The Demon-Born Trilogy: (Complete Paranormal Fantasy Series)

by L. C. Hibbett

  “Grace!” Gabriel grabbed my wrist and held it tight.

  I struggled to free my arm. “Gabriel, he’s the one who sent Ozzie and us to the Elders. He must have been working with Lizzie.”

  “Look!” Gabriel released my hand, and I followed his line of sight to where William was still pressed against the wall. His eyes were wide with terror, and his hands were wrapped around his neck. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came as blood gurgled from his parted lips. I released the whip and shrank away as his eyes glazed over and their light extinguished.

  “You are correct, Grace.” Gabriel and I both whirled to face the opposite corner of the room. I clamped my hand over my lips. Mathas was sitting on the floor with his hands resting limply in his lap. His fingers glistened with blood. “William and Elizabeth were involved in more ways than one, it seems. Funny the things that become obvious when the the shutters are opened after a long winter.”

  Gabriel’s fingers tightened on the handle of his knife. “You killed him, Mathas?”

  The Demon didn’t falter. “I did what any man is entitled to do. He ruined my life so I took his.”

  My palms were damp as I tightened my grip on the whip. “Where’s Lizzie, Mathas?”

  “Gone.” His eyes stared through me. “I heard her laughing as she was leaving. I pressed my ear against the door to see would she ask for me. Ask what was to become of me. It was hard to hear her voice over that girl child’s screaming, but she didn’t look for me. I am dead to her.”

  Gabriel’s eyes burned as he exploded across the room and dragged Mathas to his feet. “What girl? Who was screaming?”

  I knew what his answer would be before I reached the last cell door. Mathas’s words slithered after me like a snake. “That stubborn girl. She never stopped banging on the doors, screaming to see her brother. I told her it was pointless—the boy is all but dead anyway. They carried him after her when they took her this morning.”

  My hands left a sticky print on the door as I shoved it open. The room had been torn apart, signs of a struggle marred every wall. I ripped the blankets off the bunks and overturned every mattress. I heard the thud from the adjoining cell as Gabriel slammed Mathas against the wall. “Where did they take Jasmine and Elijah, Mathas?”

  I closed my eyes and swallowed my scream, pulling myself to standing as Brandon and Lucas barreled down the corridor. Brandon appeared in the door of my cell and dragged me to my feet. I heard the sound of a struggle before Lucas emerged in front of us with his arms wrapped around a white faced Gabriel. Sam and Niamh stared at us as we approached. I bit my lip. “Jasmine and Elijah. The Guardians already took them.”

  Niamh’s eyes glinted as she watched a blood-drenched Mathas follow us down the narrow passageway. Gabriel’s voice was hoarse but steely. “Brandon, Niamh—evacuate the area immediately. Camille has offered her family home as a base for now. Sam and Grace, will transport all of you there once we reach the other teams.”

  Sam’s eyes flashed as he watched Gabriel over Emmanuel’s body. “You’re not coming with us?”

  Gabriel whipped a razor-sharp blade from his weapons belt and tested it on his palm. Dark red blood oozed from the slit and splattered onto the floor. “No. I have a trial to attend.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Grace

  “We shouldn’t bring him with us.” Aza’s attempt at a whisper echoed around the basement. Faces turned away awkwardly as people attempted to avoid Mathas’s eye. Aza shrugged. “We’ve got no reason to trust him. They were a match—Mathas and Lizzie. How do we know she didn’t leave him behind to spy on us?”

  Niamh folded her arms across her chest. “Elizabeth and Tobias were a match, Mathas was never her soul mate. He was just a way to pass the time.”

  “That’s not good enough reason to bring him with us. It’s not safe.” Aza cut her eyes towards the corner of the room and jerked her chin upward in surprise. She twisted to scan the basement and her gaze narrowed as she watched a bird flit out through the half-opened door. “Well, that’s some sort of answer, isn’t it? The Shifter is gone.”

  Eve looked up from the floor and pursed her lips. “Good riddance to bad rubbish, I say.” She stroked Emmanuel’s cheek softly. “It’s done. He will survive the journey, but we should leave immediately—the charm I used to bind the Guardians will be wearing off by now.”

  Cain tipped his head and called out in a hushed tone. “Camille?” Lucas’s mother appeared at Cain’s side, and he laid his hand on her shoulder. “Camille, are you certain the Guardians have no knowledge of your family home?”

  Camille tucked her short blond hair behind her ear. “Nothing is certain, Cain, but as far as it is possible to know, the house has survived undetected for generations. The Shadow Children have used it only in times of great crisis, and never in my lifetime.”

  Aza and Niamh looked around at the rest of us. Cat shrugged her shoulders. “Good enough for me. You know what they say about beggars and choosers.”

  Aza pointed at Sam and me. “Okay. Kids, grab onto Master Camille and do your thing.”

  I caught hold of Camille with one hand and Sam with the other. Lucas’s mother opened her mind to me without hesitation, and in an instant, the roaring of water and the sweet smell of the summer fruit overwhelmed me. Our magic melted together, and I felt our golden net gather our allies to us as we slipped through space. Grief yanked sharply at my heart as I felt a single figure struggle to free itself from our grasp. By the time our feet rested on the springy green grass, Gabriel was gone.

  Sam wrapped his arms around my waist to hold me steady, and I blinked as my eyes adjusted from the dim basement light to the Technicolor scene we had landed in. Towering mountains rose into the sky on either side of the vibrant blue waters, and flowering fruit trees surrounded us. Through the foliage, a large wooden house was visible, standing alone on the waterfront. Despite the clear view in either direction, there was no sign of any other dwellings.

  Sam brushed my hair out of my face, and I grabbed his hand. “Sam, Gabriel didn’t come with us. We have to go back. We have to help him rescue Jasmine and Elijah.”

  “If I beg you, will you stay here and let me go and help them alone?” Sam asked. I shook my head, and Sam pressed his forehead against mine. “You’re going to owe me two baths at this rate, Gracie.”

  “I’m coming with you. Ozzie too.” Dawn’s voice startled me, and I jumped back.

  Cat looked up from helping Aza direct people to follow Camille to the house. She sprinted across the grass. “Nobody is going anywhere, Dawn. We need to sit down and plan this out properly. If the High Council is placing Jasmine and Elijah on trial, it’s going to be the show of the century for the Angelic community. We can’t just waltz in there and snatch Eli and Jasmine from the dock. And after what happened in the Sanctuary, you’re not leaving my side again, Dawn.”

  “You’re coming too, Mom.” Dawn counted on her fingers. “Sam, Grace, Eve, Gabriel, Ozzie, Frank, Lydia, you, and me. We’re all going.”

  Cat snatched Dawn’s hand and twisted her daughter to face her. “Dawn, stop this. It is not a game.”

  “No, Mom, it’s not. It’s the beginning of the end.” Dawn looked away from Cat and stared into the water.

  Sam raised his eyebrows at me, and I folded my arms across my chest. “Dawn?” Her hair glinted in the sun as she turned to look into my eyes. “Dawn, in your visions, can you see the end? Do we succeed?”

  “It depends.” Dawn’s cheekbones were sharper than I remembered. The softness of childhood was being erased at a speed that made my eyes sting.

  My throat contracted. “On what, Dawnie?”

  “On us—the choices we make,” she said. I was the first to look away this time.

  “So, if I try to stop you from going, the world falls into darkness. Because of me? Because I want to keep my child safe?” Cat’s voice broke, and she crushed her fist against her mouth. “That’s not fair, Dawn.”

  Eve watche
d as Lucas hoisted Emmanuel tenderly off the ground. Brandon walked by his side, clearing a path through the orchard and down to the house. Eve touched Cat’s sleeve. “War is never fair, Catherine, but sometimes it’s necessary.” She brushed past Cat and stood in front of Sam and me. “Time to go, children.”

  Frank stared at Dawn from the shade of an apple tree. Lydia was tucked under his arm, watching the ebb and flow of the water. I hadn’t heard her speak since we brought her home. I wasn’t sure she could even hear us. Frank drew his eyebrows together. “Dawn, are you sure we are both meant to be at the trial? I could ask Lucas to sit with Lydia while I’m gone? She’s still not feeling herself.”

  I flicked my gaze over the mountaintop, unable to bear the weight in Frank’s voice. Ozzie wrapped his arm around Dawn’s shoulder. “It’s always the same people in the courtroom, every time Dawn has the vision. That bit never changes, does it, Dawn?”

  Dawn shook her head. Frank nodded. He hugged Lydia with his left arm and tightened his weapons belt with his other hand.

  Cain reached for Cat’s hand as she sighed and stepped into the circle that was forming around Sam and me, but she pulled away from him with a sad smile. “You have to stay here, Cain.” She tipped her head toward Niamh who was ushering the last stragglers toward the house. “You need to help Niamh and Aza prepare for the next battle. The Shadow Children and the Demons need to reach out and find every trusted ally they can. We’ll be home soon.”

  I pressed my face against Sam’s chest as Cat and Cain shared a tearstained kiss. Cain saluted us wordlessly before retreating. Sam called after him as the world began to spin. “I’ll look after them, Cain. I’ll bring them home.”

  Before Cain could respond, the water and mountains had been swept away, replaced by polished floorboards and rows of seating facing an empty lectern. Sam’s fingers clamped over my mouth to extinguish a shriek as a black-clad figure vaulted over the lectern and landed inches from where we stood.

  “What are you doing here?” Gabriel’s hiss lashed me like a whip.

  Dawn pressed her palm against his chest. “Everyone is where they should be, Gabriel.”

  “Dawn.” Gabriel closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Dawn, I have one chance, at best, of getting inside the Angelic courtroom without being split in two by the High Council. I don’t have time for visions. I don’t have time for destiny. I don’t have time for any of this bullshit.”

  “Gabriel!” Eve wrapped his knuckles with the flat of her palm. “Don’t speak like that. Dawn believes we all need to be here to make a difference—you couldn’t stop us if you tried.” She swung her arm over Dawn’s shoulder and marched past Gabriel toward the door to the corridor.

  Gabriel cursed under his breath as Ozzie and Cat followed them down through the lecture room. “Wait!” He sighed. “Five minutes. If you won’t let me do this alone, at least wait until we have a decent shot at getting into the hall. All the Angels will stand to pay their respects to the High Guardian when he addresses the Great Council in five minutes time. That’s our best chance to slip inside unnoticed.”

  Eve glanced at Cat before answering Gabriel. “As you wish.”

  Frank led Lydia carefully down the steps and settled her on the chair beside Eve. Sam and Cat began to pace the periphery of the room while Frank and Ozzie watched the door. Gabriel shook his head and ground his knuckles into the side of a desk. I chewed on my thumbnail. “Gabriel, is it really such a bad thing that we came to help?”

  His violet eyes watched me from under perfect black eyebrows. “Yes. Of all the stupid ideas you kids have had, this is the most idiotic.”

  “You can’t rescue them by yourself, Gabriel. If Sam and I are with you, we can at least get everybody out of there.” Gabriel drummed his fingers on the desktop and didn’t respond. I shoved my hands into my pockets. “Anyway, Dawn’s had visions about today—it’s destiny.”

  Gabriel rolled his eyes. “Horse manure.”

  “What?” I asked.

  “Horse manure. Horseshit, crap, bull—whatever you want to call it. I don’t do destiny, Grace. I never have. That stuff isn’t meant for me. I make my own path.” Gabriel turned to walk away, but I grabbed the back of his shirt.

  “Dawn isn’t trying to control anyone with her visions. She’s trying to help, it’s not her fault she shown things.” I tried to keep my voice from carrying to the front of the room.

  Gabriel twisted out of my grasp. “I’m not blaming Dawn, those visions just aren’t for me. Seers are shown things about people like you, Grace. And Jonah. People with special powers and destinies. Not people like me.”

  “You are special, Gabriel. You came here on your own to rescue Jasmine and Eli. You didn’t have to do that.” I watched Eve out of the corner of my eye, conscious that time was running short. “And you were sent here by your people to hunt the darkness—they must’ve thought you were pretty special to do that.”

  Gabriel’s lips twisted into a self-depreciating sneer. “My people didn’t send me here, Grace. I’m not like Niamh or Aza. Jonah traveled through my world looking for volunteers to help track the evil, but it wasn’t a priority for my people. My world is more like yours—the races segregated and split. Our rulers don’t care much about preserving the purity of soul, just purity of blood. So, instead of sending the best of the best from our world to aid his search, Jonah was allowed to take his pick of the murderers and thieves in the highest security prison. He chose me.”

  “You were a prisoner? Why?” The question was out of my mouth before I could take it back.

  Gabriel dragged his nails over the bench. “Swindling, petty theft, disorderly behavior, attempted murder—take your pick. Jonah took pity on me, I guess. Picked me out of the sorry crew. My crimes were pardoned on the condition that Jonah took responsibility for me by binding me to him. I tried to run when I was first released, but I couldn’t escape him—the pull of our binding is too strong.”

  “That’s why you arrived in our world hundreds of years after him? You ran from him?” I asked. A hundred feet away, Eve stood up and placed her fingers on the door handle.

  Gabriel let his hands fall loosely by his side. “I only lasted a couple of months before I couldn’t bear the ache anymore. A few weeks in my world—hundreds of years here. When I finally arrived, Jonah didn’t even punish me. He wasn’t what I expected. Jonah and Niamh—they were nothing like the other people I’d known before. I think life truly is different in their worlds.”

  “Time!” Eve squeezed her fingers around the door handle, and the rest of us flew to stand behind her. Frank guided Lydia gently to her feet, his face wreathed with creases. Eve pressed her ear against the door, and I let my Seeking energy flow down the corridor, waiting for the moment when the entire Court rose to greet their leader.

  I felt the High Guardian approach his podium before Eve heard any sound of movement from the Court. My fingers reached for Gabriel’s arm, and I pulled his face against my mouth. “Maybe we can change life here too. Destiny isn’t where you start, Gabriel, it’s where you end up.” He dropped his eyes to the floor, and I squeezed his arm again. “Thank you for not giving up on us.”

  Eve swept the door open as she heard the Great Council rise to their feet. We crept behind her down the corridor toward the High Courtroom. The power emanating from the end of the corridor was arresting. A thousand Angelic hearts beat against my eardrums. Sam’s fingers brushed against my skin, and I felt a spark as our magic connected. His eyes widened. “Shit, Gabriel—how many Angels are there in that room?”

  “Fifteen hundred, give or take.” Gabriel’s lips were compressed so tightly it was difficult to decipher the words.

  Ozzie stared at the door intently, and a breeze whispered past my face. “The Angelic clans—the leader of each represents their people in the Great Council.”

  “And the High Council are chosen from those?” I asked.

  Frank nodded. “Yes. The Great Council vote to decide who should be given
a place on the High Council and the members of the High Council compete to decide who should become High Guardian.”

  “The High Guardian is the most powerful of the Angelic Council, I assume, if he managed to win the competition?” I saw the High Guardian in my mind’s eye—slender and unremarkable in appearance except for his sharp hazel eyes.

  Frank lifted one shoulder and let it drop again. “Maybe the strongest of the candidates magically, or maybe just the smartest, but when the High Council are elected, and they are granted their share of the power of the Veil, the High Guardian receives the greatest portion.”

  I frowned. “So, if he wasn’t the most powerful Angel in the world to begin with, he is now?”

  Frank read my lips, my voice too low to decipher as we approached the doorway, and mouthed, “Yes.”

  Sam’s fingers threaded themselves through mine, and I felt of rush of power as our combined magic shivered over my skin. Drawing on my Seeking energy, I felt Sam reach out to examine the scale of the task ahead. His focus narrowed on a familiar spark of life on the other side of the wall. “Jasmine.”

  Gabriel whirled to face us with blazing eyes. “You can sense her? Is she unharmed?”

  I reached out for her with my magic. She was burning with life. I nodded. “She’s alive. Strong.” My teeth tugged at my bottom lip for a moment. “Sam and I could reach her with our energy and bring her home without entering the hall.”

  “No!” Sam and Dawn’s voices blended into one. Gabriel stared at them, but I knew what they were going to say before Sam spoke. “No. Not if you can’t sense Eli. We have to go inside to find him.”

  Cat’s face was gray as she dug her fingers into Ozzie and Dawn’s shoulders. “Samuel, if his energy is too weak to sense, then maybe he’s beyond saving.” She flinched as Frank and Sam glared at her. I dropped my gaze to the floor. “I loved Eli too, boys, and Cain would grieve him like a brother, but if we go through that door, there is a good chance he will be grieving for us all. And Elijah may already be dead.”