by Mary Ting
Daniel’s dagger pierced its heart. Stupid demon. It had forgotten Daniel had hands. The other demons growled.
So much for friendly conversation.
I wiggled my fingers. “Come get me, you ugly piece of shit.”
“I’ve got her. You go look for the book.” A beast shoved its teammate and came at me.
I swung my blade. It ducked. I whirled and leaped back when it lunged for me. I struck again, the monster collided into the refrigerator to escape, making a dent. As it roared, its windmilling arms split the granite island in half. That would have been me had I not moved.
When the demon’s hand was stuck between slabs of the counter, I plunged the sword into its neck. Choking on its own blood, it collapsed. Then I spun around, slashed across another demon’s neck, and stabbed through another’s chest.
More came at me. I threw dishes and mugs at them from the dishrack. Not effective. So I threw kitchen knives. Some struck home, not effectively. It still gave me a distraction. I somersaulted toward them, ducked low, and swiped my sword across their bellies.
I jumped onto the side of the counter that wasn’t broken and saw Daniel slaughter two more. The demons charred and turned into black ashes.
“Well, at least we know what they were looking for.” I replaced my weapon. “I don’t think Enoch would leave an important book just lying around.”
“No, he wouldn’t.”
I stiffened at Enoch’s voice. Enoch and Jonah walked in with wild eyes.
Enoch’s voice alone beckoned my attention. So regal and divine. But there was something familiar about him I couldn’t understand. Yes, he was beautiful, but this feeling wasn’t an attraction. It was something else I’d never experienced before.
“What the hell?” Jonah stared furiously around his destroyed apartment.
Enoch wrinkled his nose in disgust. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”
The angel’s pitiless gaze on me, the longest gaze, frightened me. It was as if he saw through me, through my soul, as if he peered into all my secrets and dreams.
“I’m Keira and this is my partner, Daniel.” My throat itched as my voice shook a little.
Daniel gave a curt nod.
“We’re with Nephilim Unification.” Stupid introduction, but I didn’t know what else to say.
“I remember you.” Enoch frowned. “You tried to kill me. Are you here to try again?”
His mocking tone seemed different than before, and the way he stood...Holy Jesus. I realized as I reached closer that he stood at least a foot taller than us, if not more. This being was no longer Enoch, but Uriel. One of the seven archangels. And his wings, partly unfolded, were a glorious sight to behold.
Majestic and so surreal. I was awed from the grandness of his shape and to be standing and talking to him. His taut layers of feathers alone demanded attention and respect. Should I bow? Get down on my knees? I didn’t know. He might as well be God.
“I—I—um—wasn’t trying. I mean I wasn’t going to. I was just...” I stumbled for words, but stopped talking when he picked up a shattered piece of ceramic angel statue.
“Answer me. What happened in here?” Uriel asked.
Though his voice was soft, his question thundered in my ears.
“I...we...Daniel and I...” I cleared my throat under the weight of his stare. “The demons were in here. They destroyed your place. We happened to be passing by...” No, I couldn’t lie. Lying would not be to my benefit. He would know. Right? If he had been any other angel, then perhaps not, but he was an archangel. “Daniel and I came to spy on you.”
Daniel’s eyes grew wider and he turned grayish, like he was going to have a heart attack.
“We know about the book. If you don’t know already, Jonah might have already informed you but there is an organization called Nephilim Unification. We hunt down demons.”
“Yeah, yeah. I already know.” Uriel waved a hand. “So the demons were in search of the book, I suppose?”
“That’s what one said.”
“Idiots,” Jonah mumbled under his breath, picking up the fallen chairs.
“This was my favorite one.” Uriel frowned. “My mother gave these to me. Enoch’s mother, I meant.”
“Your favorite?” Jonah picked up another one. “That’s your favorite because it’s you. It even said so at the bottom.” He snorted.
Uriel shrugged and then set his statue on the ground next to the shattered tea table. “Anyway, I’m tired. We had a long day, so if you don’t mind, run along.” He sat heavily on the ripped and torn sofa, looking dazed. The demons had shredded the cushion like cats.
Had they really thought a book would be stashed inside it?
“You shouldn’t open the book,” I blurted.
“Keira.” Daniel nudged me and tilted his head where the door had once been.
His gesture suggested we leave, but I waved him off. I wanted answers. This was my chance to speak my mind and let Uriel know NU’s position. And how should I address him? Uriel? Archangel Uriel? Should I bow? Whatever. Gathering courage and a whole lot of nerve, I stood in front of him.
“Listen, Uriel. I don’t mean to butt in, but I really don’t think you should open the book.”
Uriel’s eyes glowed, not as bright as headlights, but bright to let me know he was not human. It looked like a warning—maybe I’d crossed a line. I blinked and dipped my head.
“That is none of your concern. You have no influence here. This is my sole decision to make and nobody else’s. I thank you for trying to protect my place, but you were a little late. Not that it was your fault. What I’m trying to say is that you’re out of your league. This is an angel war that began before Adam and Eve. So run along and let the big boys handle it.”
I kicked the bottom of the sofa and huffed. Not only had I startled Uriel, I was surprised at my childish action.
“I’m sorry.” I scurried back and then held up my head. “This may be your battle, but this is my world. I didn’t ask for this war. The watchers sinned first. Demons killed my parents. I’m not going to sit back and watch you try to resurrect your brothers and make a mistake by raising the watchers too. If that happens, you will bring war to our land again. Why must the humans suffer for your stupidity?”
I supposed I shouldn’t have said the last part, but fury flashed through me, boiling through my veins. My rage took over and I didn’t care if he tossed me out or sent a bolt of lightning to strike me down. I might be a lowly nephilim, but I was a child of God. I had the right to speak my mind and in defense of others that couldn’t.
Uriel blinked and for a second I’d thought he would kick me out, but instead, his eyes softened.
He scooted closer to the edge and his butt sagged lower in the broken seat. I almost laughed, but I bit my tongue.
“As you are worried for your people, I am worried about my brothers. I cannot leave your world without them. They have been trapped for a century God knows where, and I must release them. They are counting on me. If I open this book and the original watchers escape, then so be it. I will have to face the consequences, and my brothers and I will deal with them.”
“But what if you open the book and you rescue watchers instead of your brothers? It will be you against them. We cannot defeat them. We will be slaughtered. They are powerful and stronger.” Daniel spoke for the first time since we arrived. He seemed to have settled his nerves.
Uriel straightened his neck as if he didn’t like being questioned. The superior glaze in his eyes stunned me to silence and had Daniel shaking at the knees.
“I meant...you can do whatever you want. I’m going to stop talking. I talk too much. Keira tells me that all the time.”
Silence filled the air.
“Who broke all my plates?” Jonah’s angry voice severed the uncomfortable silence. “We can’t live here. Everything is freakin’ broken.” He kicked a doorknob and it fell out the shattered window. “Oops.”
Bang! A car alarm ran
g annoyingly. I prayed it wasn’t Daniel’s car.
“Now someone’s car is damaged and you don’t have a doorknob,” Uriel said casually.
“Really? I didn’t notice.”
I was stunned to silence at the retort and tone Jonah had used. I supposed Jonah had gotten used to talking to Enoch in such a way that shouldn’t apply to Uriel, and it had become a habit.
“At least they don’t have the book?” I tried to lighten the foul mood in the room, but Jonah looked at me as if I had three eyes. And the breeze that had been blowing into the room suddenly became too cold.
“What she meant was—”
Daniel bristled when Jonah cut him off.
“She talks too much. And you should really leave before more demons come. I would walk you to the door, but as you can see, we don’t have one.” His lips spread into a smug smirk.
Asshole. I froze. Could Uriel read my thoughts? When he didn’t say anything or look my way, I figured he couldn’t.
“Fine. We’re leaving. You may think we’re lowly nephilim, but we’ve held our own for centuries. Go ahead, open the book. Do whatever you want, but let me tell you this—we will not hide. If the original watchers return, you can bet we will be fighting alongside you whether you like it or not. We will not let them take our world. I’ll be at the forefront, leading them all.”
When Jonah snorted, I almost slapped him.
Control your temper, Keira.
Uriel just sat there, staring at the broken angel statues. He must be thinking about his brothers. I understood. If anything were to happen to Daniel, Suri, Kai, or Ezekiel, I didn’t know how I would react.
As Daniel escorted me through the wall, I looked behind my shoulder to Uriel. To actually see a celestial majestic being sitting on a sofa, appearing so human, seemed unfathomable.
When I had been told by Ezekiel that demons had killed my parents, I had learned to despise them, but I wondered at that moment if archangels were any different. I had expected so much purity, kindness, and goodness, maybe even care for lesser beings, but all he cared about were his kind.
What about the humans? What about those who couldn’t defend themselves? What was the purpose of archangels if not to protect them? Nephilim fought demons daily to preserve mankind. Perhaps it would be better to open the book and let everyone out. Watchers and demons and archangels could kill each other for all I cared, and then they could all go to Hell.
I kept staring until Uriel was no longer in sight.
Chapter 28
The Mission
Uriel
Keira put me to shame. I hadn’t meant to treat her like I didn’t care, but some connection tugged at my heartstrings. Her features, so similar to Abigale’s, had me immobile. She even had a similar voice and spunky attitude. It hurt to look at her.
I couldn’t let myself go to that heartache, to remember Abigale and to feel her absence. There was so much I wished I could have told her. She too wanted to tell me something, but I’d rushed her away, afraid for her safety.
I rubbed at my temples and released a long sigh. She was not Abigale. Abigale had died in my arms. I resurrected because I was an immortal. Archangels couldn’t die so easily, but it was possible to trap them, like my brothers. Hell would be painless compared to being locked away in darkness for eternity.
No matter how much Keira pleaded for her kind, it went in one ear and out the other. All I could think about was my brothers. I had to set them free. They were counting on me.
I stared at the angel statues and wondered why Mayra would tell us to look at them and betray us at the same time. It didn’t make sense. Either Samyaza was lying or...I lay the statues down one by one and looked underneath. The words read Fly. Spread. Wings. Your. And.
I shuffled them around. Wings. Fly. And. Spread. That didn’t make sense. So I moved them again. Fly. And. Spread. Wings. I shook my head and tried again. Spread. Your. Wings. And. Fly. Made sense, but what did that mean? Maybe it was a password? The thought was ridiculous. Maybe it was nothing at all.
I rose and paced, sometimes stepping over furniture and debris. The demons had done a number on our apartment. While I sat and pondered, Jonah had cleaned up a bit, but not much. He had stepped out to get food and came back.
“Are you hungry?” Jonah took something out of the bag. “I got hamburgers and fries.”
“I can eat, but I feel like something cold, something to help me ease my anxiety. I feel jumpy and irritated.” I walked to the refrigerator and opened the dented door.
Jonah slid in front of me, reached in, and handed me a bottle. “This is what you need. Enoch likes to drink this and so will you. It’s called beer.”
“You don’t have much in there.”
Jonah twisted off the top for me and clanked his bottle with mine. “Neither one of us can cook. The sun will set soon. You ready?”
I took a mouthful and almost spat it out. Wiping the corner of my mouth, I pushed the liquid down my throat. “You have weird taste buds.” Regardless, it eased my tension.
Jonah twisted his lips, suppressing a laugh. “You’ll get used to it.”
After we picked up Samyaza, we went to a nightclub where we were to meet one of Samyaza’s contacts who organized supernatural beings for hire. We needed all the help we could get.
Jonah, Samyaza, and I were not enough to prepare for battle if powerful watchers were to exit through the gate when I opened the door. I didn’t want to agree with this plan, but since Jonah had suggested it, I needed to trust him.
“Where is he?”
Jonah’s impatient tone had me worried. The clock was ticking and we needed to be at the cemetery by midnight.
“Relax and have your drink.” Samyaza lifted his shot glass. “To the beginning or the end.” Then he downed it in one gulp.
It was hard to get used to seeing Samyaza out of the priest uniform. He wore dark slacks and a button-down shirt, looking too mischievous.
I felt uncomfortable sitting at the bar. The liquid tasted bitter and burned down my throat. Though I didn’t mind watching people dancing, laughing, and having a great time. The women wore seductive clothes and their perfume blended into something pungent. Too strong for my angelic senses. Then men seemed to enjoy themselves as their hands caressed their partners’ bodies.
“Are they humans? Or—”
“Some are, but many are nephilim,” Jonah said. “Some are aware of their special gift and others have no clue. They come here to escape their miserable reality while a handful come just to dance.”
“He’s here,” Samyaza said and waved a hand.
A tall man with hair white as snow swaggered across the floor with men and women behind him. Well-groomed and wearing a tailored black suit emphasizing his strong build. His gait pronounced his confidence and arrogance. He gave me a once over, disregarded Jonah, and slightly dipped his head to Samyaza.
“Sam. One of my men informed me you wanted a meeting?”
“Kenan. Yes, I did.” Samyaza slid off the stool and looked at me. “This is Uriel. The one I’ve been telling you about for decades. Next to him is Jonah.”
“Oh yes, the Nep, and...It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Uriel.” He gave me a curt nod. “It took you long enough, but nevertheless, you are here. Let’s go to my office where it’s quieter and secrets can be kept.”
Jonah and I exchanged wary glances and followed.
“Kenan,” I said after we settled into our seats at a round table. “Are you a descendant of Adam?”
I’d asked because I sensed he wasn’t human. Perhaps my question was odd.
Kenan chuckled, leaning back lazily into his throne-like chair. “Everyone is, Uriel. What kind of question is that?” He glanced about his bodyguards, who laughed with him.
His men stopped when I bared my teeth.
“What I mean to say...I am a descendant of Cain, one of Adam’s sons. And before you ask me, let me enlighten you.”
He reached over to a table, po
ured some liquid into glass cups, and handed them to the three of us. After he took a drink, he shifted his attention back to me.
“So...as I was saying, the story goes that Cain procreated with a witch named Awan. He didn’t know she was one, but when he found out who she was, and what his children were able to do, he created an army. And the two of them created evil beings. And because of this, God cursed Cain’s family and all his children. They were never to see the light of day and would never satisfy their hunger. They began eating raw meat and drinking animal blood. And some, still not satisfied, drank human blood.”
Jonah paled and I arched my brows.
“Continue,” I said.
“Many of Cain’s children were burned alive by being dragged out during the day. The humans had enough and retaliated. Humans are such brave souls, or downright idiots for standing up against beings stronger and faster. Holy water bullets work too, but must be to the heart. Some live by a code their parents set, vowing only to drink animal blood, but others did not agree and ventured on their own.” He slowly curved his lips. “I didn’t listen.” He picked up a cigar, shoved it in his mouth and lit it. “I’m what you call a wanderer. I don’t like to be loyal to anyone but myself. However, I know Sam and he pays generously.” He smiled at Samyaza. “So what can I do for you?”
“We need your men. At a specific location a little before midnight,” Samyaza said. “Can I trust your men to be there?”
Kenan puffed out smoke and placed the unfinished cigar on the ashtray. “It’s very short notice, Sammy.” He looked at his no doubt expensive watch. “It’s three hours until midnight. And how many men are you asking for?”
“I need your best. About a dozen if not more.”
“A dozen?” Kenan’s pitch rose. “Who are you fighting and why?”
Samyaza’s nostrils flared and his lips pressed flat. “That is none of your concern. You owe me a favor. You should feel grateful I’m paying you instead of cashing it in.”
I was just about to say something when a waiter walked in. He whispered in Kenan’s ear and left. Whatever the waiter had said, good or bad, Kenan gave no inkling. He pushed a button on the table, and the wall parted to reveal a view of the nightclub through the window. I assumed we couldn’t be seen from the other side.