Fire and Fantasy: A Limited Edition Collection of Urban and Epic Fantasy
Page 92
“Neither am I,” she shouted as she outpaced him and blocked his path.
Gabe halted and his jaw muscles twitched. He struggled to keep his emotions in check. For a moment, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he felt steady, he said, “Talk.”
“You have been here too long.” A hint of sadness emerged from the usually frosty angel, but passed just as it appeared. The light emanating from her became more subdued as she spoke. “No matter. Your responsibilities have not changed. And you put everything in danger the longer you drag your feet.”
“I’ve given you my answer already. You have no further business here.” He sidestepped Ariel in an attempt to shake her off, but she mimicked his movements, a second ahead of him at each turn. After a minute or so of this cat and mouse game, he roared, “Get out of my way.”
Without warning, she faced him nose to nose, two inches of space between them. In a feral tone she whispered, “If I could do the deed myself I would.”
A wild image flashed through his mind. His hands wrapped around Ariel’s throat, slowly, ever so slowly, squeezing her windpipe. Bone and muscle crushed together, the sound echoing through the woods. A hideous gasp as the angel takes her last breath. The silence that follows after her body falls to the ground…deafening.
Gabe pushed the gruesome picture away. He took a pointed step back, frightened by his rage. Steadying his breaths, he let the tension drain from his body. “You push your luck, Ariel.”
“I only remind you of your place.” She leaned forward but made no further move toward him. “This world makes you forget yourself, who and what you are.”
“I’ve never been more myself.” The words spoken aloud took a weight from his shoulders he didn’t know he bore. He rose straighter, taller somehow with the revelation. His soul exploded forth as if released from a cage. The pine-scented air filled his lungs. What is the human expression? The truth will set you free. So be it.
“Really? Shall I remind you?” She waved her hand from sky to ground. “You are a fallen angel. One who betrayed our laws. You are outcast, banished. If you ever hope to see the Light again, you will seek your redemption.” She paused and placed her hands on her hips. Power exuded from her body, dripping from every pore. “Our word, our judgment is the Key must die.”
“Then, I challenge the Angelic Council.”
“You dare question us?” A melodious laugh like the ringing of church bells cut through the air.
“Yes. I question the Council’s hypocrisy. One day setting me on a road to protect this Key, the next demanding I kill her. I question the sanity of believing even one life is expendable.” He fixed his gaze on her, eyes burning. “But, most of all I question your motives.”
“Those are not questions, Gabe. No. They smell much more like accusations.” Ariel thrust her wings forward in a fierce display that shook the very earth around them.
“Call it what you will.” Gabe ran a hand through his hair weary of this conversation. The angel’s power began to creep upon him like pinpricks on his skin.
“You think me heartless, but I am not.” Her tone changed again, now dripping with sweetness. “She is dangerous, Gabe.” Her lashes fluttered like flower petals in a breeze. The energy pinpricks turned to teasing strokes. Stepping closer, she draped a hand on his chest.
It was an old act of hers and one he knew all too well. He grabbed her wrist, clenching his fist over the delicate bones, and threw it off as if it were a snake that bit him. Putting more distance between them he said, “Not this time.” His hands came up. “Just go home, Ariel. There’s nothing for you here.”
She gazed at the ground, pouted lips and tear-filled eyes. In a breath the moment was gone, her face masked once more. She met his eyes with absolute impassiveness. “We’ll see.” Her last words uttered as she took to the sky.
A blaze could be viewed from below as the angel returned to her world. The sight would appear as a shooting star to any human who might be watching. Gabe knew better. An explosion of heat and fire emanated from an angel’s body when it shook earthly form to pass through to the world of Light beyond. Ariel would emerge into that existence, a place he once called home, with perfect ease and grace. A pang of envy hit him as he watched her disappear.
“The Light,” he said. “Peace. Peace of mind. Peace in my heart.” He laughed. “Even a creature as cold as Ariel can feel the pull of human emotions, earthly emotions, in this world. Even she can’t fight it.” He sighed, trailing his eyes across the sky to watch the last flicker of light. “What hope do I have then?”
A voice flew on the wind. A name reverberated. “Gabe.” Cassie called to him. Even at this distance he could hear it, feel it, the connection with her.
“Cassie.” Going back to the Light would mean leaving her behind. Leaving all he’d learned, the pleasures and pain, the emotions, the joys and sorrows, the love; none of it could return with him. Cassie. If she would only bond with an angel, all would be different. Worlds would merge. Life would be forever altered. If the Light descended upon the Earth, could they be together?
Gabe walked toward the cabin with heavy steps and a heavier heart. All the days of his long existence he had been sure of his decisions, certain of his way. Since the day he had fallen, everything changed. With absolute tunnel vision, he’d sought redemption. Now, when it seemed closer than ever before, he pushed it away for a woman he never knew he wanted, never imagined he needed.
By the time he trotted through the woods and reached the front door, his head pounded in his ears. He rubbed his temples, then opened the door. Cassie sat on the couch with hands folded to her chest and an unreadable look on her face. Bypassing any greeting, she said, “Well?”
A hint of fear ran through her question. Her doubt was more than he could handle. In two strides, he stood before her. She unfolded her hands and rose atop the couch, matching his height. Her gaze felt hot on his cool skin as if her searching eyes could see straight to his soul. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck, her cheeks, her nose, her mouth. He wished to answer her question, to ease her fears without words.
When she pulled away, he let her go. Her expression altered. A blush appeared on her cheeks, but doubt lingered in her eyes. “Tell me what happened, Gabe.” She traced his jaw line with a delicate brush of her fingertips.
“Ariel came to remind me of the Angelic Council’s decision.” He paused, hesitant to recall the details of that decision. He took Cassie’s hand and gave it a squeeze.
“You mean she came to tell you she wants me dead and you’re to kill me.” Cassie pulled her hand away.
“They want you dead. Though I’m quite sure it’s by Ariel’s persuasions. She’s very good at getting her own way.” He growled low. The image of the angel’s taunts a constant vision in his mind. He shook it away. “None of which matters anymore.”
“Why?” She barely spoke it aloud. Gabe strained to hear her.
“Because...” It would be so easy, so simple to tell her how he felt. But, he couldn’t. He wouldn’t be so selfish. Too much was at stake now. The day of the bonding drew near. She needed to decide for herself the right thing to do, not be influenced by his feelings. “Because I won’t be connived into committing murder. I’ve killed before, but never an innocent woman.”
“I’m not innocent. I’m guilty of a lot.” She looked down and tried to wipe her eyes discreetly.
“Cassie, I...” He turned away to stop himself from taking her in his arms and showing her how much he cared. “You’re not guilty of anything.” He walked to the dining room table and took a seat. Struggling to make his voice more neutral he added, “And you have more important things to consider now. Don’t worry about Ariel or the Council.” He swallowed hard. Or us. His fist landed on the wood table. “I’ll deal with them.”
He watched her brow furrow and eyes narrow. She didn’t say a word. As if coming to some decision, her face went blank. She hopped off the couch and joined him at the table.
He ignored the change in her demeanor, and tried to match it instead. “Every bonding is different. Sometimes it’s a simple blood exchange, sometimes it requires oaths, or it can be a complex ritual.” He shrugged. “It all depends on the participants. Both sides, angel and demon, must be present to assure the Key’s free will. But, the bonding will change depending on the Key’s choice.”
“So, whoever I choose to bond with will determine what I have to do?”
“Yes. But, it will come. You’ll know what to do when the time is right.” He sighed and wished they were talking about something else. He didn’t want to picture her bonding with anyone, in any fashion.
“I don’t understand. How will I know what I’m supposed to do?”
Gabe thought about the last time he’d heard of an Angel-Key bonding. “I knew several angels who were sent to Earth to bond with new Keys. One of them described the act as being as natural as breathing.”
“Doesn’t really help.” She leaned back in the chair making it tilt at an awkward angle.
“I’m afraid it’s all I can tell you.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Just trust yourself. You have keen instincts. Use them.”
“What if I choose wrong? What if I do something wrong?”
A lump formed at the base of his windpipe and he swallowed it down. He trusted her, but her concerns mirrored his own. If their roles were reversed, he couldn’t be sure he’d be confident in his decisions either, not anymore. He said what he’d want to hear. “You’ll be fine. I have faith in you.”
Her eyes welled up but the tears didn’t fall. “Thank you,” she whispered.
The chair screeched across the floor as Cassie jumped up. She reached for him as if caught on fire. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she fell into his lap, and pressed her lips to his. He met her fervor after only a moment’s hesitation. So much had passed between them, and so much more lay on the horizon. He felt dazed by the force of it all, but refused to fight it.
Pulling back a fraction of an inch, he said, “Don’t think this will get you out of training.”
She laughed. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
They made love that night as if the chance would never come again. Unspoken emotions surfaced in every kiss, every look, and every touch. The days ahead would lead them to a future neither of them could foresee, but the nights until then were theirs alone.
Twenty-Six
Cassie came out of the shower with a fluffy yellow towel piled high on top of her head and a flimsy white t-shirt hugging her still moist body. Tiny beads of water fell from her lean legs onto the carpet. She caught Gabe’s heated gaze on her and batted her lashes with a come hither stare.
“I’m not taking another shower today,” she huffed at him, suppressing laughter. “I’m too exhausted.” Her body betrayed her as it came alive and tingled in all the right places.
Gabe got up from the couch, where he’d sat watching the news on TV. How human, she thought with a sigh as he made his way toward her. How normal. The months they’d spent in relative peace created a surreal atmosphere. She could almost believe they were just another average couple on a private retreat, almost forget the decision that lay ahead. Almost.
“Well, if you’re too exhausted, maybe I can find a way to relax you,” he said, stalking toward her. His muscles rippled in an enticing display as he closed the distance. He reached for her and jerked her forward so that she stumbled into his arms, finding herself pressed against his hard chest. The cotton fabric of her t-shirt tickled her breasts.
“And how are you planning on relaxing me?” she said, warmth filling her cheeks.
“Do you want me to describe it,” he whispered into her ear, sending a shiver up and down her back. “Or do you want me to just show you?”
“I don’t know.” She feigned seriousness, trying to push away from him. “I don’t want to take another shower.”
“What if I promise to wash you? All you’ll have to do is stand there and let me do the work?”
Cassie wiggled her brows. She put her arms around his neck in surrender, not that she ever considered giving him a fight, when her phone’s musical ring sounded nearby. Sighing, she let him go.
“Just as it was getting interesting. Ah well. Must be Zoey,” she said, grabbing the phone from the side table by the couch. Over the past seven weeks, no one had called except Zoey. In fact, no one else knew how to reach Cassie and Gabe at all. Cassie didn’t like the hiding but if she were going to live to see her birthday, then it was a necessary inconvenience. For good or bad the day would arrive very soon.
“Wonder why she’s calling so late,” she said to Gabe as she flipped the phone open.
Gabe just shrugged.
“What’s up, Zo? You’re not at a party or a club?” Cassie laughed, waiting to hear her friend’s bubbly comeback.
Instead, a frosty voice came through the line. Her blood ran cold, recognition causing her head to swim. She knew that voice though she would far prefer to forget it.
“You didn’t want to play with us so we had to settle for your friend,” the caller said into her ear with no preamble. She glanced at Gabe, horror written on her face. In one smooth movement, he was at her side, his ear pressed to the side of the phone. His arm went around her waist and pulled her close. A protective growl escaped his throat.
“What have you done, Dan?” Cassie didn’t let an inch of fear slip into her question. She surprised even herself at the amount of control and coldness she could muster into her tone. The terror mounting inside didn’t equal her stoicism.
“Oh, nothing yet. We’ll make your friend’s stay with us as pleasant as possible. Well, as pleasant as one can be in restraints and with a gag in one’s mouth. But I’ll try to at least keep my boys away from her.” He paused allowing the commotion in the background to break through the line. A muffled feminine cry along with several male threats echoed in Cassie’s ear. ”Although she looks too damn tempting all tied up.”
Cassie bristled. Hold it together. Mounting courage against this bastard felt like an impossible task. He was taunting her, yet his sadistic tendencies meant Zoey could already be hurt or worse. Her heart dropped. She turned eyes full of dread to Gabe. He squeezed her waist.
“What do you want?” The words came out through gritted teeth, but her tone remained even. Don’t let him shake you. Why didn’t the bastard do the world a favor and die back in Vegas?
“Daddy wants to see you again.” Dan’s tone became smooth, velvety, as if he was trying to seduce her through the phone.
Motherless... Cassie shook enraged, and Gabe tensed beside her. “When?”
“He wants to spend your birthday with you. You know, catch up.”
A manic, hysterical laugh threatened to bubble up, but she didn’t let it reach the surface. “I’ll bet he does.”
“You should give him a chance. He has so much to offer you,” Dan said, a hint of sincerity breaking through the cold exterior.
Psycho! He believes this shit. Her thoughts became bitter before she could respond. The urge to hurl became so strong, Cassie had to pull the phone away and take a deep breath. It didn’t help.
“You are the last person I would take advice from, you stupid son of a bitch!” She screamed into the phone with all the vehemence she could summon.
“Hey, just trying to make it a little easier for you, darling.”
“I doubt that very much. Your only concern is making things easier for yourself.” Despite her rage, logic kept her thoughts on track. She was getting sucked into pointless banter. Holding hand over the receiver, she counted to three, then said, “Just tell me what you want me to do to get Zoey back.”
She locked eyes with Gabe. Sympathy and support etched in his gaze. It was enough to keep her steady, an anchor to grab on to as the water closed over her head.
“Well, we’ll pay you a little visit, you know, to talk things out.”
She could practically hear his sick grin through the phone. No more games for this asshole. In as low a voice as she could manage, she said, “Let’s cut through the B-S, shall we? Your ‘little visit’ is to force me to bond with him, correct?”
“Hey, that’s your daddy’s business. I’m just the messenger.”
“And you know what they say about messengers, don’t you? They tend to get shot.” The image of Dan with a bullet through his brain and the gun in her hand was seriously appealing at this moment.
“I knew I liked you.” He laughed high and wild. “But I’m just your father’s humble servant.”
“Please, like you don’t stand to profit from your work.”
“More than you could ever imagine, darling.” He cooed the term of endearment at her like a lover might.
She tapped her foot against the hardwood floor. The rage and agitation built to its breaking point. She tried to get her nerves under control and form a plan. After an awkward silence, she decided to keep the home field advantage. “Well, I’m not going anywhere. I’m assuming you don’t need directions to us.”
“Oh, I like you more and more,” he whispered, the sound reverberating through the line. “Now, tell your guardian.” The last word elongated in an obvious manner of distaste. “Tell him not to try any heroics.”
“You better make sure Zoey is unharmed.” Cassie’s words escaped as a hiss through clenched teeth. “Or ‘daddy’ dear will lose me for good. Wouldn’t want that now, would you?”
Dan’s cackle preceded a harsh beeping as the line disconnected.
Every muscle in her body pulled tight. She gasped trying to suck in some air.
“Shhh, stop shaking, love.” She let Gabe’s voice penetrate the fear that overtook her. Her whole body shook. Her breath hitched and tears spilled. She let Gabe comfort her within his strong embrace, wiping the tears away with his fingertips.