His Soul To Keep (Dark Knights of Heaven Book 1)

by Knight, TW

  Rail tilted her face to his. "How did you get here?"

  "I don’t know. Last thing I remember was going for a run. I was so angry and hurt by everything that happened, and…"

  "And?" Rail prompted softly.

  "I wanted my parents so bad." Her tears flowed freely. "Next thing I knew, I was on the front lawn."

  "She was in terrible shape." Mrs. Long leaned into her husband, a sob escaping. "We thought we were going to watch her die."

  "I felt like I was dying. I swear, my bones shattered and my muscles shredded. I could feel my insides bursting open and my blood boiling. It was as if something had grabbed me and was trying to turn me inside out." Cassidy shuddered. "The pain only just started to fade right before you walked in." Her eyes widened. "Wait…how did you know where I was?"

  "I felt it. I felt everything you experienced. I thought I was under attack, dying. I had to get home. When we flashed, I guess I redirected us here. Something inside me brought me to you."

  "How?" Cassidy searched his eyes for the answer, confusion coursing through her on the tail of a thousand questions.

  Rail shrugged. "The bond?"

  Mrs. Long relaxed her protective stance. "Enough talking. Cassie needs her rest, and it looks as if you do too." She patted Rail's arm. "Charles, get this young man a washcloth and one of your old t-shirts."

  "Mom…"

  "Shush. You can explain everything after you’ve rested. We’ll leave the two of you be." Her mother smiled and ushered her husband from the room. "We’ve got guests downstairs to take care of."

  The door shut softly behind them, but their voices carried through the wood loud and clear.

  "Have you gone insane, Toni? We don’t know these people!"

  "No, but Cassie does, and I trust her instincts."

  A moment later, there was a soft knock. Without waiting for a response, Cassidy’s father stepped into the room and handed Rail a damp cloth and a shirt. "If you need anything, honey, just scream."

  "Thanks, Daddy. But I’m in the best hands possible." To emphasis her statement, Cassidy kissed Rail's hand.

  Her father hesitated, obviously unconvinced, but finally left when his wife called for him.

  As the door shut, Rail slid off the bed and stripped out of his bloody shirt, tossing it into the bedside trashcan. "I like your parents," he said, scrubbing the washcloth over his face and neck. "I see where you get your ferocity from."

  "Dad’s ex-military and Mom, well Mom’s got five younger brothers. She learned early how to handle the unexpected." She yawned deeply and snuggled into the pillows. "I could sleep for a week."

  Rail joined her beneath the covers. "Go ahead. I’ll be right here watching over you." He kissed her forehead and tucked her in close.

  "It’s strange. Other than being really tired, I feel fine now. Not a hundred percent, but I don’t feel like I went through hell a little over an hour ago."

  "That’s because I’m here."

  Cassidy laughed with a bit of a sniffle. "You don’t think much of yourself, do you?"

  It took Rail a second to catch her meaning before he burst out laughing, as well. "Yes, well, no. I mean we seem to be more connected than we originally thought. I know this is going to sound strange, but I think you are feeding off my energy to heal."

  "How? Are you okay? Is it hurting you?" Cassidy started to sit up, but Rail gently laid her back.

  Guilt hummed in his veins, mixing with Cassidy’s concern. It was humbling. After all she’d been through, her thoughts were of his well being. Swallowing the emotions tightening his chest, Rail ran his knuckles along her cheek. "I’m fine. I can still draw energy from the Source—Heaven. Now that I look at it that way, I’d say I’m acting as a conduit for you to do the same."

  Cassidy relaxed some. "How is that even possible? Aren’t you cut off from Heaven?"

  "We can’t return to Heaven, but they couldn’t completely break the connection. It’s just not as strong as it once was."

  "So you’re okay? I’m not weakening you?"

  Laughter rumbled in his chest. "I’m not even tired. Just being with you makes me stronger. But you…I’m so sorry you had to go through that alone." Rail traced his fingertips over her brow, down her cheek, and along her jaw line, memorizing every curve. "I was so afraid I’d lost you again."

  "It’s becoming a bad habit, isn’t it?"

  Rail nodded lightly, brushing his fingers over Cassidy’s lips.

  "I still can’t believe you felt what was happening to me. I don’t remember feeling like that when you and the guys flashed me. Dizzy and a little nauseous, yes, but not like I was being simultaneously crushed and ripped apart."

  Rail tensed. "Even with our bond and the power, you seem to be drawing through me, you shouldn’t be able to flash. Damn, I should have listened when Bass said he felt like you were one of us."

  "Zach thinks I’m changing," she said softly.

  "Excuse me?"

  "I heard him questioning the guys. They think I’m becoming some sort of weird hybrid."

  "They’re just guessing."

  "Do you think it’s possible?"

  "We don’t have enough information to determine anything." He placed a kiss on her lips. "I’m sorry for everything that’s happened. I would never do anything to intentionally cause you pain."

  "You didn’t know what was going to happen. No one did." She placed a hand against his cheek.

  "I meant our fight."

  "Oh."

  "You are my life now, Cassidy. I will do anything, anything, to protect you and the others." Rail watched her lip tremble. He wanted to lie to her. He wanted to tell her everything would be fine. He wished he had the answers.

  "Rail—"

  "Let me finish." He stopped her with a finger over her lips. If he didn’t finish now, he might never get the words out. "I had time to think while we were ignoring each other, and I should have said something when you gave me the sweater. I didn’t know what to say and got defensive. I can’t…shouldn’t expect you to simply understand and accept everything about our way of life so soon. Or ever."

  Cassidy slid her fingers into his hair and pulled Rail forward. "I forgive you," she whispered against his mouth, "and I promise to learn more about your culture, but I can’t promise I won’t be judgmental."

  "And I promise to work with you. We’ll learn together."

  With one more kiss, Cassidy rested her head on Rail's new tattoo and let go of consciousness.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Cassidy bolted upright and cast a wary glance around. A strange growl in the room had her on alert.

  Rail walked in towel-drying his hair, giving her another start.

  "What’s wrong?" he asked, dropping the towel to the floor.

  "I heard a noise."

  Rail laughed, joining her on the bed. "Was it a rumble?"

  Cassidy’s stomach answered. Embarrassment raced through her. Cassidy pulled the sheet over her face.

  "Oh, good. You’re up." Her mom walked in and pulled the sheet form her daughter's hands, a big smile on her face. "I thought you and your young man would like something to eat before the others polish off the pot roast."

  "Sounds delish, Mom, but I’m thinking tea and toast."

  "Pot roast sounds wonderful, Mrs. Long," Rail answered. "We’ll be down in a minute."

  His look of longing at the mention of pot roast made Cassidy giggle.

  "All right, dear." Mrs. Long nodded and closed the door. From the hall, Mrs. Long's voice echoed, "Sorry, boys, you’ll have to stop at seconds so Rail can eat!" A great deal of grumbling followed, including a comment from Cassidy’s brother about, "Only giving the big guy five minutes or all bets were off."

  "I think we’d better hurry if I plan on having more than bread," Rail joked.

  "Give me a second to wash up." Cassidy moved gingerly to stand, wobbled, and then headed for the door. Rail gave her a kiss as she passed him. "Your mother left some clean clothes on the
vanity."

  "Oh, good. I wasn’t looking forward into putting these back on." She plucked at her shirt, leaving Rail leaning against the banister, yelling at the group below.

  “There had better be food left when I get down there.”

  Ten minutes later, Rail carried Cassidy downstairs, and for once she didn’t complain. Instead, she nuzzled his neck and basked in his embrace. With a kiss, he deposited her on the sofa. "If I had my way, your feet would never touch the ground again," he whispered seductively.

  Heat raced across Cassidy’s skin.

  * * *

  “E’hem." Mrs. Long approached with two plates—one bearing a cup of tea and several slices of toast, the other piled high with pot roast, potatoes and all the fixings. "I thought you would prefer to eat away from the battle for the last dinner roll."

  Rail took the plates and set them on the coffee table. "Thank you, Mrs. Long. You’ve been very kind, but you needn’t cater to us. I’m sorry for taking over your house."

  "Unlike my husband, I’m more forgiving about such things." She winked at her daughter and walked away. From the dining room she called, “But I accept your apology.”

  "Did I miss something?" Rail asked, taking a seat on the floor so he could use the coffee table.

  "Obviously, you have no idea how much mess and trouble seven teenage girls can cause at a sleepover," Cassidy mused, picking up her tea and blowing across the rim.

  "At the risk of incriminating myself with any other answer, I will say you are correct." His eyes closed in bliss at the first bite of post roast. "Heaven."

  "Rail?"

  "Hmm?"

  "I want to tell them the truth…all of it." She set the tea aside. "I know Kaz will shit kittens over this, but—"

  "Fine."

  Caught off guard by capitulation, Cassidy tilted forward in shock as she reached for a slice of toast. With a gasp, she stopped sliding forward by grabbing the edge of the coffee table. "What?"

  "We’ll tell them the truth," Rail pulled his plate closer. "but after I finish eating."

  Cassidy quickly righted herself, her laugher mixing with the laughter from the other room.

  Rail excused himself to the kitchen, taking the dirty plates with him. Cassidy wondered if he’d even taken a breath while he’d plowed through two helpings of pot roast and potatoes. As soon as he was out of the room, Cassidy found herself under attack.

  Tempe jumped onto the sofa, gathering her into a suffocating embrace. "I’ve been so scared. You have to tell me everything."

  "Let me breath and I will," Cassidy choked out with a cough.

  "Oh! Sorry." Tempe released her and sat back as J.J joined them.

  Cassidy took note of the way her brother’s arm automatically wrapped itself around Tempe’s shoulders and smiled. "When did this start?" She nodded to their joined hands in J.J.’s lap.

  J.J.’s arm retreated, but Tempe didn’t let go of his hand. "At the memorial service, I guess. Oh, Cass. It was so awful."

  "Hey!" J.J. swatted her arm.

  "The service, not being with you." She swatted him back with a laugh.

  "What…what did…I mean…" Cassidy stuttered, not sure she could take hearing about her mock funeral, but at the same time curious to know what happened.

  "People said nice things about you. Your co-workers came. Oh, and your mom put that statue you love so much, you know, that little marble one? Uhh…‘Awakening Dawn' on a pedestal in the front with your picture. J.J. even said nice things about you." Tempe shifted in her seat. "It was weird talking about you, knowing you were out there somewhere." Tears slid down her cheeks.

  "You two weren’t ever supposed to know I was alive." She shifted uncomfortably under her friend's stare.

  Tempe took Cassidy’s hand and gave it a squeeze. "Well, you’re back now so it doesn’t matter."

  "I can’t stay. I’m not even supposed to be here now. This little visit was," she let out a breath, "an accident."

  "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" J.J. snapped.

  Wondering how to answer her brother, Cassidy looked up and caught Rail's eye as he escorted her parents from the dining room. His smile and slight nod filled her with confidence. "It means things weren’t all I said they were. This is bigger than me seeing something I wasn’t supposed to."

  "Rail…" Tam's warning growl rumbled through the room.

  "No," he snapped. "Cassidy’s arrival here has changed everything. They have a right to know, Kaz be damned."

  "Then what was it about, honey?" Mr. Long took a seat in his favorite recliner, his wife perched on the arm.

  "I didn’t see something on the computer. Didn’t stumble across something illegal in my research. I wasn’t attacked by spies or government agents." Cassidy took a deep breath as Rail sat next to her, lending his strength. "I was attacked by a demon and Rail saved my life."

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Two hours later, Cassidy was drained of energy, but lighter in her soul. Telling her family everything that had happened since she’d vanish had lifted a weight. Freed her in a way she didn’t understand. Of course, she had strategically omitted the wild monkey sex, her super soul bond with Rail, and her own death-resurrection experience. Her parents didn’t need to know all the details yet. Instead, she focused on her bond with Rail and her involvement with the Fallen Angels and their war.

  "I’m sorry, honey." Mrs. Long excused herself and walked to the kitchen. "I just can’t process this…"

  "Can I see the wings again?"

  "J.J.!" Tempe and Cassidy punched him in the shoulder.

  "What?"

  Rail snorted a laugh. He had exposed his wings and fangs to help validate Cassidy’s story and prove that he and the others really were more than human. "Sorry, but unless I’m fighting or very emotional, it takes a lot of energy to bring them out without letting my darker side out as well."

  "Oh. Well I could piss you off…"

  "And he could rip you apart," Cassidy laughed at her brother's horrified expression, "but I don’t think that would make the best impression on mom."

  "Never mind." He sulked.

  Cassidy viciously rubbed her knuckles into J.J.’s scalp. "You would never know he’s older than me."

  "Boys stop maturing at age twelve, you know," Tempe explained. Of all of them, she took to the strangeness the best.

  "Is that true for you guys too?" Cassidy asked the trio of warriors.

  "We were created as adults, but I’d say the principle applies to some of us." Tam tilted his head toward Boomer.

  A ripple of laughter rolled through the room, breaking the tension. Shattering glass and female screams sent the mood in a completely different direction.

  "Skratars!" Rail and his brothers rushed to the kitchen. Their movements were so quick; they retrieved their weapons without breaking stride.

  Under the debris of the smashed window and breakfast table, Cassidy’s mother was doing her best to protect herself from the monster invading her home. Rail landed the first blow to distract the creature. "Get her out of here!"

  J.J. slid into view, followed closely by his father. Each dove into the action. "Come on, Mom!" he yelled over the battle. Dragging his mother free, he pulled her to her feet and out of the kitchen.

  "There’ll be a second one outside waiting for us to make a run for it!" Boomer yelled, placing himself between the Long’s and the demon.

  "Upstairs!" Mr. Long shouted, shoving his wife and son into the living room. Cassidy grabbed a stunned Tempe and led the charge upstairs.

  Relief flooded Rail knowing Mr. Long was taking charge, confident he would protect them. With a battle cry, he turned his full attention to the beast in front of him.

  The warriors came at the skratar from opposite sides, slashing at it with their swords. "Fuck," Boomer cursed when the blade glanced off.

  "This one has markings on it just like that one in Peru did," Tam noted, dancing away from the slashing claws.

  Rail crouc
hed in front of the skratar, threw his shoulders back, and roared. When the monster answered his challenge, Rail drove his sword down the creature’s throat, the point exiting at the base of the skull. To his astonishment, the skratar twisted sideways, ripping the sword from his grip.

  * * *

  "Mom, are you okay? Did it scratch you?" Blood trickled from several small cuts. Cassidy’s heart tightened. She didn’t know what she would do if her mother had been poisoned.

  "I don’t think so, dear."

  "You have to be sure. Even a scratch can kill you."

  Before her mother could answer, another crash downstairs sent Cassidy running for the bedroom door.

  "No! Cass." Her father grabbed her arm. "You can’t help them."

  "I have to try!"

  "I didn’t say we weren’t going to fight, baby." Charles Long turned to his son, tossing him a ring of keys. J.J. gave a sharp nod and disappeared into the closet.

  Cassidy shook her head, knowing what her father and brother were up to. "Daddy, guns won’t work against these things."

  J.J. returned, handing his father a shotgun. "Your friends had a shit load of guns on them."

  "All they do is piss the skratars off." Cassidy slumped onto the bed next to her mother and pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes. Gunshots sounded below her feet. "Fuck it. Give me a gun," she demanded, motioning to her father.

  "Me too." Tempe held out her hand.

  Grinning, J.J. disappeared back into the closet, returning a second later with a rifle and another shotgun, a handgun tucked in his waistband. "What’s your pleasure?"

  Tempe grabbed the handgun and handed it to Cassidy, and then took the rifle for herself.

  Cassidy stared at the weapon as though she’d been handed a snake. Hands shaking, she stood, sucked in a deep breath, and took the safety off. Her legs wobbled. Swallowing, she took her place between her father and her brother. "Aim for the eyes and the throat. A head shot is worthless. Their skulls are boulders, and their skin is armor."