Chapter 14
Gregory and Serene walked into my studio apartment. I didn't even bother letting them in or getting up—for that matter. My body hurt. My head pounded from the insatiable rage that threatened to consume my soul. The ice pack on my back couldn't cool me down. Gregory walked over to me, looking over at the mess of my apartment.
"I sense there was a strong presence here,” he stated. "Are you alright, Ray?”
I only nodded, unable to look him in the eyes. "It was Agares, wasn't it?” I looked up at Serene as she picked up a piece of glass off the floor. "Coming to warn you to not go back on your word." I'm not sure how she knew that, but I could only look away, again, still contemplating.
"Serene and Josie have been mortal enemies of Agares for some time. Because Agares is the collector of souls, his run-in with The Order has happened more often than not." Gregory explained, standing up straight as he walked over to the window. "Ray, are you a thousand percent sure you want to do this?”
My eyes squinted in disbelief as I stood. The stinging in my body made me grimace, but I ignored it. "You didn't see him,” I replied, through clenched teeth. "Brad doesn't deserve this. His screams…his haunting screams. Agares will never let him go if we don't give him Johnny Stan."
“You clearly aren't ready…”
I took a step forward, cutting Gregory off, angrily. "I have come too far to turn back now. Agares wants me to bring Johnny to him in order to release Brad. Those are his terms. I can't risk my brother's soul just because I fear for my own life or your fear for me. I'm ready. Whatever happens in South Africa, I'm ready."
"There will be monsters you have never seen or heard of there, Ray. You won't be ready,” Serene intervened.
"I have to do this."
The room fell silent as Gregory nodded once, walking back towards the door, Serene following. "The plane awaits us." I released the breath I was holding. Grabbing my packed bag, I walked out the door and locked it. Leaving everything I ever known locked with it. Something, deep inside of me, told me this would be the major changing point of my life. Something was waiting for me in South Africa.
After almost a full day's ride in the air with no one really talking, not even me, it became rather dreadful with the dead company. Serene, every now and then, I would look at her. She sat so still and focused-like with her eyes closed, not asleep, but meditating. Then there was Gregory, who moved on occasion— sharpening his knives or napping, but there was still something going on in his mind, the same as me.
But, then there was Johnny Stan. The guy had no concept of being a prisoner, interrupting everything peaceful. I'm sure it took everything within Serene to not kill the man. Hell, it took everything within me to not knock his ass out, again.
“Am I the only one here that is trembling from being so afraid, but yet so excited? We all get what we want, right? The Ku Klun book or whatever it is." Johnny blurted out to no one. I only rolled my eyes— annoyed. "You all know, once we get this book, I can go free from Agares. He won't come collect my soul because you all are going to kill him before that, right? This is the only reason I agreed to come along."
He jumped at a knife being thrown next to his head on the seat. "You shut your damn mouth or I swear I will…” That was Serene who finally snapped.
"You won't kill me. It's against your code. I know enough about you people, Warriors of Light you call yourselves." Johnny replied in a cocky manner while retrieving the knife from the headrest.
“I suppose Christian told you that,” Serene scoffed rolling her eyes as she folded her arms.
“He was one of you…He told me the little missions your organization succumbed to—made him kill things…made him fight in a war he has no part of. The Order really are shitty people for this. And to think they want the most powerful book in the world for their own gain, seems rather sketchy to me. Do you agree, Ray?” He reached to hit my knee to capture my attention, but my hands reached quickly, scaring myself at how fast I moved.
"Touch me and I swear I will throw you off this plane, myself." I glanced over at Gregory wondering if I went too far, but he only closed his eyes, again.
“The Forgotten are lost individuals who couldn't handle the responsibilities of being a Warrior of Light—let alone a member of The Order. You have to want balance if you wish to execute it." Serene said, very matter of fact, as I caught her glance at me. There was something underlying in her tone that made me look up at her. "The Forgotten doesn't."
Johnny scoffed, hands folded, proceeding to look out the window. "At the end of the day, everyone believes they are on the righteous side of things."
“And you?” I asked, almost coldly. "Whose side are you on?”
Johnny smirked, sitting back comfortably in the seat. "I guess we will find out."
Serene and I glanced at each other, then back at Johnny—who, apparently, had something planned for this trip. It was clear he had an agenda for the book. But, little did he know, I had my own agenda for him, as well.