Sons of Angels

by Rachel Green

  “I don’t know. Slap her or something.”

  Felicia slapped her sister, the print of her hand appearing in red and white on Julie’s cheek.

  Julie’s eyes snapped open. They no longer had irises but instead were pits of darkness. Her hand snapped up and caught Felicia’s wrist, holding it immobile despite Felicia’s superior strength.

  “What’s going on?” Harold raced into the room. “I got this garbled message from Devious saying that I was needed urgently.”

  “The baby’s too big.” Felicia pointed to Julie’s distended abdomen. “It won’t come out and she’s dying. Do something.”

  “The charm of separation, I thought.” Jasfoup flashed a nervous grin. “But you’re better at living things than I am.”

  “That won’t work with a baby.” Harold felt the taut skin. “Only a parasite that has different DNA to the host. The baby will share half her chromosomes.”

  Felicia’s heart was pounding. “Do something.”

  Harold nodded and stood over Julie. He muttered some words over her and her eyes closed, her fingers lost their grip upon Felicia’s wrist. “I’ve put her to sleep. It should spare her most of the pain.”

  “You can’t put someone to sleep during childbirth. She has to be awake to push.”

  “She can’t push.” Harold ran his hand over her stomach. “It’s hard. What have you impregnated her with, Jasfoup?”

  “Just a baby. How was I to know it’d be like this?”

  “I can’t separate it out. We’re going to have to cut her.”

  Felicia shook he head. “None of us have medical training. We’d kill her.”

  “I’ll do it.” The new voice was mild, and they all turned. “Do you know how much fuss you’re making in the currents of the underworld?” He nodded toward the sleeping woman. “It’s enough to wake the dead.”

  “Lord Azazel.” Jasfoup bowed. “You honor us with your presence.”

  “I know.” Azazel came forward, his djellaba fluttering. “Step back, please.”

  Felicia was reluctant to move, but the glare from the demon lord was enough to send her scurrying. Harold drew back as well.

  “Watch and learn.” Azazel placed his hands on Julie’s stomach.

  Felicia gulped as the demon lord split open the skin to reveal a hard gray surface. His hand slipped inside her, found the size and shape of the baby and drew it out. All three of the spectators gasped. Felicia took one look at the smooth ceramic-looking skin and felt the gorge rise in her throat. She turned away to vomit into a vase.

  “There we are.” He placed the object on the bed, oblivious of the blood and mucus that would stain the antique eiderdown for evermore. “Isn’t she beautiful?”

  Harold was the first to state the obvious.

  “It’s an egg.”

  Chapter 42

  Felicia could feel the hair on the back of her neck standing up as she watched Azazel lay a hand on Julie’s stomach. She was fairly sure the soft down along her spine was erect, too. If she'd been in wolf form, she’d be growling with all her hackles up. Despite his human appearance, it was as if she could feel the raw power of the demon in the same way an iron filing can feel a magnet. Not that she was attracted to him. Oh, no.

  There was no glowing blue light from his hand, no words of divine power and definitely no needles or stitches involved, but when he stepped back, Julie’s stomach was whole and unblemished.

  “Can you teach me to do that?” Harold traced where the cut had been. “That’s a handy spell to know.”

  “No, I can’t.” Azazel rubbed his palms together.

  “Oh.” Harold looked crestfallen. “Is it a complex innate power of an angel, granted by the Creator to the divine few?”

  “No.” Azazel cracked his knuckles. “I just don’t want to. That’s quite an impressive egg. Better than I thought it would be.”

  “Thought it would be?” Felicia frowned. “You knew this would happen?”

  “Of course.” The demon lord took out a white lace handkerchief and began to wipe the egg. “Samael and I engineered it.”

  “But why?” Felicia glanced across to Julie. The breeze from the land of the dead had gone, leaving behind the hot, dry scent of parched earth.

  “It’s the solution to your problem.” Azazel finished wiping off the surface. “The angels are looking for a dragon, so let’s give them one. They can go away and stop killing my nephilim.”

  “It’s a dragon egg?” Harold stepped forward to view it more closely.

  “Yes, a dragon egg.” Azazel looked at Jasfoup. “You’ll notice I had the perfect opportunity to be sarcastic there and refrained?”

  “Yes, lord.” Jasfoup nodded.

  “That’s why I’m a lord and you’re only a level five. Self-restraint. You should try it.”

  “I’ll bear it in mind if I ever feel the urge not to ridicule and belittle.”

  “So we wait for this to hatch and just give it Puriel?” Felicia traced the delicate veining on the eggshell.”

  “Why not? It’s no loss.” Azazel smiled. “I’ll be sending my bill in the morning.”

  “Bill?” Harold almost put a hand on the demon’s arm to stop him. “What bill? You said this was in your interest as well as ours.”

  “It is.” Azazel paused and looked into Harold’s eyes. “But I was asked to intervene in your difficulties, so I will present a bill. If the proposal ran counter to my benefit, I would not have intervened at all.”

  “You mean that this egg was the result of Gillian asking you to intervene?” Harold shook his head in disbelief. “Julie nearly died.”

  “But she didn’t. That’s the point.”

  “So is this dragon my child, or not?” Jasfoup picked up the egg and hefted it.

  “In a manner of speaking.” Azazel glanced at the sleeping mother. “Without your involvement it wouldn’t have happened. You have a dilemma in front of you. Save your friends or save your baby. Now. It’s gone dark and I have work to do. Cheerio.” Azazel faded from sight.

  Harold shuddered. “I dread to think what his bill will be.”

  Felicia leaned in close to the egg. “I can hear its heart beating.”

  Harold and Jasfoup leaned in as well, resulting in banged heads. Harold swore.

  “Language, Harold. Not in front of the children.”

  “What?” Harold frowned. “Oh, the egg.”

  “An egg to you.” Jasfoup rapped on the shell. “But a first-born son to me.”

  “Only until we give him to the angels and they chop him to bits.” Gillian stepped into the room. “It’s true, then. Parenthood does change a person.”

  “What would you know?” Jasfoup snarled. “You haven’t got any children, and if you did, they would be ancient by now.”

  “Probably about Harold’s age, anyway.” She ran her hand across his arm. “Hello, my sweet.” She allowed Harold to kiss her cheek and Felicia her hand. “This is the dragon they’ve been looking for then?”

  “I don’t actually know.” Harold held up his hands. “Azazel said it’s a dragon, but I’ve no idea if it’s the one the angels are after. If one is due to be born and one is born, are they the same thing or not?”

  “Either way, we have to give it up.”

  “We can’t.” Felicia looked from one to the other. “This is my nephew you’re talking about.”

  “A nephew that will lay waste to most of London if we let it grow up.” Gillian tapped on the shell. “When is it due to hatch?”

  “He didn’t say.” Felicia returned to the bed to check on her sister. “Who knows the hatching period of a dragon? Should we keep it warm?”

  “We should.” Jasfoup pulled the edge of the duvet up around the egg. “Dragons take up to three years to hatch.”

  “Three years?” Felicia’s jaw dropped. “We’ll all be dead by then.”

  “It will be far less than three years.” Gillian stared at the pattern of red diamonds on the duvet. “This is still a neph
ilim child, remember? I would guess a week or so.”

  “It’s still going to be difficult to last that long.”

  “Then we stick to the original plan and fight.”

  “Can’t we just give them the egg?” Harold looked through the window. “Not to appear callous or anything.”

  “I don’t see why not.” Gillian hefted it thoughtfully. “They’ll know it’s a dragon inside, won’t they?”

  “They know everything.”

  “Will you put that down, please?” Felicia said, her voice a threatening growl. “Whatever its species, it’s still a child.”

  “The sacrifice of which will save not only us but all the nephilim on the earth.” Gillian glared at her. “I’d let you give your life for a child but not mine.”

  “What?” Julie’s voice was thick with sleep. “What child?”

  “You’re a mother.” Jasfoup rushed to take her hand. “We have a beautiful baby boy.”

  “You have an egg, gender undetermined.” Gillian leaned of the foot board. “Don’t get attached to it because we’re giving it to the angels.”

  “What?” Julie said again, struggling to sit upright. “How could I have had an egg? Where’s my eye?”

  “Here.” Felicia pressed it into her hand and directed it toward the egg. “You can blame Azazel.”

  Julie stared at it for a moment before closing her fingers over her eye. “That’s disgusting. It’s not even half-human.”

  “It’s still nephilim.” Jasfoup squeezed her hand. “It’s still our child. How can you call it disgusting?” He stroked the egg.

  “What’s inside it? Will it even be something I recognize as my own?”

  “It’s a dragon.” Jasfoup lifted the egg and cradled it. “Feel it.” He pressed her hand to the surface. “It’s beautiful.”

  At the touch of Julie’s hand the egg cracked, a vertical split appearing and growing wider. The thick white edge contrasted with the dull blue of the outer surface. A claw poked out and began enlarging the rift.

  “Dear God! What on earth is that?” Jenna appeared at the doorway.

  “A dragon egg.” Felicia barely spared her a glance. “It’s hatching.”

  Julie opened her fingers again. “It’s like watching a horror movie. I’m terrified but desperate to see what comes out.”

  Jasfoup put his arm around her shoulders. “There’s no need to be afraid. This is our child. You must be the first woman ever to watch the birth of her own child.”

  “She’s the surrogate mother.” Gillian took a step back. “This is no spawn of hers.”

  The gap had widened enough for a tongue to come questing out to taste the air. “It’s got a tongue.” Jasfoup squeezed Julie’s shoulder so hard it popped.

  Julie moved her sight marble closer. “Like a snake.”

  “With claws?” Felicia was in awe. “I can’t believe I’m witnessing the birth of a dragon.”

  “Harold,” Gillian said in a harsh whisper. “Get some meat.”

  “You heard her.” Harold nudged Devious. “Get some steak.”

  The imp vanished as the tongue was replaced by a pair of claws trying to lever open the shell. “Shall I help it?” Jasfoup leaned forward.

  “Yes.” Felicia frowned. “No... In the wild they have to do it on their own. It’s a law of nature.”

  “When did you last see a dragon on Animal Planet?” Jasfoup pulled the split apart and the dragon fell onto the duvet, its wings creased and folded against its back. Skin damp with albumen glistened under the electric light. The demon reached out to pick him up. “He’s perfect.”

  He used a piece of the sheet to clear the slime from the creature. It had a large, pointed head on a scrawny, turkey-like neck on a clumsy, bird-like body. Translucent scales shimmered across its skin, layered like feathers on a chick. Stubby wings flapped uselessly. He went to pass it to Julie, who shrank away.

  “Keep that thing away from me. I don’t want anything to do with it.” She turned her face away. “Give it to the angels so they leave us alone.”

  “Here’s some meat.” Harold took a bowl of diced steak from Devious. “It must be hungry.”

  “Probably.” Jasfoup took one of the chunks and held it in front of the dragon’s face. After a brief pause it snapped at the meat, swallowing it whole and looking for more. Harold placed the bowl in front of it.

  “It’s got four legs and two wings.” Felicia’s voice was hushed. “I assumed it would have two and two.”

  “Whatever gave you that idea?” Jasfoup smiled as the hatchling took another chunk. “There’s no law against it.”

  “There’s nothing in nature that has four and two.”

  “There is now.” Harold watched the little creature devour the steak. “Besides, this is nephilim. Angels have four limbs and two wings. Do you think we ought to go around chopping their arms off?” He saw Gillian’s look. “Don’t answer that.”

  “Sorry. I just expected it to have two legs, like a Welsh dragon, that’s all.”

  As if it could hear them, the dragon stood on its feet and stretched out its wings, pumping blood into them like an insect just out of its pupa. They flexed and stiffened, iridescent when the light caught them.

  “How big is it, do you think?”

  Harold shrugged. “Two feet, tip to tail?”

  “Yes, about that.” Felicia continued to stare at the tiny dragon. “It wasn’t that big a minute ago.”

  “It was, surely?” Jasfoup tickled it under the chin. “It can’t possibly have grown in five minutes.”

  “It has, I’m telling you.”

  The dragon found its shell and began to eat it.

  “Whoa!” Harold rushed to rescue the shell. “That’s the only dragon shell in the world. It’ll be worth a small fortune.”

  “No, Harold.” Felicia took it off him. “Let him eat it. He obviously needs the minerals. It’s not like anyone would ever believe it was a dragon shell, anyway.”

  “I suppose so.” Harold looked on sadly as the pieces vanished into the dragon’s mouth. “He is pretty cute.”

  “It still has to be given up.” Gillian scowled at him. “I owe Azazel a favor for this. Technically, it belongs to me.”

  “I think you’ll find I gave birth to it.” Julie struggled to sit up. “It’s mine.”

  “And mine.” Jasfoup took her hand again. “I’m the daddy.”

  “You have to.” Gillian turned to him. “Would you rather give up Julie? Felicia? Harold? When the angels have slaughtered them, they’ll still take the dragon at the end of it.”

  “I’ll run away with it.” Jasfoup raised his chin. “I’ll take it to the Summerlands.”

  “Where the Fae will slaughter it.” Gillian stepped toward the dragon. “Just after they crucify you to the last burning tree.”

  “Somewhere else, then.” Jasfoup shook his head. “Look at him. You can’t sacrifice him for the sake of the nephilim.”

  “I can and I will.” Vampire claws slid from her finger sheaths. “Don’t try to stop me, demon.”

  “I’m with her.” Jenna stood next to the vampire, turning partially wolf.

  “Gillian! Jasfoup!” Harold stood between them. “Fighting amongst ourselves just makes it easier to pick us off.”

  “The dragon is mine.” Julie plucked the reptile from the bed, the grimace on her face betraying her loathing. “I shall do with it as I will.”

  Chapter 43

  An orange light bloomed outside, sending flickering shadows across the room, and leaving ghost images of the window on Felicia’s retinas.

  “What the Hell?” Julie pulled the dragon to her chest, its spines and scales still soft enough not to pierce. It dug tiny claws into the flesh of her breast and revealed rows of teeth as it hissed.

  Gillian looked out of the leaded panes. “Another freakin’ angel.”

  Jasfoup stole a glance. “Raphael.” He hissed, an echo of the dragon. “This is bad.”

  Harold edged to the n
ext window and opened it a fraction to shout down to the angel. “Go away. I’ll call the police. Look. I’m calling them.” He held up his mobile and began to punch in numbers, then ducked as another fireball splashed against the house.

  A little of the fire blossomed inside, setting light to the Georgian lace net curtains. Harold pulled them down with a shriek, jumping on them to extinguish the flames.

  “Give him the child.” Gillian’s voice boomed.

  “No.” Julie pulled the hatchling tighter against her chest. “You can’t use that voice on me. I command the dead.”

  “Darn it.” Harold snarled as another orange flare lit the room. “That was the potting shed going up. We’ve got to do something.”

  “Julie.” Felicia knelt at the side of the bed. “Make me some of those grenades like you did before.”

  “Grenades?” Gillian looked doubtful.

  “Fetishes. Ice and shadow and fire.” There was a boom as the lawn mower exploded. “Maybe not fire.”

  “I’ll try.” Julie tucked the dragon under one arm and held her hand out. She closed her eyes and a ball of whirling energy began to appear in her palm.

  “He’s doing something.” Gillian stared out. “He’s holding out his hand.”

  Julie screamed. “He’s drawing power through me. I can’t stop him. He’s–”

  She slumped to the bed, unconscious, Jasfoup standing over her. “Nerve pinch.” He grinned. “I learned it off the television. I had to break the connection before he pulled something out through her.”

  “Where’s the dragon?” Felicia patted the covers. “She was holding it.”

  “Damn.” Harold looked around. “We have to find it. That was our ticket out.”

  “We have to find it because it’s my son.” Jasfoup’s voice warbled.

  More flames blossomed against the windows. “He’s going to set fire to the house at this rate.” Harold growled. “We’ve got to stop him. All the weapons on the walls and not a single sodding gun that works.”

  “I’ve still got the fetiche Julie made earlier.” Felicia held up the ring box. “It was supposed to be for Puriel, but it should work against this one just as well.”