Forever Now

Chapter 33

“He abuses his power, that one,” Hixak said. “Using our bond to send me messages of l- um, love for Franco. Disgusting.”

The angels – and cleaner who led the way pass the white structure and into a blacken, deserted looking city – took me to yet another part of this unknown world. The air no longer moved with me, I could no longer feel any of the other cool sensations from before. It was the opposite, a dark looming feeling, as if someone – or something – was creeping along the crumbling walls as we walked pass building after deserted building. The air was cold, acrid and the wind blew, something that amazed me. Who knew heaven had wind? Kryzstofer laughed when I relayed my astonishment but didn’t comment.

Franco led the way past a large open area with a cliff that plunged downwards into... somewhere dark and misty, judging by how dangerous and cloudy it looked when I tried to peak over its edge. Kryzstofer, after emitting a small squeal, wrapped his arms around me before I could investigate further. He kept them there the rest of our trip, which took us to a large building, resembling the White House. Franco walked up the path to the building with confidence but when he got to the front door, he stopped.

“No mortal has ever been allowed in here,” he told us. In synch, we all turned to look at Kryzstofer whose arms held me tighter. “If by any chance, any at all, you still have some chance at becoming immortal once more, the entrance will recognize it and let you pass. That is how we will know what are next move is to be.”

“What if he doesn’t have a chance?” I asked. “What will happen when he steps through the door?”

“No mortal has ever walked across this threshold,” Franco said before turning and opening the doors. Light dust fell around us as the door swung open with a creak. He walked inside without another word with Hadrian and Hixak at his heels. I waited for a moment as they walked far out of our hearing range before turning to Kryzstofer.

“Go,” I told him. “If you can’t go, I’ll stay out here with you.”

He let me go, instead taking a hold of my hand and placing a kiss on each of my knuckles. His eyes, rich caramel, locked with mine as he kissed my hand before his hand came up to my face and he leaned down to place a chaste kiss on my lips.  He took a step back a moment later, turning from me and facing the door. Taking a deep breathe, he closed his eyes and took a step inside.

I held my breath, hoping that he could enter without a problem. And the moment his foot made contact with the floor on the other side, I let out that breathed and almost ran inside myself. Only to find myself be slammed back to the ground, a few feet from the door. The entrance, it seemed, protected itself and it deemed me a threat or mortal. I stood up fast, looking at Kryzstofer who was screaming over his shoulder for Hixak. I walked back to the entrance and splayed my hand out towards the door. The moment my hand tried to go anywhere past the doorframe, I was propelled back.

 “H-how is this possible?” Hixak muttered to himself, staring at me from inside. “Hadrian! Franco!”

The men appeared at his side, Hadrian looking expectantly at me like he was waiting for me to give up the gag I was pulling and come in already. I re-tried entering the ‘force field’ in the threshold and was, once again, driven back. Hadrian’s look changed to that of shock and he, along with everyone else, looked to Franco. He left the safety of the building and, hand outstretched, pushed me back a little ways away. I kept my eyes on Kryzstofer, silently pleading him for an explanation but he looked at me with confusion and shock.

“I must preform a test,” Franco said in what was almost a soft voice. “It will search your body and mind for any intrusions that might prevent you from entering the palace.”