Between by Mary Ting

need to bring you in.”
    “ That’s not going to happen. Claudia comes with me,” Michael stated.
    “ Think again,” Austin said, and suddenly I found myself gravitating upward.
    Michael looked horrified and he grabbed my hand. The force was too strong and I broke free from Michael’s hold. As I floated higher, Michael extended his arm, using his power to pull me toward him. He was succeeding when all of sudden, an alkin leaped into the air, blocking an incoming bolt that looked like lightening. The impact caused a fire of silvery flame that blinded my eyes. It was so bright that it even caused many to look away. That’s when Michael lost his hold on me and they were thrown back. I managed to look up to see a female angel floating in midair with her wings open. She was holding a bow that was half her body length, which she pointed straight towards Michael.
    “ Michael,” I managed to shout, but it sounded more like a whisper from all the commotion.
    Quickly they got up as the second bolt headed towards him.
    “ Michael, watch out!” Davin shouted and raising his sword, blocked the blow, but was thrown a few feet from the impact.
    The other alkins were ready to charge forward, but before any of them could react, their hands were bound behind them by what looked like a cuff. The cuff was beaming, glowing like the sun. Michael and the alkins looked stunned and then outraged.
    “ We come in peace. What is the meaning of this?” Michael asked angrily.
    Austin ignored Michael’s question and gazed his eyes where I floated. “Holly, put her down carefully, and watch her,” Austin commanded. “As for you,” he looked at Michael, “you are now my prisoner.”
    Davin let out a nervous chuckle. “In human language, what the heck? Are you nuts? You know we can’t survive here long enough to stand a trial. We’ll become weak and you know the outcome.”
    Austin looked at Michael. “Actually, I just need you. As soon as I take you, your friends will be released.”
    Davin was fuming with anger. “You’ll kill him. He can’t stay here that long. You know that.”
    “ I’m only following the Divine Elder’s order,” Austin replied calmly.
    “ Again, in human language, that’s B.S.” Davin shot back and looked at me, confirming he said the right letters. “And all the letters in the alphabet that mean the same thing…and that’s a mild version of what I’m really thinking.”
    I was horrified at what I was hearing. This wasn’t happening; I didn’t understand. Why would the Divine Elders want Michael?
    “ Austin, please, you can take me. I’ll go with you. Set them all free, including Michael,” I begged.
    “ I already have you.”
    “ Austin, please. I’ll do anything. Just…” And those words were the last spoken from my mouth as Holly bound my hands and gagged me.
    Austin sprang towards me and released his massive wing. He took the gag out of my mouth and released the binding on my hands. “Sorry,” he said and gave Holly an angry look. “I didn’t say Claudia.”
    Holly nudged her shoulders with attitude.
    “ Holly, bring Michael. Patrick, release the rest,” Austin commanded. He turned to me and enclosed his wings around me. I struggled to break away from his hold, but as usual, what was the point? In complete darkness, I was in Austin’s arms and I knew we were being teleported to the unknown.

 
    Chapter Ten
     
    I wasn’t sure where we were, but we were standing in someone’s office. A tall book case which was situated behind a mahogany desk covered the back wall from the ceiling to the floor. A crystal chandelier hung in the middle of the room, giving it an elegant look. There was a black, leather sofa on the right, adjacent to a rectangular coffee table. An arrangement of beautiful tall flowers was placed in the center of the table. The décor was elegant in its simplicity. Looking out through the window, I knew we were someplace high above; all I could see was the blue