by J. E. Taylor
I noticed how tightly her hands gripped the arms of her seat and couldn’t help but grin. “So, this flutter of fear is normal?”
Michael chuckled. He seemed to be the only one that was completely relaxed. “I have no idea why you are so afraid of flying,” he said to Kylee. “It beats driving across the country.”
“I’ve never gotten used to it,” she muttered. “It’s unnatural.”
I started stroking Levi’s head despite the weird leathery feel of him under my fingers. He sighed heavily.
“I’ve never been out of Maine,” I said as the plane started moving.
“Well, you’re going to get to see the world over the next couple of weeks,” Kylee said.
I had seen the list. I didn’t think it was possible to close all the breaches in a couple of weeks. “What’s the plan?”
Kylee’s knuckles turned white, and I glanced out the window as the plane sped up. My heart lurched into my throat and my skin heated, but not in a scary way. It was thrilling, like driving the car at eighty down the empty highway. I grinned, excitement mounted, and when we left the ground, my stomach dropped. I giggled as I watched the houses on the ground get smaller and smaller.
“That was… exciting.” I turned back towards Kylee and Michael. He had the same silly grin I supposed I sported, but Kylee was white as a sheet and trying to smile back at us.
She shook her head and gulped. “The plan is to go get my arsenal and start closing breaches.” She pulled out her tablet and handed it across to me. “We need to get the bigger breaches first. We’ll be flying back to New York and work our way west until we are finished with the first round. So in order of breach size: New York, Texas, South Pacific, New Zealand, Ireland, and then back home. Five major breaches. The minor ones can wait until after you deal with Lucifer.”
“Won’t the minor ones become major if we don’t do anything about them?”
“The major ones are breaches to hell. They seemed to be the ones that punched through completely. The others are to purgatory, which really isn’t a risk at all, or they are minor breaches in hell that are nothing more than a shimmer in the sky. Most demons won’t even notice those, so they are much less of a risk, and we don’t need to concern ourselves with them right now.” She sighed and rubbed her face. “As far as the bigger breaches, there is already evidence of some serious escapees across the globe. New York is the biggest problem and the one we have to fix as soon as possible.”
“So why are we going to San Diego? Why not New York directly?”
“I need my weapons.” She looked down at her sleeping daughter. “And I needed her safe before I could focus on this mess.”
I couldn’t argue with that logic. My ears popped, and I swallowed, relieving the pressure.
“If you don’t mind me asking, what happened with Alex?” Kylee asked.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “He wanted to say a proper goodbye, and I wasn’t going to aggravate his father any more than we already had.”
“Proper goodbye?”
I stared at her and then raised my eyebrows when she didn’t seem to get it.
“Oh,” she finally said. “Aren’t you two a little young for that?”
“We’re sixteen.” I crossed my arms as my defenses riled up.
She laughed. “Sixteen is really young for that kind of responsibility, don’t you think?”
Michael shifted in the seat and glanced out the window. His barely concealed smirk piqued my curiosity, and I used my newly found mind-reading abilities to tap into him.
“He was fourteen,” I said and pointed.
His eyebrows shot up. “You can read minds now?”
The last time he’d seen me was when Tom was alive, and I wasn’t sure how much information had been shared while I was laid out.
I nodded. “I have everything that Tom had, but I have very little understanding of how to use it all.”
“Really,” he said and crossed his arms. His blinding aura flared with a string of purple and green.
I found it weird that doubt showed up as such vibrant colors, but then again, he obviously didn’t know the entire story. “What were you told?”
“That Lucifer has Tom,” Michael said.
“And to run if Tom approached us,” Kylee added.
I raised an eyebrow. “Tom is dead. He died while we were trying to stop the portal from opening. He gave me his heart.” My voice cracked. “And with it came everything. Powers, memories, and the strength I needed to close the breach. Except it wasn’t enough to stop Lucifer from getting through, so Tom’s death was a waste of a good man’s life.” My chin shook, and I bit down on my lower lip to stop the tide from bursting. When I had control, I continued. “I brought him back to the Ryans’ house, but your sister took him to Lucifer.”
Michael leaned back in the seat with horror written in his expression.
“So, Lucifer has Tom’s body. But he really wants Alex’s. And I’m on this godforsaken journey to close all the breaches when the guy that I’m in love with is fair game to fall into Lucifer’s hands.”
“What does Lucifer want with Alex?” Kylee asked.
“He wants his DNA. Alex and Grace have all the archangel bloodlines between the two of them, and Lucifer wants an army. What better way to build an unstoppable army?”
Michael paled. “And Grace wants Alex.” He ran his hand down his face.
“Yes. And she seems to be willing to turn on anyone to get what she wants.”
Kylee closed her eyes and leaned back in the seat. “No wonder why everyone was so subdued. I thought it was just because Lucifer killed Paige and Austin.”
“He’s trying to power up on what’s left of the angel descendants,” Michael said. “Damn.” He glanced at Kylee and narrowed his eyes. “Is that why you want me in San Diego?”
She shrugged. “I need someone I trust to stay with Alexis. And yes, I’ve become quite fond of you, so keeping you safe from his radar is an added bonus.”
A soft smile appeared on his lips. That was the first time Kylee had ever admitted to caring about him as more than just a traveling companion. It made me shift in the seat, feeling more like a third wheel as opposed to a partner in this crazy voyage.
Chapter 11
Arsenal was an understatement. I stared at the growing pile of weapons, from daggers, to tridents, to sabers and pikes. It was overwhelmingly amazing. I picked up a blade, and it vibrated in my hand. Power snaked up my arm and infused in my cells, making me feel invincible.
“That’s Solomon’s knife,” Kylee said.
The tremors in my hand passed into my entire body.
“Not everyone can handle it.” She stepped towards me and unwrapped my fingers from around the hilt.
The moment it fell out of my palm, I gasped. “Holy cow.”
She handed me a different pair of knives. “These might be more your speed.”
I didn’t know how to fight with a knife, but I pulled the snake-like blade from the sheath. It was beautifully crafted copper and steel. I put it back in the holder and handed them back to Kylee.
“You keep them,” she said and pushed my hand back toward me.
“I don’t have the foggiest idea of how to use a knife outside the kitchen.” I held them out to her again.
“You will learn.” She turned back to her weapons room and gathered a few more ancient artifacts, then dumped them all into a pair of duffel bags. She handed me one and shouldered the other.
The bag was heavy, and I nearly stumbled. I adjusted the strap over my head, and it was a little easier to handle.
We climbed down the stairs to Kylee’s open living room and kitchen area, and I stared out at the Pacific. It looked much more formidable than the Atlantic coast of Maine. The bright midday sun bounced off the waves, creating an energy on the air. It buzzed in my head, and I glanced at Kylee, wondering if she felt the same connection to the ocean.
Levi sat next to me looking out at the sea wit
h a wistful expression.
“Do you miss playing in the water or something?” I asked.
The dog looked up and gave me that crazy, tongue-lolling grin again. He didn’t need to say anything in my head. I knew it just from his expression.
“You know dogs can’t speak,” Michael said.
I glanced at him. “Yes, but Levi isn’t a dog.”
He rolled his eyes at me and shoveled another spoonful of baby food into Alexis’s mouth. He turned his attention to Kylee. “If something happens…”
“Nothing will happen.” She leaned up and pecked his cheek. “Thank you for taking care of her while I’m gone.”
He just nodded and glanced at me. I’m counting on you.
His thought echoed in my head and I nodded. Everyone was counting on me. It was a lot to shoulder, but I would do my best to keep Kylee alive. She didn’t seem the type to sacrifice herself for a virtual stranger, so I didn’t foresee the same ending that Tom had met at all. Besides, she didn’t carry angel grace in her bloodline.
We left and climbed into the little sporty coupe that was a totally impractical family car and sped off from the house. The drive back to the small airfield was cramped with Levi at my feet. I was happy it was quick, or otherwise I would have been sore for the flight.
Neither one of us said anything until we hauled our duffel bags onto the plane and stowed them in the back near the bathroom.
Kylee’s tension filled the small fuselage. For someone with so much experience, I found it funny that flying put her on edge. The pilot wasn’t on board yet, and as we waited, she seemed to tighten up even more.
After a half hour of waiting, Josh climbed the steps, looking more refreshed than when we’d left Maine.
“New York next, correct?” he asked.
“Yes.” Kylee nodded.
“And you need a car, right?”
She glanced down at the tablet. “That would be helpful.”
“We should touch down in a little over four and a half hours.” He turned and entered the cockpit.
This time he left the door open so I could see all the instruments.
He glanced back as if he knew I was looking the space over. “When we get in the air, you are more than welcome to come up and take a gander.” His gaze moved between the two of us, lingering more on Kylee than me.
“I might,” I said, feeling very self-conscious, as if the invitation hadn’t really been for me.
He grinned. “I’ll let you know when it is safe to pop in.” He turned back to the controls and readied the plane for takeoff.
I traded a glance with Kylee as my heart jumped with the rev of the engine. That internal rush took over, and I kneeled on the couch to get a look out the window. I felt like a two-year-old in a toy store.
Some of Tom’s memories filtered in. He knew how to fly a plane, and I grinned, glancing at the cock pit. I had his skills, his experience to tap into.
I could fly this plane.
“Why are you grinning like that?” Kylee asked. Stress layered over her sweet voice, making it sharper than she probably anticipated.
“I know how to fly a plane,” I said and winked.
She cocked her head, and I tapped my temple. My smile was so wide that my cheeks hurt. I really wanted to fly the plane, too, but from the paleness in Kylee’s cheeks, I wasn’t sure she could deal with a teenager taking control of such a large toy.
“Please don’t do that. It will give me a heart attack,” she said.
I laughed, feeling giddy as we started to speed up on the runway. Blood pumped in my veins, heating my skin with a pleasant warmth. The sudden lift off dropped my stomach for a moment, and all I could do was smile. This was so out of the ordinary that I couldn’t understand why Kylee was so afraid.
Levi crawled over to her to find some comfort since I was all about this rush. It was parallel to what making love to Alex had been like. Surreal.
The sudden reminder of Alex cooled whatever enthusiasm I was feeling, and I slumped in the chair.
“He really got under your skin, didn’t he?” Kylee asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “He was so angry with me.” I looked down at my hands. “I just couldn’t. Otherwise, I wouldn’t leave.”
“He is having a rough time of it, isn’t he?”
“Yes, and I had a shot at Lucifer, and I didn’t take it because he had Alex’s soul stored on a chain around his neck. I hesitated and my opportunity vanished. He was angry at me for that, too.”
“The things we do for love aren’t always the best or the brightest.”
“Tell me about your Alex.” I wanted to change the subject.
“Alejandro.” She sighed. “He died on a job, and if he hadn’t been killed by the thing we were hunting, I would have had to put him down.” She met my gaze. “He heard my siren’s song, and that is a death sentence for a human unless they can kill the siren themselves.”
“A siren?” I cocked my head. “You mean a mermaid like Ariel?”
Kylee burst out laughing. “No, sweetheart. Sirens are most surely not like the little mermaid. They are more like a horrific swamp creature that drives people into murderous rage with their songs.”
“Oh.” I glanced out the window. There was so much I needed to learn about this world and the supernatural creatures that I might be facing. “Can you teach me about the things out there?” I hooked my thumb towards the window. “I need to know what we might face at the breaches.”
“It depends how deep the breaches go. I think we may only be dealing with demons, but if there are more things getting loose…” She let out a low whistle. “I certainly hope that’s all, because if the breach goes deep enough, I can’t fathom what could get loose.”
I waited.
She rubbed her face. “Jinn, vampires, witches, soul eaters, sirens, bicorns, shifters, wendigos, banshees.” She took a big breath and shrugged.
“What, no Frankenstein or mummies?” I asked, trying to stifle a smile. I had read the romanticized versions of a lot of the creatures she’d listed, and my mother’s hand-me-down books hadn’t educated me beyond the monster’s basic need, like blood for a vampire, or wishes for a genie. So, I had zero frame of reference outside of the soul eaters I had experienced with Alex, and they had scared the crap out of me.
She leaned forward and narrowed her eyes. “This isn’t a joke. If those things get out, who knows how many will die. It’s bad enough if demons and hellhounds get loose.”
“I’m sorry.” I bit my lip and tried to figure out a way to erase the fiery anger in her gaze. “What if I tell you what I know, and you correct me when I go down the wrong path?”
She nodded and rolled her hand for me to continue.
“Vampires survive on blood and can’t go out in the light?”
“Yes. Their venom is poison to a human. And most of the ones I ever encountered were mindless. They drank until their victim was drained. And if the victim got away, the poison would kill them within a day.”
I shivered at the thought.
“Jinn or genies grant wishes?”
The bark of her laugh filled the plane. “That is partially true. Humans lose their life force to the jinn. Each wish takes a piece until there is nothing left. In that way, they are like soul eaters, with one exception. They don’t leave the people alive. Because people are greedy beings, they always come back for more than one wish. There have only been a handful of people who have walked away from a Jinn before the third and fatal wish occurs.”
I didn’t really want to hear more. I would assume the rest of the pack was as equally as horrific as the vampire and the jinn, but I pressed forward.
“Shifters turn into animals?” I asked, afraid of the answers.
She nodded. “They have a healthy taste for human flesh, as do all carnivores. However, these aren’t as easy to distinguish as the other monsters. Some refuse to eat humans. They have laws against it, but there always seems to be one in the pack that rebels. Those are
the ones that are in hell. And yes, they can turn into almost any animal they choose.”
“You told me about sirens, and I have dealt with soul eaters. So, what does a bicorn do?”
She licked her lips. “They feed on virtue. They steal souls and keep the victims as their slaves.” She glanced away. “Wendigos eat humans, and banshees are a little like sirens, except they don’t drive you mad. You just go blind and then your brain hemorrhages.”
“What about witches?” That was the only being she rattled off that she hadn’t covered.
“Witches are a little like shifters in that they aren’t always evil, but they can certainly hex you to death if they are one of Lucifer’s minions.”
“Well, okay, then,” I muttered, now more uneasy about this endeavor than I was before. I just thought I had to worry about demons, which were bad enough, but now I had to worry about all these other creatures.
The weight of that responsibility started to press on my shoulders. I slouched under it. “Can my angel fire kill these things?”
She nodded. “I believe so. The only concern I have is with a siren or a banshee. I have no idea if either of us is susceptible to their calls. If so, we are screwed unless we kill the source. I think the only other being that might make things difficult is a witch. The rest we can take down before they have a chance to hurt us as long as we have each other’s backs.”
“Do you have my back?” The words slipped out before I could stop them. The only thing I knew about Kylee was she used to be a siren. I stiffened in the seat as a memory started taking shape. I closed my eyes, forcing it back, but it was too late.
The area between the seats faded out of focus, and Kylee’s eyes grew wide. I wished the door to the cockpit closed while beyond the forming vision, the door actually did swing closed before the pilot could witness this little time jump.
* * * *
In the shimmering view, Tom shook his head and he said, “I’ve had my fill of demons, vampires, and ghosts. You’re the first siren I’ve ever met.”