Devils Roses 05 - Death

aren’t worthy of something like this. We'll screw it up. I know we will. One of us is going to be bad and join Lillith in her evil deeds. I know it." My voice is panicked.
    Lorri laughs, "I'm counting on it. I'm also counting on the rest of you to be the team you've always been. The best Roses I have ever had. You have to be there for each other."
    Sam spins around, "Where are you going to be?"
    She laughs, "Retired. I will ask one of you to step forward and help me out. Then Abbey. If you don't mind."
    "What?"
    "Retired?"
    "How?"
    "Lorri we can't do this alone."
    "She's kidding. She's kidding us."
    She shakes her head. She winks and is back a moment later. The silence of the dark is creepy. She smiles at me. Abbey looks confused.
    "You guys have wings?" She looks at Lorri, "That’s sweet eh? You got wings too baby?"
    Lorri shakes her head, "Not yet."
    She looks at me, "It works exactly the same as before Aimes."
    I take a breath.
    "I have a million questions. You can't go."
    She puts her arms out, "You have each other. I'm afraid I don’t have a choice. Making you all, took all there was in me. There is nothing left. I'll be useless now."
    I swallow and step forward. The fever and heat isn’t there. There is nothing. My hand's shudder when I lift them and touch her and Abbey. Abbey looks confused, "Aimee? Lorri?"
    Lorri nods a head toward Abbey, "One at a time now Aimes. Her first."
    I pull my hand off Lorri and squeeze Abbey's arm. She tries to pull away but I grip her hard.
    "Aimee!" Her voice breaks with panic and fear. Terror fills her watery eyes. I close my eyes and do my thing. It's different. It's cool and refreshing. I don’t feel like I'm feeding. I'm floating. I'm sailing down the river of her memories and thoughts. It's instant. I open my eyes. She is on the ground in a heap.
    My eyes sting instantly when I look into her eyes, "Don't leave me."
    Lorri shakes her head, "Never. You'll always have help Aimee." She offer's me her hand. I look back at the others. They look desperate. Aleks takes a step forward. I shake my head and look back at her. I close my eyes again. This time it's long and musical almost. Her memories are huge and amazing. They span the world's life. I see so many things all at once. I can't keep up. I don’t keep them as memories or knowledge. They float past me in a cool breeze. Joy and pain, bliss and love. The way Abbey's face beams in her mind. There is a bright light, a flash. And then it's black.
    I open my eyes. She is on the ground in a heap next to her love.
    I step back. I don’t want to touch them. I don’t want them near me. My jaw trembles. I turn and look at Marcus. He shakes his head and sighs, "Brilliant. Bloody brilliant."
    I turn and face the others. The looks are the same. The faces are desperately sad and horrified.
    My wings twitch in the dark wind.
    "How do we find Lillith now?"
    Aleks steps toward me and takes my hand in his.
    "How do we know what to do?" Hanna asks.
    Marcus paces, "Henry. We find Henry. I can’t believe she didn’t make me one of you."
    Sam laughs and for the first time it's bitter and harsh, "You can't?"
    Marcus snorts, "Well of course I can, but I am still pissed about it."
    Hanna looks at Sam's wings, "How do we get rid of the wings?"
    In the dark we look awesome. There is no doubt. Our skin is slightly glowing, with a light that seems to be who we are now. Our wings are black as the night and filled with shiny black feathers. We all stand topless and glowing. The looks on our faces are all the same. Awe and confusion.
    "You must pull them back in. You must forget everything else you think at the moment and pull them in."
    We all look in one sweep at the voice speaking to us.
    "Henry. There you bloody well are. How could you?" Marcus asks haughtily.
    Henry laughs, "You not need me at the time. You need me now. Shamans know about need. We hear the calling."
    Lucas makes a noise and then he stands wingless next to Ari. "It's just like phasing." He says it like it's helpful.
    Blake frowns, "Oh, okay then." He makes a face. As I laugh Ben pulls his wings in.
    Then Aleks does his. The rest of us are staring at them helplessly.
    "What does phasing feel like?" Giselle asks.
    Shane pulls his back. "Hah, just like the fangs."
    Giselle pulls hers in at the same time as Hanna. Ari and I look at each other and laugh.
    "It's like exploding from your skin."
    Blake frowns, "And if you've never exploded?"
    Aleks laughs, "Like when you run and you