I add the last as an explanation.
We run the opposite way to my bike and climb on. I call Luc as I pull out onto Royal Street, letting him know I have Grace and trusting him to stop Evander.
The traffic is horrible, and we are idling along when Grace stiffens. I look back at her and then follow her line of sight. There, on our right, is another of the Fallen; this one has her arm around a drunk frat boy, who she has forgotten now that she has seen us.
Her eyes narrow as she shoves him aside. ‘I hope Grace is strong enough to hold the bike’ is my only thought as I leap off it and land just steps from the deadly woman.
Finally. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of faces flash through my mind, nameless victims I wasn’t able to save over the years, and my demon takes control.
I grab at her, shoving her into the dark, narrow alley like she was going to do to the boy. My skin begins to burn as her angel fire flares to life. Using my telekinesis, I force the broken shards of glass that litter the ground into the air and send them flying at her like bullets.
I grin at her when blood begins to pour from her skin. Unfortunately, just like my body is trying to heal, so is hers. As we fight, I try to reach for my blade, but she continues to come at me.
“Celine.” Her name screamed causes her to pause for a split second. Just enough of an opening for me.
Just as I stab forward with my knife covered in hellfire, she grins at me. When the fuck did she pull her angel blade?
Grabbing her wrist, I stop it just before it nicks my skin. It would have poisoned me, killing me slowly. She leans into me, using her strength and weight to try to cut me, trying to bury her blade in my gut.
I squeeze tighter, grinning into her gorgeous face as I listen to bones breaking. Clamping tighter still, I try to turn them to dust. Then I get an idea. I turn my head to Grace for just a second and then I connect to her mind.
‘Grace, her blade will kill her, won’t it?’ She nods after she jumps at my voice. ‘Good.’
I drop my own blade and I love the look of triumph on her stupid face. It disappears when I swing my empty fist down on her forearm then again on her bicep, snapping the bones like a breadstick. My other hand has slid down from her wrist and closed over the hand that is gripping the blade.
Realization flares to life in her golden brown eyes. She see her death in my red eyes.
“That’s right, bitch.” I jerk up and toward her, bending her now useless arm at the broken points and shove the blade in her throat as she claws at my arm and then my face. Blood drips from the scratches as I let her slide to the ground, the shadow of her wings flickering against the wall.
I stand watch until I’m positive she’s dead then I pull the blade from her throat and wipe it on my jeans.
I join Grace at the curb where she’s walked my bike. Climbing back on, I hold the blade back over my shoulder, letting her pull it from my hand.
Tired of the traffic, I use my mind control and clear the road all the way to I-10. It only takes minutes for us to be racing out of the city.
Just as we hit the edge of New Orleans, a tidal wave of power washes over me.
‘I will find you, demon. I will destroy you, Grace.’
She shivers behind me, and I stiffen as a vehicle cuts across the median aimed at us. I hit the gas, yelling at her to hold on, and her arms tighten like steel bands around my waist. Leaning down, I open the bike up and we fly down the highway. We are well away from the city in minutes.
‘Pull over, asshole,’ Luc’s voice growls in my head and I look to the side as the vehicle pulls up beside me.
Evander is staring out at us. His face’s shifting, and it’s fucking eerie as hell. He looks like he’s ready to burn both Heaven and Hell. Raising my hand, I wave it around, pointing out the fact that we are on the bridge, the eighteen mile bridge over the basin. I can’t exactly just stop.
Finally, we reach the exit that leads to Demon Bayou. I stop as soon as I reach the bottom. Grace climbs off, takes off her helmet and stands waiting. Her hand trembles as I take it from her.
Evander stalks toward her. His hands reaching for her but closing on nothing. I whip my head around. What the fuck?
“Caliel.” His voice trumpets over the Earth. Luckily, to humans it will just sound like thunder. Of course, the fact that the entire damn planet will hear it at the same time will raise a few questions, but nothing to be done now.
I shiver as frost forms on my skin.
“Evander.” His name and a huge push of power from Luc snaps him from his anger. “We will get her back to you. I promise. But she will be safer where she is. At least for now.”
“I can keep her safe.” His voice is dangerously low. Stepping back, I wait at a safer distance.
“Do you not remember how you got here?” Wow, fucking low blow, even for Lucifer.
“She won’t surprise me this time.” Even I can hear the regret and resignation in his voice.
“We were all surprised. Not only by their actions but also by the amount of power He had given them. “Luc looked at us both and then jerked his head toward the car. “Come, we need to figure out our next step.”
I climb on my bike and pull away. I’m at the office in what seems like mere moments. I had been so lost in thought muscle memory got me here. I walk up the cypress stairs, waiting on the porch. They pull up minutes later, giving me an idea of how fast I drove here.
No one speaks as we move through the outer offices and into our private space. Dagen stands as I walk through the door, and I widen my eyes, rolling them back. He arches one perfectly groomed eyebrow.
“So,” I start as soon as the door closes. “The one called Hope was with Grace. Nasty cunt for sure. Her power is her name, and she uses it like a hammer. She senses when someone has lost all of it. She wraps them in her power and gives them the greatest sense of hope, makes what they need or want available to them but twists it. Rips it away from them.”
Luc frowns but says nothing. Evander isn’t even listening. Dagen straightens at my words; he, at least, is a pissed as I am.
“Sent her back to them. I was able to force my way into her mind when she was focused on destroying a street musician. Hopefully, she will kill a few for us.” I smirk at the thought. “Another one showed up, but I was able to kill her with her own blade.”
I make it sound much easier than it was, and Luc raises a brow. I refuse to elaborate.
“I heard Seraphina’s threat,” Luc murmurs.
“I think we all did,” Dagen states. I shrug. Let that bitch come.
“It will be all out war now. They won’t bother to hide what they are doing.” I look at the King of Hell incredulously.
“When have they ever hidden? They leave this planet littered with bodies.”
He looks at me hard for a long minute then disappears. I understand.
It’s about to get much worse for the humans.
24
Grace
The brightness of Heaven blinds me, as does my fury.
I spin to glare at my brother.
“I know you’re upset but I have to keep you safe.” I’m speechless.
I’ve been living with the Fallen for thousands of years, but now he wants to keep me safe? Now that I was seconds from being back with Evander? I see his hand outstretched in my mind and I grit my teeth.
I finally let the anger I had forced down at seeing him alive outside of Avalon burst forth.
“Did you know?” I grit out. The look on his face says everything. Of course he knew. “How long?”
He turns away, but not before I see the guilt.
“Are you fucking kidding me, Caliel?” Grabbing his arm, I spin him back. He lets me control him. “The whole time. Why?”
“Why, what? Why didn’t I tell you that Lucifer had brought your lover back to life? That he was a demon? The first Prince of Hell?” He stares at me waiting, but two can play that game. I stare right back. “It would have eaten away at you. Driven you m
ad.”
“Maybe but that should have been my choice.” I hate the hurt I hear.
“You can’t be together now. Please tell me you understand that.”
It’s my turn to look away. “Grace. You are an angel of Heaven, and he is Lucifer’s second in command, a high demon of Hell.” His voice is filled with sympathy.
“What does that even mean? We both know Hell isn’t what humans think.” It isn’t not what they think either. It’s a prison for the very worst of all kinds.
He comes to me, stopping just inches away. I don’t look at him. He waits, and finally I turn my head. “Must I give up everything?”
His arms come around me, and I let my forehead drop to his chest. A thousand years of tears start to pour from my body. Grief I was never allowed to feel over Evander’s death, worry for Lillian throughout her whole life, and now anger at being kept from the man I love, still.
“He might not be that man.” My brother’s quiet reply makes me realize I had been crying out loud.
I want to argue that Evander would never change but I’m different now. What if I’m too different for him to love the way he once did?
Pushing away from Caliel, I turn and walk slowly down the golden hallway I never thought to see again. Pausing at what was my door, I see everything is as I left it; I could have been away for only a few hours not hundreds of years.
All of my things are gleaming in the light, and I realize he’s not only kept them but also taken care of them, waiting for me to return. I turn my head, locking eyes with him. There I see how hard this has been on him.
I think of how lonely he must have been up here. This little home is far from anyone else, hidden away so people didn’t see and realize what we were. The thought makes me sad. So many secrets in Heaven, no wonder it all failed.
I shake my head in disappointment. Not in us or even the situation but in Him. I finally understand.
“Are you watching?” I whisper, sending the question out into the universe.
Of course, there is no reply, but I didn’t expect one. I step through the doorway and draw a deep breath.
“I… I need to be alone for a little while,” I call out as I turn to close the door. He stands on the other side and nods just once. I ignore the hurt on his face.
Crossing to my bed, I sink into the plushness of it, drawing in the smells of my old life. A life I know I can’t ever return to, one I don’t think I’d really want to. I’m no longer that bright and shiny girl. I no longer have the innocence that let me live here unworried about everything.
I no longer have faith.
25
Lillian
I am completely alone. Pulling my knees up, I look around the opulent bedroom, totally different than my own. I don’t know how to be here. I don’t know how to be, period.
Grace has always been my constant, my mother in every aspect but one. She’s gone. Safe. I sigh at my own selfishness; she’s finally away from them, finally in place where she can’t be hurt, and I’m worried about being alone.
I hear deep voices and stiffen. Lucifer had come earlier, telling me about Grace, wanting to reassure me, but he left as soon as my first tear tumbled from my eye.
The ruler of Hell afraid of a girl crying, it’s almost enough to make me laugh. Almost.
No one else has come to the room that the one named Dagen brought me to right after Torryn had left. He had suggested that I rest. Although his suggestion sounded more like a command.
They haven’t said anything about Torryn. I’m assuming that he is fine since Grace is but still. Forcing myself to stop chewing at my lip, I try to understand why I’m so drawn to the man.
An image of him pops into my head. Shirtless. Heat pools low in my belly. I’ve never seen him without a shirt so I’m being stupid, but in my imagination, the tattoos at his neck and on his arms continue over his chest and abdomen, intricate designs in bold colors.
My fingers curl into my palms, itching to touch those bright colors and the warmth beneath them.
I grin, my lips pressed against my knees. I’ve never even kissed anyone. What in the world do I think I’d do with him? I mean I know what, I’ve watched videos on my phone and heard the others talking about their time with human men, but still.
Footsteps stop right outside the room, and I strain my ears, listening. Nothing happens as seconds then minutes tick by. I shriek when there is suddenly a booming knock. The door flies open and Torryn is there, eyes darting around the room, looking for danger.
My face heats, and I bury it against my legs, hoping to hide my flaming cheeks. I sounded like a child, a frightened child. I grew up in a house of sadistic murderers and I scream at a knock. I want to disappear.
“Are you.. “ I stop him before he can finish.
“The noise just surprised me.” I roll my eyes at myself. His mouth forms a small circle, and he nods over and over. “I don’t normally scream like that. I’m not scared easily. Usually.” The last is a mere mumble.
“Of course not.” He steps one step inside the room. Taking it in, he frowns. “I guess I’ve not been in here in years. Fancy.”
That one word speaks volumes about what he thinks of the fancy stuff in here. It makes me smile. He smiles back, shifting on his feet. Oh my goodness, he’s nervous. This gorgeous demon, a Prince of Hell, no less, is nervous.
“Did you want something?” Whose voice is that? I cringe at the huskiness I hear.
His eyes lock on mine, and he swallows. My eyes widen at the possibilities.
“Umm, food.” My brows draw down when he says nothing else for a moment. “I mean, I wondered if you might like something to eat?”
Boldly, I let my eyes drift over him, wondering if my imagination had been right. Some scenes from those movies pop into my mind. When I finally look at his face, it’s a tiny bit pink, but his eyes are filled with hunger. It takes my breath and terrifies me at the same time.
“I’m starving.”
Bold move, Lillian. Especially since I’ve never even kissed another person. Male or female. I might have kissed my real mom when I was a baby but I don’t remember. What is it like, I wonder? I understand there are different kinds.
“Lillian?” My name snaps me out of my musing, and I focus on him. He’s standing closer and watching me intently.
I’ve missed something.
“Sorry. I was just thinking about something.” My eyebrows raise as I wait for him to say whatever it was again.
“I said there’s food down in the kitchen, if you want to come with me.” Boy, do I.
I bite my lip to keep from laughing at my own brazen thought and just nod. He narrows his gaze for a moment. But I step closer and look up innocently, causing him to shake his head.
“You’re playing with fire, little girl.” He murmurs the words at my ear and heat envelopes me, making a fine sheen of sweat break out of my skin.
Does he mean it to be a warning or a deterrent? If so, he’ll be disappointed in the reaction it causes. I think I’ve been cold my entire life, which is why I love the oppressive heat of the New Orleans summers. Now I have a tiny glimpse of what it would be like to be wrapped in his heat, letting it wash over and through me, filling every part of me. I stumble a step at the last thought, and his hand closes over my upper arm steadying me.
I feel branded where his fingers touch my skin, and it takes all my brain to force my feet to keep moving. I’m thankful when we finally reach the kitchen. The one called Dagen is there and he looks up, eyes bouncing between us before his eyebrow arches.
Torryn releases me, and I feel cold almost instantly. “She’s hungry.” He practically growls it before spinning away and stomping out. Staring after him, I feel confused.
“Man, you’ve got him wound up tight.” I jerk my head around and look at the other man. Demon.
“What do you mean?” He looks at me hard, studying me, and finds whatever he needs.
“Sit.” He waves at the table and I walk over,
pulling a chair out. I sit stiffly as I watch him grab all kinds of food, piling it on a huge tray.
He says nothing as he gets everything together, and my nerves stretch to the breaking point. Finally he set the tray in the middle of the table and lifting a plate and a glass, he places them before me. Pulling the chair beside me out, he sits with his legs sprawled wide, one in front of me the other behind.
I tense. Trapped. “Eat.” He says the word as he leans forward near me. “Eat and I’ll explain a little.”
I look over and up at his face. He’s beautiful. Full lips, caramel skin, and dark eyes.
“I think we should be friends.” I say it as I smile. He smiles back, and I look away, grabbing food and putting it on my plate. He says nothing until it is heaping with things.
“What do you know about your purpose and the prophecy?” His words are whispered close to my ear, and I glance up into his face that is bent close to me.
His smile is wicked as he leans back when I respond, “What prophecy?”
26
Torryn
I stop myself from racing back into that kitchen and throwing her over my shoulder. She’s starving. Does she even understand what her husky words do to me?
No. Of course she doesn’t. Her innocence bleeds from her every pore. She wouldn’t know what to do with my hunger. I would terrify her with my needs. Pivoting, I stomp away from the kitchen, leaving Dagen to deal with her.
My powers fluctuate as I think of her leaning into my heat, the shiver that made her body tremble when my hand wrapped around her arm. I grind my teeth at the image of my handprint on her pale skin, my heat turning the flesh beneath it a rosy pink color. Marking her.
I like that idea too much. Her wearing my mark. My demon side relishes the idea of everyone knowing she belongs to me. My other, more angelic side knows she doesn’t belong to me or anyone. But she could choose you, the demon whispers. Tempting me. It is what he does, what he is -- temptation.
Shadows and Sorcery: A Collection of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels Page 81