54. Jasper

Jasper

S pencer sleeps undisturbed on the back passenger seat. Mose put him there before he ran after Olivia. The dome light is turned on, and I glance at Spencer. I haven’t taken a good look at him until now. Except for his hair color, which is similar to Olivia’s, he looks just like Tyson.

My heart swells with love.

My son.

I’ve wanted to be a father since I was a child myself. It has always been my greatest desire. I built the farmhouse so my children would have an amazing childhood surrounded by animals.

When I learned Olivia couldn’t have children, it took me a while to come to terms with the fact that I would never be a father. I loved Olivia so much that I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. Being with her filled my life with joy. She was more than enough.

A blanket is on the back seat and I drape it over Spencer.

When I learned about Spencer, I mourned him as if he were my own flesh and blood. For weeks, I was angry and sad, and I cried when no one was around, thinking of how life would have been if Spencer were still alive. I didn’t say anything to anyone. Olivia was dealing with her own demons, and she needed support and not to worry about my emotional state. It took me a while to pull myself together. I focused all my energy on making Olivia happy.

Little by little, Olivia let my blood-brothers and I win her over. Life was as perfect as it could be—until we learned of her pregnancy and her not wanting to keep the baby.

I understood why, and while I was heartbroken all over again, Olivia came first. Besides, she was willing to adopt. Even if she chose to have an abortion, I still had the hope that I would be a father someday.

Now, after Olivia has finally decided to keep the baby, we find her grandparents and Spencer, and the enemy has found us.

More than that.

One of ours is the enemy.

But is Ansel really willing to harm us?

I don’t think so. My demon never sensed that Ansel was evil. Otherwise, he would have let me know. Even if Ansel is a Nephilim, he’s on our side. I’m sure of it.

I drum my fingers on the dashboard, impatient for Mose and Olivia to get back. If only I had the car keys, I’d drive around looking for them, but Jon accidentally took them with him. I can’t leave Spencer alone, either. If only Diva were with us, but we left her on the farm to guard Wasp while she takes care of the animals.

We haven’t told Olivia about it, because we know Wasp and her are friends, and we don’t like it. Wasp might be the leader of the Sisterhood, but her actions have made many question her true intentions, since Rin couldn’t keep quiet about what went down at the cabin.

When my nerves finally get the best of me, I get out of the car and look around. When Mose ran after Olivia, it took me several moments to realize my left knee was no longer troubling me. If only I remembered that the moment she bolted out of the car, I wouldn’t be here, dying from anxiety. Besides, someone has to take care of Spencer.

Footsteps reach my ears, and I exhale softly. Olivia is back.

I slowly walk to the end of the street, keeping an eye on the car, not wanting to risk Spencer’s safety.

Instead of Olivia, Tyson and Rueben appear from behind the corner.

“We are leaving in two hours,” says Tyson before noticing my expression. “What happened?”

“Olivia felt Ansel getting hurt and she went back to the house,” I reply.

Even with the dim light coming from the street lamps, I can see Rueben’s eyes turning red. “And you let her?” His tone is low and menacing.

“Mose went after her while I remained with Spencer,” I try to explain as we walk back to the car. “He fell asleep and I didn’t want to wake him up.”

Tyson rubs his temples. “You should have called us and let us know what happened.”

“My battery is dead,” I say. We reach the car, and as we look inside, I notice Olivia’s bag at Spencer’s feet. Rueben arches an eyebrow at me. I run my palm over my locs. “My Mama taught me that I should never look in a woman’s purse.”

Rueben mutters something about me growing a backbone while Tyson pulls out his phone and dials a number. Several seconds later, he says, “Jon, we have a problem. Olivia and Mose returned to the house.” A moment of pause, then, “Spencer is sleeping. Jasper is staying with him.” The fuck I will. “I will see you back at the house.”

“I’m not staying behind, not this time,” I make it clear the moment Tyson ends the call. Rueben tries to argue, so I remind him, “As the leader of this group, I am the one to make the most important decisions. Besides,” I pull Tyson in my embrace, “the idea of you and Olivia in danger is enough to drive me to the edge of insanity.”

Tyson gets a little flustered. He always gets like this each time I’m affectionate with him. While my intention was to let him know that with my knee all healed I am no longer a burden, it ended up as something else.

Rueben shoves his hands in his pockets. “You two lovebirds can go together. I’ll stay here with Spencer.” Rueben glares at me as he keeps talking, “But if anything happens to Olivia, I’ll hold you responsible.”

Leaders are always responsible when something goes wrong during a mission. This situation is no different from when we receive an order from the Elders. Actually, it is worse now, because Olivia’s well-being is at stake.

Tyson has Jon and Khloe’s address on Google Maps and we head there. We run fast, fear fueling us.

I finally concentrate on my bond with Olivia. I expect sadness, but I’m almost knocked to the ground when anger, like I’ve never felt before, floods my entire body. Something must have happened for Olivia to feel like this.

Halfway to the house, the street lamps go out, leaving us in complete darkness.

Unable to see where we are going, Tyson and I stop. My hand goes to the back of my waistband. Jon had a few handguns in his house, and we took them with us when we got out of there. Despite being pressed against my skin, the part exposed to the air is cold, calming my nerves.

“I don’t like this,” Tyson says as he turns on his phone’s flashlight.

A cold chill runs down my spine. “Me, either.”

We continue to advance, slower this time, keeping an eye on our surroundings, not wanting to run into trouble before we find Olivia and the others. I’m so nervous that sweat rolls down my back.

By the time we reach the house, my clothes are damp.

The darkness here is more intense, making me think it is not natural. My thoughts go to Olivia. She explained that her power is neither good nor evil; it’s how she needs it to be. Good thing she is on our side, or else we would be screwed.

Tendrils of darkness wrap around Tyson and me, tugging us toward the entrance. The hair on the back of my neck stands up, and I prepare to fight, but something about the ominous power comforts me.

Tyson’s voice is low as he says, “Olivia needs us.” He turns off the flashlight, letting the darkness envelop us completely.

We move as silently as possible, the darkness taking us to the living room. It’s the only part of the house that is illuminated. Olivia is there, a sword in her left hand, her entire body glowing brightly as she fights with Asa. Cuts cover her arms, blood drips from them to the floor.

Bile rises to my throat. It reminds me of the time she cut herself, wanting to end her life. Tyson is as scared as I am, his body trembling next to mine.

Asa and Olivia don’t seem to notice us.

I want to rush to her, to help her, but her power prevents Tyson and me from entering and makes us watch silently as the battle progresses.

If Olivia needs us, why is her power stopping us?

I try to move but my body fails to comply, and I’m stuck, like a statue.

Asa is much stronger than Olivia, but she is faster and seems to be more skilled with the sword. He tries to slash at Olivia, but she quickly blocks his attack.

“No matter how much you try, you will never win,” Asa hisses.

Olivia rolls her eyes. “Sorry to break it to you, but I have already won.”

Her statement makes Asa mock her. “You couldn’t save your home world. You won’t save this one either.”

When Wasp mentioned multiple Universes, all created by God, I didn’t understand why he needed to create so many. But looking at Olivia, at how glorious she is, I finally understand.

From the corner of my eye, I see some movement.

I squint my eyes, trying to see what’s lurking in the shadows.

Olivia moves around the room. When she gets closer to the door, the light coming from her is enough to let me see Mose dragging a passed-out Ansel across the floor.

Olivia is only fighting Asa to give Mose time to get Ansel out.

“I don’t need to save it, I just make sure assholes like you are not around to destroy it,” Olivia says.

“You couldn’t stop the Nephilims when you were an Archangel. You think you can as a human?” Asa keeps questioning Olivia as he moves slowly, tracking her.

“I might be a human,” Olivia agrees, “but I am not alone.” That’s the only thing she says, refusing to reveal anything else. She must know Tyson and I are here.

Those like Asa will never understand what Olivia meant by that. Humans might not be as strong as Nephilims, but we are clever and resilient. We also have the daggers, and they can kill demons and angels. Once we get rid of Azael, we can concentrate on stopping Ophyr and the Nephilim army. If Ansel is willing to reveal any weakness the enemy has, we will most definitely have a chance against them.

Mose and Ansel disappear down the hall, concealed by shadows.

Asa starts a strong attack, which Olivia keeps dodging and blocking. “You are alone now,” he says. He even stops fighting her as if to demonstrate that he’s in control.

Olivia’s eyes glimmer. Her darkness releases Tyson and me, returning to Olivia as she dives for Asa’s legs, swinging the sword hard. “I am more than capable of sending you back to where you came from.”

Asa snorts before he realizes her intention. He turns his sword around, the tip pointing to Olivia’s back.

Tyson and I bolt at the same time, but I know we won’t make it in time.

Olivia cuts deep into his flesh as his sword sinks into her back until it's protruding from her stomach.

A deafening roar comes from behind me.