Emmery wanted to keep the details of their story as simple as possible. After all, magic was forbidden in Carserae and a touchy subject among the people.

When Emmery’s father came into power the first thing he did was banish anyone with magical powers. If anyone was found yielding it they were thrown in the dungeons and eventually executed in public. It was definitely something Emmery wanted to prevent from happening to his beloved.

Sashki sighed as she looked at herself in the mirror. As she stared in the mirror, her mind traveled back to a few months ago when she was a servant to her best friend, Lady Celia. But then everything went downhill and was no climbing back up. When Celia was killed in the library of her manor, Sashki was thrown out of the only home she had ever known. She was left to fend for herself. But thankfully, with the prince by her side, she felt all the better.

With the prince by her side, Sashki set out to kill her brother and stop the magic brooding over Carserae. But when she found him she was not expecting what the events that happened. She had almost died fighting her brother but somehow her life was spared. Sashki’s memory was very blurred but all she remembered was Emmery’s lips as they pressed to hers.

She thought her brother was gone from the world forever but was quite wrong. For all she knew, he could be roaming the countryside, regaining his undefeatable powers, and yearning for revenge. Sashki was worried a war would come with the repercussions from the past but she pushed these thoughts away for the moment.

Today was her day and she wasn’t going to ruin it with thoughts of the past. And she wouldn’t allow her brother to ruin it either. The days leading up to her wedding were busy. She spent days standing on a dais and being fitted into her wedding dress. But she had to say, it was worth every minute.

Her dress was studded in diamonds, cascading down the bodice and completely covering the fitted skirt. The dress was sleeveless and clasped around and behind the neck in a pattern of embroidery. Sashki’s red hair was curled into a tight bun. It had grown beautifully down to her shoulders. She wore a diamond studded tiara that cropped the satin veil tight to her hair.

Sashki was dashing but scared of what was to come. It was her wedding day and she was expected to carry herself as a princess and possible future queen of Carserae. But there were other things scraping at her conscience.

There was a knock on the door to her chambers.

Come in. Sashki sighed.

The door opened and Samantha glided in.

Oh Sashki you are just stunning. Samantha said as she came up behind her. She looked in the mirror at their reflections. She fluffed her curly locks and smiled. Sashki forced a tight smile to surface on her pale face.

I remember my wedding day, Samantha recalled, as she turned from the mirror and place her hand on Sashki’s shoulder. It was beautiful and dreamy. And I almost couldn’t believe it was happening.

I know what you mean. Sashki tried to convince Samantha as well as herself with her words.

Sashki, please tell me what’s wrong. Samantha’s eyes were soft and warm. She gazed into Sashki’s golden ones.

It’s just… so much to take in. Sashki shook her head.

I know Sashki, I understand. But of course being the lady that I am it is not the same as being the princess you are about to be.

I know, Sashki said. She sighed once again as she fingered one of the bigger diamonds on her skirt.

Don’t worry; I believe you can handle it. You are brave and beautiful and… strong. Emmery is lucky to have someone like you, Samantha reassured her. But it didn’t feel all that comforting.

After moving into the castle, Sashki was told she could have as many ladies as she wanted at her side. Instantly, she remembered her best friends from her childhood, Samantha and Christine. Currently Christine was directing some of the services in the kitchens while Samantha was here soothing Sashki.

But Sashki wasn’t stressing over the fact she was marrying the prince and royal heir. She was stressing over other matters involving her brother and the mysterious sword she kept in the bottom of her wardrobe.

The sword, decked in rubies and other gems, was used to defeat the Damned army in one of the greatest wars in the history of Carserae. The Blessed commander, Hadrian, fought with this sword to protect the good in the world and keep the evil magic from destroying all mankind.

But that wasn’t what was nagging at her brain. It was the fact that the warriors of the Blessed and Damned were not your average human. They were angels. Fallen angels. When they were doomed to earth they chose sides. And those choices decided their fate in the Great Wars.

The Blessed had wings unlike the Damned, who eventually gained the title of demons. Unfortunately Sashki knew she descended from the commander of the Damned, meaning she had a small percentage of Holly Fallen blood in her. And so did her brother. This was why it was up to her to destroy him.

She dreaded the fact that other fallen warriors could still be roaming the earth. As she did more research, Sashki learned that the fallen warriors were immortal. The only reason they died during the Great War was because of magic—special arrows and swords were crafted to destroy only the Blessed and Damned warriors.

Sashki shuddered as these thoughts came to her mind. She grew cold at the fact that any of her servants could be a fallen angel—and possibly planning a revolt against her and the Prince.

Sashki? Sashki, are you alright? Samantha sounded worried. Sashki shook her head and cleared her throat. Her eyes were cloudy.

I’m fine, I was just thinking. She smiled once before looking back at herself in the mirror. But it wasn’t her standing there. Her reflection was gone. She stifled a scream and felt Samantha squeeze her shoulder.

Her brother was standing there. Justin, Sashki thought.

I’m coming for you, dear sister. Justin smirked as he looked from the mirror at Sashki. His hair was almost fully black now and his eyes glittered golden.

Sashki tried to scream but nothing came out of her mouth. She scratched at her throat, willing words to come out. She tried using her magic but even that wouldn’t work.

Sister, don’t hurt yourself. You will be helpful in the future. Sashki instantly knew Justin had put a spell on her. She was in his control and there was no way around it.

With great difficulty Sashki opened her mouth and mouthed the words, what do you want?

Her brother laughed once before glaring at her.

I’m not dead, he said.

Sashki rolled her eyes. At least she could tell that. For him to be casting an image of himself in the mirror he had to have a soul. And he had to have a body.

I came to warn you. I’m not dead as you can see. He motioned down at his body sheathed in black cloth. I’m stronger than before and I want my revenge.

Sashki shuddered. Her brother was not cutting corners. He was keeping one path and that was far too much for Sashki to handle.

I have raised the Damned from the ground. Justin smiled before continuing. We have their blood. We need their help.

Sashki’s blood went cold. We? Who was we? Sashki’s face must’ve shown her confusion for her brother chimed in.

I’m giving you an offer. Leave this place and come with me. Together we can continue to raise the Damned, demons, whatever you want to call them, and finally be able to destroy the Blessed. It’s about time our family came to the throne with the rightful power.

Sashki shuddered while she shook her head. One moment her brother wanted to kill her. The next he wanted to form an alliance. Sashki knew this was not going to happen. She already had her destiny carved out for her. And it wasn’t going to be disgruntled because of her power hungry brother.

Well you leave me no other choice. It’s between you and me now, little sister. There are no obstacles and I know where to find you. Justin spit at the mirror. In Sahki’s mind, she could feel it like a slap to her cheek. Sashki remained still, eyeing her brother with great weariness.

It’s a war. And it’s coming your way. The Damned are prepared…. We. Are. Waiting. It as easy as snapping your fingers. Her brother snapped his fingers to demonstrate. A shiver sprinted up Sashki’s spine.

And with the snap her brother disappeared. She briefly closed her eyes but when she opened them she saw her worried expression looking back at her. Samantha stood at her side, staring at their reflection as well.

Sashki! What just happened! It felt like… like you left your body or something! Samantha was hysterical—on the brink of fainting.

I really don’t know. Sashki held onto Samantha’s shoulders. She suddenly felt really heavy and wanted to crumple in a heap on the floor. And it wasn’t because her dress weighed about fifty pounds.

Her brother was alive. He was coming to get her. And he wanted revenge. He wanted revenge by war. She wanted to scream and pull out her hair. She had a feeling that this war would end like the Great Wars between the Damned and Blessed so many years ago.

She had to gather her troops and warn Emmery. She would need the fallen angels to come together. It would be tough but it was something she needed to do and it couldn’t be tossed aside.

There was a knock on the door. Sashki shook her body like a wet dog to wake herself from her thoughts just before saying, Come in.

Samantha was still standing at her side. They watched as the door creaked open and Christine walked in with her brother, Maxim. Maxim held a small cake shaped like a flower in his hand. He lifted it to his mouth. When he saw Sashki, he nearly dropped it on the floor.

Wow, Sashki you are just beautiful! Christine murmured as she ran over to the two girls. Maxim still stood in the doorway, watching all of them with focused eyes.

Maxim, isn’t she just dashing? Christine took a piece of Sashki’s dress in her hand and examined the intricate stitching on the hem of the dress.

Maxim was speechless. The most he could mutter was, Just lavishing. Sashki and Samantha laughed once at Maxim’s shocked face.

Through giggles Samantha said, You might want to close your mouth before you drool and ruin this carpet. Maxim blushed as he clamped his mouth shut and pulled his fist around the little cake. He took a quick bite.

Sashki, I just wanted to wish you the best of luck. Maxim coughed as he said this. And, it’s time. Everyone’s waiting. He looked at the three quiet girls. They stared back at him. Maxim felt very uncomfortable.

Ok, well then I’ll give you a few minutes for yourselves. He cleared his throat, bowed once, and shuffled out of the room.

The three girls looked at each other and giggled. They turned to look at their reflections in the mirror.

He is such a boy sometimes. Christine giggled. But then her face went grim as she said, Wow, I miss Celia.

Yeah, I wish she were here, Samantha added a little too happily for the other girls.

Sashki was the only one who didn’t say anything. She couldn’t say anything but pray for her dear friend. When they were younger they always talked about their wedding days. And now the day came and Celia wasn’t here to enjoy it with them.

Samantha and Christine each took one of Sashki’s hands. And they stood in silence, hands clasped together.

Are you ready? Samantha asked Sashki.

I think so.

Great. Then let’s go. Christine smiled genuinely and loosened her grasp from Sashki. She walked ahead while Samantha took hold of Sashki’s long train. Maxim opened the door as if on cue. Sashki couldn’t help but wonder if Maxim was listening in on them.

They walked out into the long marble hallway and all Sashki could do was train her thoughts on Emmery’s smiling face when he saw her walk into the cavernous chapel.

PART I

CHAPTER 1

Present Day

Colette sighed as she leafed through yet another page of her massive history book. The prestigious private high school she attended in Paris was quite demanding in their workload. She received hours of math problems to solve and countless pages in her textbooks to read and write papers on each night. And usually what she had to read and write about was Molière and the French battles in history.

Rarely did she come across a chapter about the Americans, and their involvement in relations with France. The closest she ever got was the production and delivery of the Statue of Liberty.

Tired and frustrated, Colette slammed the book shut and tossed it to the floor. It fell with a resounding thud. She put her head in her hands and massaged her temples. It was her junior year in the school and it wasn’t getting any better—as her classmates insisted it would.

Colette crossed her oversized bedroom and collapsed on her bed. Everything in the house was oversized. She and her parents lived in the 16th arrondissement of Paris in a massive townhouse overlooking the right bank of the Seine River. Unlike a majority of the homes in Paris, theirs had a large enclosed courtyard hidden with vines and blossoming flowers.

Their foyer was made of marble; the staircase, also marble, reached to a balcony with a glass chandelier. Beyond the balcony were several master bedrooms—including Colette’s.

Colette had no idea where her parents got all this money. She knew her dad was a lawyer for a big business that was beginning its career in the city of lights—Paris. But her mom didn’t work and spent her days out and about with her girlfriends shopping and attending tea parties. As far as Colette knew, her parents were trust fund babies and their status hadn’t changed since their distant relatives.

Colette looked at her white vaulted ceiling and pinched her nose. She then sat up, feeling the bed sink under her weight. It was made of fluffy goose feathers and was king size. To the left of the bed were two floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the Seine. Luckily, Colette had a breathtaking view, otherwise she would probably go insane in this house.

She stood up and paced the dark wood floors, looking from her desk that seemed far away from her bed, to her scattered textbooks, to her couch and flat screen TV that sat opposite the windows. Colette sighed, walked to her attached bathroom and looked in the mirror.

Her curly brown hair was way too unruly and could not be tamed by the most hair products and straight irons on the planet. Roughly she pulled it into an attempted ponytail before splashing water on her face. Her skin was paler than the marble countertops beneath her clenched hands. No matter how much time she spent in the sun she never tanned. And her green eyes? They just stared hollowly back at her. To Colette, there was nothing perfect about her. Her mom always insisted that she was beautiful and a piece of art even Da Vinci would be disappointed to not paint.

Colette snapped the lights closed without looking back, and trudged to the coffee table near her couch. She picked up her iPhone and punched in the speed dial number for her mom.

Bonjour! Sorry I missed your call but please leave a message and I’ll get back to you ASAP! Tootles! came mom’s answering machine on the other line.

Hey mom, it’s me Colette. Just wanted to check what’s up and if you’re coming home for dinner. Bye, love ya. Colette hung up. She was about to fling her phone on the couch when it rang. Her heart tripled in beat but then she saw who it was.

Hey Madeleine, Colette said into the phone.

Oh I am SO happy you picked up. I was worried you wouldn’t pick up and it’d go straight to messages. Ugh. Colette could hear her friend sigh and just imagined her rolling her eyes.

Madeleine moved from America a couple years ago. She was short and a little on the chubby side but she claimed it was the way her bones were built. She had voluminous blond hair that fell perfectly straight down the length of her back. Colette was jealous at the way Madeleine’s hair seemed to cooperate with her. 

So what’s up? Madeleine persisted on the other line.

Nothing much… just getting homework done. And you?

Ugh I know what you mean. That textbook reading Monsieur Delius gave us?! I couldn’t even get through one page. You’ll help me right?

Colette chuckled. Of course! I always help you out.

Anyway, down to the meatier business. I want to tell you something.

Shoot.

There was silence on the other line.

Madeleine?

Umm well I was thinking more in private.

Ok, where do you want to meet? Colette asked. Her breath was coming out faster.

How about Bois de Boulogne? Ten minutes?

Perfect. I’ll see you then. The girls hung up.

Bois de Boulogne was Colette’s favorite place to hang out. The park was so beautiful that it was like being in a mythical world. The trees branched above her swayed with every breeze, creating music that traveled with the wind.

Fortunately, Colette lived close enough so that the walk would only take her a few minutes. She ran out her room, phone in her back pocket. She hopped down the marble stairs and skidded on the landing. Colette glanced down the hallway towards the sitting room and dining room. Her parents were still not home.

Despite the warm spring breeze Colette shrugged on a pair of heeled boots before running out the front door. She passed the gates before making it into the shaded streets. The sun was setting and cast beautiful pastel colors across the Seine River.

Many people passed her on the street, most of them tourists who marveled, mouths agape, at the magnificent homes on the block. Madeleine lived a couple blocks down from Colette in a quaint little neighborhood. She didn’t live on one of the richest blocks but had a large apartment which also had a view of the Seine.

Colette looked out at the river. She watched as the sun descended further and the Eiffel Tower lit up. Several touristy boats traveled the waters with music beating away. Colette’s attention diverted as she saw couples, young and old, holding hands, and walking close together down the block. They seemed so happy—unlike how Colette usually felt.

She kept an eye on them smiling and talking together below their breath, when she banged into something hard. As she stumbled backwards she thought she walked straight into a tree. She lost her balance and hit the street on her bottom.

Oww, she said as she rubbed her lower back.

I’m sorry, said a soft voice in fluent French. Fortunately, Colette could understand French. On the other hand, she couldn’t speak it even if her life depended on it.

She looked up. Standing over her was a man, a halo circling his dark hair. He extended a hand out to her and she took it. It was warm to the touch. The man hauled her up and, as she inspected his face, she realized it was not man. In fact, he was a boy probably about her age.

He had dark eyes that inspected everything eerily, like a hawk. His dark hair fell just below his ears, tangling a little into curls.

Colette shuddered and caught her breath as the boy leaned closer to her. She felt like she was about to burst and her limbs felt like Jell-O. She couldn’t move but felt something burning within her. It felt like her insides wanted to revolt against her and everything she was thinking of doing.

But all she did was stand still as the boy leaned closer. And then he dipped down to pick something up off the sidewalk. As he straightened up, Colette realized how tall he really was.

You dropped this, he said as he held out her cellphone.

Oh… uhh… Colette raked her mind for something to say but all she could mutter was merci in a pathetic French accent.

Do you speak English? he asked in a perfectly clear voice—with no hint of a French accent. Colette thought through her scenarios.

Should she speak to this stranger? But for some odd reason she felt compelled. It was more than the fact that he was still holding out her cellphone for her to take.

Uhh yeah. I’m still catching on to my French side in me. It’s down there somewhere. Colette smiled, cranking her neck up to look at his clear face. The boy’s eyes were dark, very unreadable. Maybe it was just the poor light. When were the street lamps going to come on?

I believe this is yours, the boy continued in English.

Thanks, Colette stammered as she rushed to grab her new iPhone. As she pulled it away from the mysterious boy, their hands met. There was an electric shock between them and Colette could swear she saw gold sparks curl off their fingers. She recoiled and slid the phone into her back pocket. Surely she hadn’t felt that when he lifted her off the pavement.

Umm, are you lost or something? she asked, trying to sound all normal and as if there was not just a magical connection between them.

No, I know my way quite well around here. Are you lost? The boy returned the question like a boomerang.

No—no I’m just heading to the park. Colette wanted to slap herself for saying that. She should never tell a stranger where she’s going. But it’s not like she told him what park—right? But then again, there was only one famous park in this area and that so happened to be her destination.

Colette pinched her nose and squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them, the boy had a questionable look on his face. He raised one eyebrow.

Are you okay? he asked.

Yes, I’m fine. Colette nodded her head. Then without another word, she steered her body around him and trudged towards the park.

But before she could step two feet away, a hand grabbed her upper arm. She whirled around and prepared to attack, but then noticed who it was. Wary, Colette eyed the boy who was now holding onto her. She yanked her arm away and raised her hand to block her face.

If you make one more move, I’ll call the police, Colette said through clenched teeth. She motioned to pull out her cell from her pocket.

The boy raised his hands in the air to show