by Elicia Hyder
“That’s not the only reason,” Azrael said.
Cassiel sighed. “We also hoped it would discourage intraspecies relations.”
“You didn’t want the angels mating with humans?” Nathan laughed. “How did that work out for you?”
“Obviously, not as well as we had hoped. And that really isn’t the reason any longer. After the first angel war, the fallen disregarded the rule, and began tempting man with their powers and abilities.” Cassiel looked at me. “That was how they were luring souls to Nulterra before the gate was sealed.”
“That was when the language became a sign of allegiance. Only the fallen spoke the earthly languages,” Azrael added.
“What about you, Az? You didn’t talk to Warren’s mother?” Nathan asked.
He shook his head. “Not in English.”
“He taught her Katavukai,” I said. “She speaks it better than I do.”
“Don’t you think the law is a little outdated?” Adrianne clearly wasn’t convinced. “I mean, Warren and Azrael haven’t tried to take over the world, right?” She pointed at Cassiel. “And do you plan to take over while you’re here speaking English?”
A satisfied smile spread across Azrael’s face. He crossed his arms and looked at Cassiel. We all did. And for a moment, she was speechless.
“I’ve learned from my years in law enforcement that bad people intent on doing bad things will find a way regardless of the rules. I’m sure it’s the same for your people,” Nathan said.
Reuel cupped his hand around his mouth and lowered his voice to a loud whisper. “We are not people.”
Nathan elbowed him. “You know what I mean.”
“Maybe your rules are doing more harm than good.” Adrianne laid her head against Azrael’s shoulder. “Nothing bad has come from this union.”
Cassiel stared at them for a moment. Then she slightly bowed her head. “Perhaps you are right, Adrianne. The Council is not above changing its mind.”
God, I hoped so.
The waitress returned to our table with a pot of coffee and poured Nathan’s mug full without having to ask him. “Good morning, Mr. McNamara. What can I get you for breakfast?”
“Hi, Ruthie,” he said, smiling up at her.
Azrael scowled. “First-name basis? Really?”
Nathan shrugged. “It’s my wife’s favorite place.” He handed Ruthie the menu he hadn’t even opened. “I’ll have the sweet-potato pancakes and a side of bacon. Remind me before I leave, I need to place a to-go order.”
“Of cheese grits?” the girl asked.
Sloan’s favorite.
“Yes, ma’am,” Nathan said, handing her his menu.
“I’ll have it ready.”
Thankfully, Azrael diverted the conversation. “Have you heard anymore about the situation in Italy?”
I sipped my coffee. “Yes and no. You know how Cassiel told you about the prime minister of Malab saying he was that guy…?” I couldn’t remember his name. Snapping my fingers, I pointed at Cassiel.
“Haile Menelek,” she said.
Azrael nodded. “Yes, I remember.”
“His soul was purple as well.”
Azrael crossed his arms on the tabletop. “And you really think Haile Menelek came back from the dead?” Azrael asked, looking at both me and Cassiel.
Nathan sat up straight in his chair. “Zombies?”
“He wasn’t eating brains or anything, but yeah. Sort of,” I said.
Nathan pointed to his hat. “Sign me the hell up.”
I grinned.
Azrael shook his head. “Zombies aren’t possible. I don’t understand. I killed Haile Menelek and sentenced him to Nulterra myself.”
“If you killed him, that would explain why he had the Archangel’s mark,” I said.
Adrianne’s held up her hands. “Human inbound. Please stop talking about killing people,” she said in a loud whisper.
The waitress returned and gathered the empty bread baskets. “Can I get anyone else anything right now? More biscuits, maybe?”
Reuel nodded with a wide smile.
“Coming right up,” she said, walking back to the kitchen.
When the waitress was safely out of earshot, I turned back to Azrael. “If you killed him, that would explain the mark, but it wouldn’t explain the purple magic.”
He sighed. “It’s not magic.”
“Then the power, or whatever it is,” I said.
“Fury can see power. Have you asked her?”
“I didn’t think about it, actually.”
“Because you’re too busy thinking it’s magic.” With a huff, he pulled out his cell phone, tapping the screen a few times before putting it to his ear.
I pointed at the phone. “Be warned. She’s bitchy.”
Nathan chuckled. “What else is new?”
“I need your help,” Azrael said a moment later without a greeting. “Hold on. I’m putting you on speakerphone.”
Azrael tapped the screen again, then laid the phone in the center of the table. “Fury, it’s a little loud in here, can you hear me?”
“Yeah. Az, I’m not on your payroll anymore. What do you want?”
Nathan and I exchanged a smile.
“I’m here with Warren. What do you know about the color purple?”
“It’s what you get when you mix red and blue.”
A few of us (not Azrael) chuckled.
Az frowned. “I’m talking about spirits, Fury. Do you ever see colors when you look at angels or their powers? Like a purple mist or smoke?”
There was a pause. “Nulterra has a purple mist. I saw it in Theta’s vision, and I’ve seen it on angels who have recently come from there.”
Everyone at the table sat up straight, including me.
Azrael picked up the phone again. “Thanks, Fury. That was very helpful. We’ll call you later.” He ended the call and put the phone down by his cutlery.
“You didn’t tell her why you wanted to know?” I asked
“Fury has enough to worry about.”
Cassiel touched my arm. Then she covered her mouth with both hands.
“What is it?” I asked.
“The keys.”
“Right. They’re missing. You already told me that.”
“What if they aren’t missing? There’s only one way a human spirit could have come back to Earth.” Her words had all the gravity of a planet.
“Shit. The Nulterra Gate,” I said.
“What if the gate was opened, and it really was Haile Menelek we encountered in Malab?” she asked.
“I’m a little afraid to ask what the hell y’all are talking about,” Adrianne said.
Nathan balanced his elbows on the table. “I think they’re saying someone opened the gate to Hell and let out a bunch of criminals. Am I right?”
I just nodded.
Adrianne’s face wilted into a frown. “Yep. Sorry I asked.”
The blood drained from Azrael’s face. He put his hands on his head and scooted his chair back from the table. He looked at me and visibly swallowed. “And Vito Saez is in Italy.”
“Excuse me?” Cassiel asked.
“The murders Samael is investigating in Italy. Same MO as Vito Saez.”
Worry filled her eyes. “The monster of Venice?”
“Yes. If it’s true…I hate to think what else might be possible,” he said.
Cassiel touched her temples. “I’m afraid to think about it.”
“But, Warren, didn’t you tell me the victims’ souls have been purple?” Azrael asked.
“Yeah.”
“That makes little sense. They haven’t been to Nulterra.”
I shrugged. “If Saez has spent the last two hundred and seventy years soaking up the energy of Nulterra, maybe it transferred onto them.”
“I think Iliana rubs off on people,” Nathan said. “When Azrael’s memory was jacked up without the blood stone, we noticed he improved around me and Sloan even when Illy wasn’t around.�
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Cassiel nodded. “It might be possible. The Father has always said humans can comfort others with the comfort they have received from the Angels of Ministry.”
“So this Vito guy would be even more deadly?” Adrianne asked, looking a little bewildered.
No one answered. Probably because no one wanted to.
I turned toward Cassiel. “Do you think the gate could still be open?”
“I don’t know, but I think you’ll have a lot more help looking for it now.”
I looked at Azrael. “I need to get back to Italy.”
“Yes, you do. Don’t worry about things here. Echo-5 is secure,” he said.
I stood from the table. Cassiel followed. Reuel looked sad that we were leaving before our food came.
“You know what?” I put my hand on his huge shoulder. “I want you to stay here. Protect Iliana for me?”
He stood and offered me his hand. “Of course I will.”
I pumped his massive fist. “I’ll see you in a couple of days. Maybe sooner.”
“Be careful, Warren,” Adrianne said.
“Always.”
Azrael got up. “Go by the command center. In the armory, you have a go-bag already packed in the closet. In it, you’ll find a passport and a credit card with your new identity. I packed the rest of the supplies myself.”
“I have a new identity?” I asked.
Nathan grinned. “Yeah, you do.”
“Did you have something to do with it?”
He just kept smiling.
I groaned. “I can only imagine.
“We won’t need passports,” Cassiel said.
“No, but we might need cash.” I pulled my keys—err, Nathan’s keys—from my pocket. “Mind if we take the car?”
“It’s yours, isn’t it?” He jerked his head toward Azrael. “I’ll catch a ride home with these guys.”
“Thanks.”
“Enjoy it.”
I gripped the keys. “Oh, I will. When I get back, we do need to visit Shannon.”
“I can’t wait,” he said, laughing.
Cassiel and I started away from the table.
“Wait.” Azrael grabbed my arm.
When I turned, he was taking off the blood stone necklace. “Wear this. I want to see what happens when you get back.”
I gripped the chain, letting the stone dangle from my hand. “Won’t your memory be affected?”
“My memory will be fine for a while. I’ve taken it off periodically to be sure. If it is Saez, my memories will be more important to you than to me. And if I can see what you see, maybe I can help.”
“OK.” I put on the necklace and tucked it beneath my shirt. “I’ll see you when I get back.”
He went to shake my hand, but I pulled him into a hug. I lowered my voice as much as I could. “I didn’t tell Nathan about the ruling against Iliana, but if anything happens and I don’t make it back…”
“I’ll do what’s necessary. Don’t worry. She’s not going anywhere.”
“And Fury?”
“I’ve already talked to her. I’ll make sure she takes the child somewhere safe.”
I pulled back and nodded.
When I turned to Cassiel, she was glaring.
“You ready?” I offered her my hand.
She looked at my hand but didn’t accept it. “Yes. Let’s go.”
The V8 rumbled to life underneath me as Cassiel got into the passenger’s seat. I laid my head back against the headrest, closing my eyes to enjoy the gentle vibration. I smiled. “Oh yeah.”
“Do you two need some privacy?” Cassiel asked, slamming her door.
My eyes popped open. “Whoa. Why are you so pissed?”
“What did you say to Azrael?”
I kept my mouth shut.
She crossed her arms, looking at me expectantly.
“You told me this morning you’d rather have my silence than my deceit. So I’m not lying to you.”
She reached for my hand, and I jerked it away from her. I wagged my finger in front of her face. “Oh no. That’s cheating.”
“Did you tell him to hide Iliana?”
I bit down on the insides of my lips.
She sat back hard in her seat and stared out the windshield. “We will find her, you know.”
“You may not have to if I can find the Morning Star first.”
“The Council won’t change their minds.”
“I’m not trying to change the Council’s minds. Just yours.” I put the car in reverse and looked over my shoulder to back out of the space.
“My mind is made up. You’d better get used to that idea.”
“We’ll see,” I said, turning the car. I glanced back at the restaurant. Our group inside was watching from the window. I waved and revved the powerful engine. “You might want to buckle up.”
“Are you serious—”
I dropped the clutch and peeled through the parking lot.
Cassiel swore and grabbed the handle by her head.
I laughed and slowed the car before pulling onto the freeway. “I told you to buckle up.”
She snapped her seatbelt, then held onto the door handle.
“You can relax,” I said, glancing at her white knuckles. “Enjoy the view. Asheville’s beautiful.”
It certainly was this time of year. The purples and yellows of early spring were just popping against the rich green canvas of the roadside. I turned onto my favorite winding road and let the wheels hug the turns as we wound up the mountainside.
Cassiel was still gripping the door handle like she wasn’t immortal. “Where are we going?”
“Home,” I said with a sigh.
“Home?”
“You’ll see.”
We rode the rest of the way in silence drowned out by the engine. God, I loved this car. I finally turned into my old driveway and put the car in park in front of the three-car garage.
Cassiel looked up at the house. “What is this place?”
I leaned against the steering wheel and stared up. “It used to be my house.”
She turned and looked at me.
I sighed and pushed the door open. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”
We climbed the front steps to the path that led to the front door. The locks had been replaced. I used my power on the deadbolt, but nothing happened. It actually made me smile. I tried my fingerprint on the reader instead. There was a small chime and a click. I opened the door. “Welcome to my former abode.”
Cassiel walked inside first. My heart sank as I followed. The place looked almost exactly the same as I’d left it. Memories flooded back like a tsunami.
Watching college basketball with Nate in the living room.
Our friend Taiya dancing drunk on the dining table.
Kissing my almost-wife in the very spot we were standing.
I cleared my throat and walked past Cassiel. “I wonder where they’ve set up the armory.”
I walked down the hall first. Big mistake. At the mouth of the hallway, the large wooden door on the left led to the master bedroom. The bedroom I’d shared with Sloan.
Cassiel stopped in front of its heavy wooden door. “What’s in here?”
“I don’t want to go in there.” Then I noticed the lock panel that had been installed. “But that’s new.”
“It’s sophisticated too. Retina scan,” she said.
“I guess it wouldn’t hurt to have a look.” I leaned toward the scanner. The panel lit up green and the lock tumbled. She pushed the door open. I fell back a step.
“Looks like we found the armory,” she said.
The walls were covered in pegboard with hooks holding what looked like every kind of firearm known to man. Long-range rifles to our left. Assault rifles to the right. A smaller collection of handguns lined the wall surrounding the door; handguns were almost useless against the supernatural.
Against the far wall, a large safe covered the only window. I suspected explosives were inside. An
d where my king bed had once been, a large padded table was set with cleaning supplies.
“They know they can’t kill us, right?” Cassiel asked, wandering the room in a daze.
I smiled. “Yep. They also know how to slow us down.”
“Where’s the bag you’re looking for?”
“In the closet.”
I walked into the bathroom and stopped. It was completely unchanged. My eyes fixed on the tub Sloan had loved so much. It had been one of the selling points of the house.
“Warren?” Standing behind me, Cassiel’s hands came to rest on my sides. Peace flooded from her fingertips, and I relaxed.
After a second, I turned around. “What are you doing to me?”
“Helping,” she said.
“How?”
“Just imparting a bit of home.”
“It feel like…” My brain was struggling to find the words.
“I imagine it feels a lot like when you first met Sloan,” she said.
I fell back a step. “How did you know that?”
“It’s who we are. The spirit in us is part of Eden. It’s probably what drew you to her in the first place.”
Nothing in me wanted to discuss my feelings for Sloan. “The closet is in here.”
On the other side of the bathroom, the master closet had been stripped of most of its shelves. The wall where Sloan had once hung her clothes was now covered with hooks holding tactical backpacks. They were all labeled. The thinnest of them had my name.
I picked it up and looked inside the main zipper. From what I could see, there were a couple of changes of clothes inside. The front pocket had the passport. I flipped it open.
“Oh my god.”
“What’s the matter?” Cassiel asked.
I turned it around to show her my photo and new name.
She covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. “Angelo Suave?”
I stuffed it back into the bag. “Nathan thinks he’s funny.”
“He is. That’s hilarious.”
I smiled, caught off guard that she had a sense of humor. Then I turned back to the wall. Fury’s pack was on the bottom left. I grabbed it and handed it her. “Get the clothes out of here. We’ll put them in my bag.”
There was a crackle like static in my ears. Then I heard Samael’s voice far away. “Warren, we have victim number five. Can you come to Venice?”