The Guardian

by Elicia Hyder

  I looked at Chimera for confirmation. She nodded. “I think the takeaway here is if the foundation is made from osmium, then it’s safe to say the demon is right. Everything there will try to kill you.”

  For me, that wouldn’t be a problem. But for Fury…

  “Will the demons know we’re there?” Fury asked.

  “They will know the gate was open, and they will send a sentinel to investigate, but Nulterra wasn’t built under the fear of intruders. There aren’t very many defensive mechanisms in place to trap you.”

  “Not many, but there are some?”

  “Yes. However, those are mostly centered around the bridge to the spirit line. The Morning Star’s biggest concern was keeping Eden out.”

  “More weapons like the sword?” I asked.

  “Yes, but unless you plan to abandon your human, you should have no reason to go near Eden’s spirit line.”

  “Tell us about the sword,” Azrael said. “What’s it made of.”

  “Helkrymite. It is a metal foreign to Earth. I’m not sure it has an equal for comparison,” he said.

  Chimera pulled out her necklace. “Is this helkrymite?”

  I turned my ear to be sure to not miss the answer.

  “No. That is blood stone.”

  We all shared a look of confusion. Azrael pulled out his own blood-stone necklace. It was so red it was almost black. “This is blood stone.”

  “They both are, but all blood stone is not created equal, as all beings are not created equal,” Moloch said. “What you have is sanguinite. What we have is sanctonite. Our blood stone gives the helkrymite its power. Gives Nulterra its power.”

  Fury looked at Azrael. “Sanguinite is made of angel blood, right?”

  He nodded.

  “So which angels can kill other angels?”

  “Only Iliana,” I said. And I’d worked damn hard to make sure none of her blood had been spilled.

  “No.” Azrael looked lost in thought. “The Father can as well.” He looked at Chimera’s necklace. “Moloch, are you saying that’s the blood of the Father?”

  “Precisely.”

  “How the hell did the demons get the Father’s blood?” I asked.

  “Antioch.”

  “What’s Antioch?” Fury asked.

  “A city,” Chimera said. “Well, at least it was a city in modern-day Turkey until it collapsed about nine hundred years ago.”

  “It literally collapsed about seven hundred years before that,” Azrael said.

  I looked down at Fury. “The Morning Star tried to start a second war with the angels by sending the demons to attack the city. It became a full-on war that triggered an earthquake, killing hundreds of thousands of people.”

  “But the Father wasn’t there.” Azrael pointed to his chest. “I was there.”

  “In all your splendor, I know.” It was almost impressive how Moloch could be so smug even with a robot voice. “You know who else wasn’t there? The Morning Star. Do you really think you won that day, Azrael?”

  “Yes,” my father said with his signature cockiness.

  “Would you like all of the facts?” Moloch asked.

  Azrael crossed his arms. “Oh great and powerful castle ornament, please enlighten me.”

  “While you were busy helping fulfill the Morning Star’s threat, the two of them were in Siri.”

  “What’s Siri?” Fury asked.

  “It was a place between worlds where angels and demons could meet in secrecy. The Father destroyed it after the destruction of Antioch,” I explained.

  “The Morning Star wanted to create a home for us, something separate from the humans the Father loved so dearly. But in order to create a new Eden, the Morning Star needed the power of the Father at Nulterra’s core.

  “When the Father refused, the Morning Star vowed to level the city to prove the humans would be safer without us here. When the Father refused again, the Morning Star kept his word. He ignited the war in Antioch.”

  “And we won,” Azrael said.

  “You won because the Morning Star called off the demons. The Father agreed to trade his blood to save the people.”

  Azrael’s face tightened. “Bullshit.”

  “He’s telling the truth,” Chimera whispered nervously.

  “Why wouldn’t the Father just destroy the Morning Star?” Fury asked. “He could wipe him out and the demons.”

  “As easily as you could wipe out your son?” Moloch asked. “Don’t forget, the Morning Star was the Father’s first creation.”

  “The Father wouldn’t do that,” Azrael insisted.

  “Are you sure?” Moloch asked.

  Azrael didn’t answer. He walked to the other side of the room.

  “After Antioch, the Father no longer allowed himself to come to this realm with the power to undo it. That’s the real reason he parades the Earth as an old man.”

  “Lies.” Azrael spun around. “The Father gives up his power to come to Earth so that he’s not tempted to rule by force.”

  “Of course,” Moloch said. “Otherwise, it would be a very dangerous precedent for the angels and humans alike to know the Almighty Creator of the Universe could be so easily manipulated.”

  In a few quick strides, Azrael crossed the room and ripped the sword from my unsuspecting hand. With a mighty swing, the gargoyle shattered in a million shards of stone and light.

  Moloch, the Archangel of Knowledge, was gone.

  Chapter Eight

  “Cassiel is an Archangel now.” I tilted my beer bottle up to my lips as I stared out at the moonlit bay from Azrael’s lower deck. I’d gotten word earlier from Samael, almost as soon as we’d left the armory.

  It had taken me all day to process it. Now, not only was she infinitely smarter than me—she was just as powerful.

  Azrael was peeling the label on his beer. “She’ll be good at it, and it’s time for Eden to have a sitting Archangel on the Council again.”

  “She’s already lifted the language ban.”

  Since the First Angel War, it had been forbidden for the angels of Eden to speak anything other than Katavukai. The language was a mark of their loyalty and a tell-tale sign for the fallen. The rule didn’t apply to me only because I was born human.

  “Really?” Azrael asked surprised. “I guess we know who influenced that.”

  I took a long swig of my beer. A sailboat was passing by on the water.

  “As crazy as she makes me, and as much as I don’t trust her after what she did, you and Cassiel could make a powerful alliance.” He raised his bottle to his mouth. “Two archangels working directly together? That’s never happened before.” His beer sloshed against the glass as he drank.

  “Cassiel never wants to live on Earth,” I said, crossing my boot over my knee.

  His head tilted. “She is a habitual tourist. She comes, collects her shells, and leaves.”

  “Magnets,” I said.

  “What?”

  “Cassiel collects refrigerator magnets.”

  “Ah, but she didn’t always. Before refrigerators were a thing, she collected rocks and seashells.”

  I smiled.

  “Earth, huh? You planning to come back for good?”

  “I’ve always planned to come back when Iliana was old enough. Looks like that might happen even sooner.”

  “I knew you’d be happy about that necklace.” He reached over and squeezed my forearm. “It’ll be so good to have you back.”

  “Think it really works?”

  “Chimera says it does.”

  “But you’ve never seen it work.”

  “How could I? You’re the only angel around anymore.”

  “She’s been around Adrianne, and she worked inside Echo-5 that one time when Iliana was there. And I assume she’s at least been down in the vault to check on Moloch.”

  “Yeah, I guess that’s true. I’ve never seen her sick.”

  I took another drink. “I can’t believe you destroyed him today.
”

  “Really?” He lifted an eyebrow. “You can’t believe it?”

  “Well, I can…” I sighed. “We could’ve gotten more information out of him though.”

  “Nah. He was done talking. He got that indignant snarl—”

  “His face was literally frozen in stone.”

  “You know what I mean. Did you pack up the stuff you need for the trip?”

  “Yeah. We raided the supply room while you were back at Echo-10.” Fury and I had packed rucksacks full of MREs, gas masks, and first-aid supplies.

  Sitting my beer on the arm of the wooden deck chair, I laid my head back against the backrest and closed my eyes.

  Laughter in the house caught my ear. A welcome sound after the day we’d had. I lifted my head and glanced over my shoulder to see Adrianne and Chimera in the kitchen. They were eating brownies straight out of the pan. “I see why you like her.”

  “Yeah, she’s hot,” Azrael said, tilting his face toward the sky.

  “Chimera,” I clarified.

  “She’s been a huge asset.”

  “You trust her?”

  “I do. She’s a good kid. There have been plenty of times she could have screwed us over and didn’t.”

  The chk chk chk of a helicopter came in on the cool night breeze. “Sounds like your buddy’s coming back,” I said, sitting up and searching the horizon.

  “Flint?”

  “I think so.” I spotted flashing lights over the water. “There.”

  “He’s either a very brave man or a very stupid one,” Azrael said.

  “He raised Fury. I’m sure he has balls of steel.”

  Azrael chuckled. “Yeah.”

  When the helicopter was right over the yard, Adrianne and Chimera came outside. “Is that Flint?” Adrianne asked with one hand on her supernatural belly.

  The helicopter turned, displaying the word CLAYMORE down the tail. “Yep.” Azrael stood. “Here, babe. You want my seat?”

  “No.” Adrianne walked over and stood behind him. “No, I was just coming to say goodnight, but now, I want to watch.”

  He sat down and reached back for her hand. “You should go pop some popcorn. This is gonna be good.”

  “Where’s Fury?” she asked.

  “She went out for a walk,” I said.

  Chimera walked to the railing. “Why? What happened?”

  I finished the last of my beer. “I’m sure you’re about to get an earful.”

  The helicopter powered all the way down before Flint got out and started making his way up the dock. There was a slight hunch to his gait I hadn’t noticed early in the day. His eyes were searching our faces, looking for Fury, I was sure.

  “I hope you’re wearing a cup,” Azrael said when he was close enough.

  Flint walked up onto the deck. “Man, what choice did I have?”

  “No need to explain yourself to me. I get it.” Azrael released Adrianne and dunked his hand into the cooler beside his chair. “Here. Liquid courage.”

  “Thanks.” Flint twisted off the cap. “Where is she?”

  “Jogging. So maybe she’ll be too tired to kick your ass when she gets back,” Azrael said.

  “God willing.” Flint drained a quarter of the bottle.

  “Have you talked to her at all?” I asked.

  “No, but I talked to John. So a lot of good it did. He’s still keeping the baby while she goes.”

  “He got pretty rough with her,” Azrael said.

  “Oh, they fight like two gamecocks. He might be even more bullheaded than she is.” He pointed his beer at Azrael. “I tell you what. I won’t miss the son of a bitch when he’s gone.”

  I shook my head. “That’s crazy. His nephew married Sloan, and Nate’s one of the best guys I know.”

  “You can’t judge anyone by their family,” Flint said.

  “Amen to that,” Adrianne agreed.

  “And people keep a lot hidden behind closed doors,” Chimera added.

  “True story,” Azrael said.

  Movement down the deck caught my eye. Fury stopped when she saw all of us.

  “Uh oh. Here we go,” I said.

  She plucked her earbuds out as she came up onto the deck in her T-shirt and shorts. Anger burned in her eyes. “I’m shocked you came back.”

  He rested his beer on the deck railing. “You’re my daughter. Of course I came back.”

  She pointed toward the house. “Can I talk to you inside?”

  With a heavy sigh, he followed her in. When the door closed behind them, every one of us exhaled.

  Azrael shook his head. “Damn.”

  “I don’t envy him,” Chimera said.

  I got up and carried my empty bottle to the recycling bag Az had brought onto the porch. “I hope they make up before morning. I don’t have time to drive back to Asheville tomorrow.”

  “You can leave with us at about four a.m.,” Azrael said.

  “Excuse me?” Adrianne’s high pitch hurt even my ears.

  Azrael laughed. “I’m kidding.”

  “Thank God.”

  “We’re leaving at three,” he said.

  Adrianne’s whole body slumped. “Forget being an angel. Someone needs to turn my ass into a vampire.” She leaned over Azrael’s shoulder. “I’m going to bed. Will you be up long?”

  “Nah. I’ll be in there soon.” He kissed her. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.” Adrianne stood and reached for my hand. “Will I see you tomorrow?”

  “I’m probably staying at your house tomorrow night, if that’s OK.”

  “Of course it is. Maybe we’ll throw a barbecue. We’ll have a little downtime before you go trekking off to Hell.”

  “That sounds great,” I said.

  “I’ll even invite Sloan and Nathan.”

  For the first time, I didn’t tense at the thought. “Maybe next time you can invite Iliana too.”

  Adrianne clapped her hands together. “I know!”

  “What if you invite Iliana tomorrow?” Chimera said.

  All our faces turned toward her.

  She leaned against the rail. “I mean, it’s not really fair to know the power exists to see her and not be able to try it out, right?”

  I lost feeling in my whole body. “Are you serious?”

  “Yeah, why not? Our big prisoner here is gone, so my boss might give me the time off. And I’ve never been to Ash—”

  I jumped out of my seat and hugged her before she finished whatever the hell she was saying. “Thank you, Chimera.”

  She patted me on the back. “You’re welcome.” She wiggled away from me. “Just don’t get all weepy again. Seeing hot men cry weirds my shit out.”

  “No more crying.” I put my hands in the prayer position. “Thank you,” I repeated. “You wanna fly out with us in the morning?”

  “After the horror stories from your dad about aviation and angels? Hell no.”

  “See?” Azrael said.

  “Seriously, I’ll drive myself. I’ll need a car to get back anyway, but thanks for the offer.”

  “Here.” I angled to the side and pulled my wallet out of my back pocket. I handed her all the cash I had, a whopping fifty-two dollars. “Let me buy your gas. That’s the very least I can do.”

  She pulled the money from my fingers. “Fair trade. Goodnight, everyone.”

  Azrael waved. “See you tomorrow.”

  “I like her,” Adrianne said when Chimera was gone.

  Azrael got up and stretched. “I like her too,” he said through a yawn. He slapped my shoulder. “I’m going to bed. Early morning.”

  “Be safe driving tomorrow.”

  “I will.”

  I followed them inside, expecting to hear raised voices. There weren’t any, but Fury and Flint were talking in the dining room.

  I took a shower and got ready for bed. When I walked back down the hall, the rest of the house was silent, and the light was on in Fury’s room. I tapped the door with my knuckles.
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  “Come in.”

  She was sitting on the floor by her bed, looking at her phone when I walked in. A picture of Jett was on the screen. “Why are you on the floor?” I asked quietly.

  “I’m sandy. I was waiting for you to finish in the shower.”

  “All done.” I put my stuff on the foot of her mattress and sat on the floor across from her. “How’d it go?”

  “He’s not sorry he did it.”

  “I’m sure he didn’t do it lightly.”

  “No. He said he talked to John, and John isn’t going to do the test.”

  “That’s gotta make you feel better.”

  She looked up at the ceiling. “I don’t feel good about any of this.”

  It was a rare glimpse past her icy exterior.

  “Did you and Flint smooth things over?”

  “As well as they can be for now. We’re leaving at six in the morning.”

  “Good. Did you hear Chimera is coming?”

  “So you can see Iliana?”

  I nodded.

  “I’m really happy for you, Warren.”

  For the first time, I was sure she meant it. “Thanks. Do you need anything? Help with your bandage or something?”

  “Actually, yeah. Could you help me wrap this around it?” She handed me a box of plastic wrap. “I’m supposed to leave the bandage on and not get it wet.”

  “Sure. Got any tape?”

  She held up a roll.

  I tore off a long piece of plastic. “How’s the pain?”

  “It sucks so hard,” she said.

  “I’m sorry.” I grimaced as I gently wound the clingy plastic around her arm. By the time I finished wrapping her arm up like Thanksgiving leftovers, I realized it was the longest she and I had ever talked.

  I offered her a hand up. Surprisingly, she took it. “Thanks, Warren,” she said for the second time that day.

  “You’re welcome. I’ll be next door if you need me. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight.”

  Razor blades slicing through my brain woke me from a rare sleep before dawn. Pulling the pillow over my head, I rolled onto my side and into the fetal position. For a moment, I considered stabbing myself through the heart with the sword.

  The sword.

  My hand blindly fumbled across the hardwood floor until my fingers found it. Then I pulled it onto the bed and hugged it against my chest.