Visions - The Cursed Angels Part 1

Jonathan has Grandma and that can't be good

My senses led me to a red-brick bungalow on the outskirts of a small town. A gravel pathway bordered by shrubs and flowers led to the front door. I sensed Jonathan nearby. For once, I’d made it before him. Refusing to take any chances, I shimmered straight into the sitting room of the house. 

Her head jerked up as I materialized. An old lady. It caught me by surprise, but I quickly regained my composure and held my hands up. “I’m not here to hurt you, but I need you to listen to me.”

Her face paled as she took in my appearance. “You…,” she gasped.

“Please, I won’t hurt you.”

She mumbled words I couldn’t make out, my arms and legs starting to tingle. “What…” My voice faltered before it vanished altogether. I couldn’t move, either. She’d spelled me. I knew what she saw when she looked at me. Black-feathered wings, dark hair, eyes that conveyed pain and sorrow, and a sneer on my face. I couldn’t blame her. 

“There you are, brother.”

I tensed. Jonathan was already inside, hiding in the shadows. 

“Oh, thank God.” The old lady seemed pleased to see him. “I’ve bound him, but it won’t last long.”

Jonathan grinned at me before turning to face the old lady. “You did very well. What’s your name?”

She smiled. “Esme.”

“I’m Jonathan, and this is my evil twin, Flynn.” He walked over to me, the sweet smile plastered on his face. The smile that should have been mine. I pulled at the bonds of magic that held me, but it was no use.

“Shame you have my face, brother,” he whispered. “You’ll never win, and now I have her. I’m going to tear her limb from limb and end this ridiculous prophecy once and for all.” He leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Enjoy Hell, brother, because I’ll be sending you there soon enough.”

Jonathan turned and smiled at Esme. “We should leave. Will you come with me?” He held his hand out. Without hesitation, she took it. Jonathan glanced over at me. “See you soon, brother.” Then they vanished.

I cursed, pulling at the magic, but it was no use. I had no choice but to wait until it wore off. Then I would follow them. The old lady had taken me by surprise. Not that she wasn’t powerful. I just expected someone a lot younger. In our human form, Jonathan and I looked eighteen, and all these centuries, I’d assumed the one to see the true me would be of the same age. She was an old lady and a witch. It just didn’t sit right. 

The tingling sensation started in my toes and moved through my body. Once able to move again, I sniffed the air for Jonathan’s scent and followed them. I hoped it wasn’t too late.

***

The building looked derelict and abandoned, the wooden façade worn and battered. Crashed cars and junk filled the surrounding area. Beyond that was nothing but wasteland and fields. The road was quiet, almost eerily so. I’d planned on materializing inside the building, but I didn’t want the old lady putting a spell on me again. I had to be smart about it. Jonathan would sense me as soon as I entered. Outside, I was hidden. 

My feet hovered over the gravel, my wings spread wide to prevent any noise. I landed and crouched beneath the window. It was covered in dirt and dust and impossible to see through, but that didn’t bother me. I just needed to listen. With my hand flat against the wood paneling, I closed my eyes. I could sense them both. They were in a large, open space. Jonathan paced, agitated. The old lady’s heartbeat was strong, her pulse normal. He hadn’t harmed her.

“He will find us. You must let me cast the spell. I’ve worked on it all my life. It will work,” she said.

Why hadn’t she seen Jonathan’s true self? Perhaps she had and was just biding her time? He wouldn’t expect that.

“He’ll be here soon enough,” Jonathan said. I was sure his voice sounded soft and sweet to her, but I could hear the bitterness in it. He was waiting for me to arrive before he harmed her. I knew that. He did it every time. What if I didn’t try to rescue her? 

I shook my head. It was silly to even think that way. I knew I would go in there and try everything in my power to save her.

“How do you plan to stop him?” the old lady asked.

“I can’t. He’s my brother. I can’t kill him. Only you can destroy the evil in him and make him whole again.”

What’s he playing at? My nails dug into the wood, bits of it flaking off as I clenched my teeth.

“I don’t understand. The prophecy said two brothers — one good, one evil, appearances reversed. Are you telling me he’s the good one and you’re the evil one?” Her heart rate increased, and I heard her swallow.

“No,” Jonathan said in that sickly-sweet voice. “The prophecy you talk of has changed over the centuries. Our true essences were returned over four hundred years ago. What you see is who we are. The seer who unbound us lost her life before she could kill him. She released us from the lie, that was all.”

“Then that must be why the visions still appear. I know what must be done,” she said.

I sensed the old lady’s heartbeat return to normal as she calmed. She’s going to kill me without reversing the curse. I took a deep breath and flashed into the building.

“Brother, you’ve arrived,” Jonathan said, grinning. 

The old lady was sitting on a chair in the middle of the dusty room. Her hands looked ready to spell me again. 

“I heard what you said, Jonathan. The lies you told. And you…,” I said, turning to face her. “You believed him.”

Her body flinched at the rough and hard sound of my voice. I hated it. I hated everything about my appearance.

“So she did.” Jonathan laughed. “You know what that means, brother?”

The reality of the situation hit me like a brick. Jonathan was toying with her. He knew she wasn’t the one. She didn’t see the truth, but only what her human eyes showed her. This was bad. 

“Jonathan, let her go. She can do you no harm.”

 “Perhaps,” Jonathan said as he walked toward her. “But why not have a little fun. You can try to save her, Flynn, like you do them all. Who knows? You might get lucky this time. What do you say, Esme? You up for a little game of live or die?” He smiled as he placed a hand under her chin and raised her head. Her gaze focused on him.