Torn by Christine Hughes

descendants of the Angel of Hope. The reason it looks so dull and plain, is that the Heart loses its shine if its owner dies. Your mother died and you’ve yet to take on full ownership. I’m sure if you try it on, the Heart will begin to shine. It becomes a beacon for the owner. And it heightens the gifts of the wearer. If worn by someone of Light, it will brighten in the presence of poison or darkness. Conversely, if worn by those of Darkness, it will extinguish any hope or faith around it, even that of the one who wears it.”
    “Wait a minute. If it’s passed down from my mother to me, from descendant to descendant of the Angel of Hope as you said, then how can it ever be worn by an Exiled?”
    Lucas said somberly, “Remaining on the side of the Faithful is a choice, Sam. Remember how we told you that we are losing numbers because many of our kind are jumping ship to the Exiled? It’s the same principal here. You must choose the side on which you will fight. And the fact that half of your lineage, your father, began in the dark makes your choice that much more difficult.”
    “You mean because my dad was born into darkness? Why will it be harder for me? I’m not an Exiled, remember? I already know which side I’m on.”
    Ethan looked at me with a twinge of sadness in his eyes. “Following the Exiled may not be a conscious choice for you, Sam. There may be too much darkness in you to fight. But if you make the choice to remain Faithful, you’ve a better chance of fighting off whatever is inside you.”
    Silent and a bit dumbfounded, I took the pendant from Ethan and turned it over a few times in my hands before I placed it back in the emerald pouch. When would I know it was time to put it on and what would l do once it was around my neck?
    I cast my eyes at a random point on the floor and took a deep breath. “How could I not make that choice? Look at what they did to my family. Why would I ever choose the Exiled?”
    Lucas, quiet for a minute, looked at me intently. “Why does anyone, Sam?”

 
     
    CHAPTER 7
     
     
    The next morning at breakfast, the boys decided we needed to leave. They felt the Exiled were getting too close to me. And considering I had the necklace, Ethan thought they would be more apt to look for me at home. They weren’t sure if Sebastian would know if and when I took ownership of the Heart.
    After hours spent around the kitchen table, debating where we should go, Lucas determined we should relocate to my father’s cabin. “It’s perfect,” he said. “We can go there, and hide from the Exiled while we figure out our next move. Eventually we’ll need to find the others, but for now, the cabin is a perfect place to begin her training.”
    I looked up from the sandwich I was making. “Training? What training?” Wasn’t it bad enough they were taking me from my home?
    Lucas looked away as Ethan took my hand. “When they decide to come for you, and they will, you need to be ready to fight them.”
    “The Exiled will come after me.” I knew it was true but it didn’t make it any less surreal and I had to keep saying it to remind myself it all wasn’t just another nightmare.
    “Yes. And Sebastian will take this personally.” Ethan slipped the butter knife from my hand and began spreading mayo on two more slices of bread. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the one that comes after you,” he said, aiming the knife at me.
    “Why is he so bad? I mean, is there a reason he’s the leader of the Exiled? What made him choose that path?”
    Lucas grimaced. “Sebastian never had compassion for humans. He embodies everything darkness thrives upon and in return he thrives on everything darkness stands for.” He took a bite of the sandwich I’d placed in front of him. “He was angry when God created humans. In his mind, angels should control everything including the decisions people made. Then when God gave humans free will, Sebastian went crazy. He questioned God and warned Him