by T. G. Ayer
"Daniel, you are wasting your time here." Evie spoke, keeping her voice even, trying not to reflect the tumult of emotion within her. Not an easy task since she was slowly beginning to fear his fury. Something inside her sensed the depth of his anger. Knew she may have just taken on more than she could deal with. Even with Julian at her side, Evie guessed the winner may just be this once unassuming Grigori. "Marcellus has already tried, and failed to retrieve the Seals." She gained a deep sense of satisfaction to see the confusion in his expression.
"Where is Marcellus, now?" he asked, his hand also at the ready not a breath away from the hilt of his sword. "His men said when they'd left, he'd been with you?" Evie gritted her teeth. She refused to be guilty for Marcellus's death, and the last thing she wanted to do was doubt her actions just because Daniel expected it.
"What were you expecting me to do, Daniel? Provide him with five star entertainment?" Evie lifted her chin, but didn't miss Daniel's hesitation. She continued, "He got what was coming to him."
"What have you done with him?" Daniels voice vibrated on the question, the tremor in his voice indicating a deeper dark anger.
"Marcellus got what he deserved, Daniel. He had a lot to pay for. Including Patrick. You didn't think he would get away with it, did you? Sorry, but your Master is not coming back from where he is now." There was a certain satisfaction to those words that Evie enjoyed far too much. She tamped it down, ashamed.
"He was not my master." Daniel denied his servitude shaking with anger. "The only Master I have ever bowed to has forsaken me."
Evie scoffed. "So what are you going to tell me? That you were Marcellus's Master?" Daniel regarded her, his brow rising, impressed.
"You catch on fast for a half-breed." Evie glanced at him sharply, surprised at the denigrating tone of the words. If he disliked Nephilim he’d certainly gotten the wrong job working among them for so many years. And if the roles of Master and servant were indeed in reverse to what the Brotherhood had understood, they'd kept that fact well under wraps. Memories of Daniel's constant presence when Marcellus was around flitted through Evie's mind. He'd never been far from Marcellus, that much was true. The pair had managed to pull the wool over everyone's eyes. The entire Brotherhood had believed a well-fashioned lie.
"Half-breed, not half-wit," spat Evie. "I see your true colors are finally showing, Daniel."
"You have no idea, little Nephilim." He laughed, the name of her kind rolling off his tongue like a vile profanity.
"Actually, we have a pretty good idea. We would have realized what you were up to soon enough." She lifted her chin, challenging him to deny it.
But he just shook his head. "And, naturally you would have been too late," Daniel sneered. "In fact, I think in your case you were too late for Patrick, weren't you?"
Evie's jaw tightened, her teeth jamming against each other. He was goading her and in spite of knowing that, every instinct screamed at her to race at him and claw his eyes out. But she didn't. She wouldn't allow her anger and grief to cloud her judgment. Daniel had proved to be smarter than them all. Now, she needed to be at the top of her game if she wanted to defeat him.
Evie circled Daniel. He smiled, not at all intimidated by her movement. He held his ground, turning his head to follow her movement. This was not his turf and yet he exuded a confidence which made Evie quake. There was something raw and powerful about Daniel. Something that warned Evie to back off. But she could not afford to listen to her instinct.
"Evie, stay away from him." Julian's voice rang out, tossed back and forth across the stone walls.
"Who is your guard dog, Evangeline?" asked Daniel, his lip curling in a nasty sneer.
"Julian is the guy in charge down here." Evie doubted that it mattered at all that Julian was the Ruler of the Underworld. To Daniel nothing mattered except for the Seals themselves. And, as if he'd heard her thoughts, Daniel spoke, "Why don't you just tell me where the Seals are and we can be done with all this nonsense."
"You aren't getting the seals Daniel. They belong to Hades, not you."
"So do you plan to stop me?" His fingers tightened around the handle of his sword.
"You know I can, Daniel."
"Evie, you are not seriously thinking of fighting this man are you?" Julian was shocked, and in that moment, looking at his narrowed eyes and flushed face, Evie realized there was one issue that could make this whole thing go straight down the tubes. During her time down here, she had kept the secret of her angelic nature from Julian.
In the beginning it had been a precaution in case her angelic nature would be a reason to be a target in the Underworld. And then it had been too late, too late to reveal her nature to Julian who had begun to trust her. Now it was too late to take those steps back to the beginning when she should have told him in the first place.
But hindsight was a wonderful tool for clarity. Not that it helped her now. All it did was mess with her mind and add to her fear and guilt.
Chapter 8
Evie's other hand hovered over her knife while her eyes remained fixed on Daniel's face. She didn't like the smirk that twisted his lips. Neither did she like the way Julian hovered in her line of vision. He wanted to protect her but this was certainly not the time. He was more of a distraction, what with his mortality posing a problem for both Julian and Evie.
Wounded, Julian was very likely to die, while Evie would live through anything Daniel could throw at her. He'd have to rip her to pieces to kill her. But Julian knew none of this. And the guilt twisted in her gut.
Daniel brandished a monstrous sword from his side and in that moment Julian stepped smoothly in front of Evie. The weapon gleamed an evil black and made Evie recall the vision she'd seen outside Gavriel's cell. For a moment she tasted blood and smelled it too. Just as it had smelled in the vision, pungent and visceral. There was something about the sword too that turned her gut and made her want to scream in agony.
Evie moved forward intending to get past Julian but he elbowed Evie out of the way. Daniel watched them, tossing the evil instrument back and forth between both hands. His skill with the weapon was clear to Evie; he handled the weapon as if it weighed as much as a toothpick but Evie knew it was brutally heavy. If it was really obsidian.
Evie's eyes settled on the bulge of muscles on his arms and shoulders, usually hidden beneath his unassuming Grigori cloak. Muscles that confirmed her opponent was strong and trained. Daniel had managed to keep a lot hidden these past years.
"Well, Ruler of Hades, show me what you got, then." Daniel lunged toward Julian who side-stepped him neatly and returned swiftly to his ready stance. He had no weapon. Pollo watched from the edge of the Cavern, prancing from one hoof to another his eyes flitting from his Master to the intruder and back again. The tap-tap of his hooves echoed eerily around the cavern, like a distant clock counting down Julian's last moments.
"A weapon for Julian, Pollo," Evie shouted at the frightened faun. Pollo's head shot up as her voice reverberated around the room, louder than it should be, louder than was natural for a normal girl. Stirred into action, Pollo raced off, his hooves clipping a serious pace down the nearest tunnel.
As Evie watched his tail disappear into the shadows of the tune she prayed he would return before Daniel ended his master's life.
Meanwhile, Daniel and Julian circled each other like a pair of bull elephants in must. She would not be surprised at all if they began stamping their feet and trumpeting.
"Julian, leave it. It's my fight not yours," Evie called out hoping he would listen.
"How do you expect to fight him? He could kill you," Julian yelled back at her, not taking his eyes of his opponent.
"And I could kill him right back," Evie snapped, her patience depleted.
Daniel waited, watching their conversation as if biding his time. Evie just wanted Julian safe. She kept a full eye on Daniel who did a slow dance, foot to foot, waiting for either Julian or Evie to make the next move.
"Wait. Daniel. This i
s not Julian's fight." Evie shouted the words hoping Daniel wouldn't turn a deaf ear just to spite her.
Daniel cackled and maintained his wary posture, eyes forever watching Julian. "Then tell him to be gone. You and I have to finish this fight. Now." His voice was low and dangerous and Evie sensed he was losing patience.
"No," Julian growled. "Stay back Evie, this is dangerous."
"I can handle it, Julian," she said She was beginning to tire of the lies.
"But, he will kill you." Evie heard the desperation in Julian's voice. He would let himself be killed if it meant saving her life.
"No, he can't kill me," she said softly. And in that instant she knew she'd already made a crucial decision. The deception ended now. "Julian, he can't kill me. For two reasons. One, I am trained to fight, with or without my sword. And two - I am a Nephilim. Nothing can stand in my way."
Evie thrust out her wings. A soft whirring echoed around her like the tumultuous flapping of a hundred hummingbird's wings. She rose two feet off the ground and hovered in a singularly majestic way that was hers and hers alone. Her wings glittered glossy white and silver behind her, rising high at her back, the highest point of its curve almost reaching the height of the ceiling of the cavern. It was clear that the Cavern was not made for a battling warrior angel.
Julian stood below her, too stunned to do much else besides stare at her in utter amazement. Evie met his eyes, and saw in its depths the hurt that she had put there. It answered the hurt she felt in her heart. She only hoped that someday he would forgive her.
For now though she needed to concentrate on Daniel, who had stood aside and watched her revelation as if it were an art house movie to be studied in depth. His sword still gleamed in his hand, like a living force filled with evil. The evil gleam matched his smile as he leered at her. Evie's gut hardened. Something was seriously wrong here. Why would Daniel be so sure of himself? What was he hiding? Evie was certain she had missed a vital clue, and with no time on her hands to reconsider what her instincts were telling her, she focused on the task of defeating Daniel.
Her opponent tossed his demonic sword between his hands again, as if it were too hot to hold within one grasp for long. Then he straightened to his full height and Evie's heart sank to the pit of her stomach.
She heard the dull whip and flap behind Daniel.
Wings, as white as the first snows, whiter the Evie's own wings, thrust out about him. The sound of his wings filled the Cavern, now overcrowded with two winged angels.
Evie's stomach twisted with horror as she absorbed the sight before her.
Daniel.
The angel, Daniel.
Chapter 9
Daniel's wings spread out behind him, impressive and dangerous, inspiring a little spark of fear in Evie's gut. He remained on the ground and regarded Evie as if considering his choices. She didn't see that he had many left at all. It was now a fight or die situation. And Daniel didn't give her the impression that he was about to back down. In fact he looked pretty confident.
Too confident.
Daniel. How had he lurked among the halls of Greylock all these years and managed to hide is angelic nature from everyone? Was angelic glamor that much more powerful than a Nephilim's? So powerful that none of the half-angels in the Brotherhood were unable to see through it?
Evie wished she'd listened to the screams of her instinct. Even her recollection of the strange vision of dying angels shedding rivers of glistening blood had not set off her alarms bells. Perhaps she'd been too occupied with thoughts of Julian and his mortality to pay attention to Daniel. She had underestimated him. And that was dangerous.
Daniel lunged toward her, swiping at her with his broad black sword. Evie ducked, paying more attention to the sharp edge of the weapon than what was going on around her.
The clatter of hooves drew Julian's attention from the battle above him. Pollo came running into the Cavern, bearing a sword like a spear. Julian snorted at the sight of the faun trotting in hefting a weapon much taller than he was. Pollo leaned his body forward, balancing out the weight of the angelic sword but despite his compensation it still looked likely to tip him on his rear at any moment.
Julian gritted his teeth at the sight of Gavriel's sword, and instead of showing his attendant the appreciation he deserved, let out a bark of anger. "Pollo. What in Hades name are you doing?"
Pollo's eyes flicked to Julian's furious face, and his mouth quivered. "We had to bring him, Sire. He is our only hope."
"Where is he, Pollo?"
"Er . . . he is coming. He . . . needed his wings. "As he spoke Pollo's attention was drawn slowly away to the sight of the two angels clashing swords in the cavern above. His eyes grew wide with horror, flitting nervously between Daniel and Evie. When his gaze settled on her, Julian saw shock, admiration and hurt in the faun's eyes. Another person who judged her for her great omission.
Not that she didn't deserve it.
Julian broke Pollo's concentration as he spoke. "Pollo, no. You have no idea what you are doing."
The faun shook his head, short shark jerks to negate Julian's words. "He has promised to return to his cell after the battle, no matter what happens. The worst that can happen is he dies," Pollo added dryly. But Julian could tell it was an act. A slight twitch of his brow disclosed his utter fear of Julian's wrath.
But they were wasting time. And distracting Evie, which was a dangerous thing considering the determined, dangerous angel she faced.
"What's going on?" she yelled down at Julian, daring to flick a glance at him before ducking another powerful blow.
Julian grabbed the sword from Pollo and tilted it up at her. Evie glanced at the sword and Julian could see her face pale as her gaze settled on the sword.
An angel's sword.
Evie blinked at the sight of the weapon.
"No. He can't." Evie breathed hard trying to calm herself.
"That's what I've been trying to tell this imp of a servant," Julian hollered.
"And what I've been trying to tell you is that he has said yes and he is already on his way. Sire, if you choose to punish me you can do so afterward." Pollo thrust his shoulders backward, as if steeling himself for another barrage of remonstration from his ruler. When no scolding came he relaxed, but only slightly.
Evie, hovering above the furious Julian, snapped her attention back to Daniel who had circled her again. The span of his wings now turned the vast cavern space into a mere birdcage. A thrust of her own wings and Evie felt them brush against the sloping walls behind her. The space was too small to fight and fight well. Evie's heart thudded as she defended herself against another set of lunges. Tired of playing defense she knew she had to get on the front foot here.
Better get this over and done with.
Daniel moved left and Evie struck, her sword glancing off the angel's belt leaving a small slice of leather in its wake. He glared her then lunge at her, swirling his sword above his head, he grabbed the hilt with both hands and plunged it at Evie. If he'd hoped for a kill shot he was sorely mistaken. Evie, having seen the direction of the blow, had used the wall behind her to boost off, then somersaulted over Daniel's head to land behind him, unhurt.
Better get it over before Gavriel arrived.
His injuries would have already weakened him far too much. He'd be unable to withstand a battle with another angel. Especially an angel who looked to Evie to be infinitely stronger and much more confident than the damaged Gavriel.
Evie had last seen him a few hours ago. Would his wings have grown back to their full glory so quickly? Even so, his strength and stamina would surely have suffered from the intense pain of the removal of those wings. And considering the energy involved in reproducing those wings Evie wasn't confident in Gavriel's strength to fight any angel, let alone Daniel.
Daniel turned to face her, his fury twisting his face into something unrecognizable. Evie set her jaw, lifted her sword and charged at Daniel.
Chapter 10
; Daniel was ready. He parried the shot, his face hard, jaw clenched. The defensive blow sent Evie tumbling to his right, slamming her headlong into the curved slope of the ceiling.
Daniel laughed, deep and arrogant, the sound echoing along the walls, taunting Evie. She set herself right, turning her attention back to him. She watched his body language, watched for the first opening. Daniel advanced, thrusting the sword at her, with his full weight behind the deadly weapon. Evie ducked, then dove below him. She was lighter, more nimble than Daniel, who didn't realize what she was about to do. Unable to stop his charge, Daniel smashed into the rock wall in front of him. His sword connected with stone and the sound the collision made was like thunder, only a hundred times louder. Evie wanted to cover her ears but realized the action would not ease the pain.
The sound rang both outside her ears and within her mind.
Evie winced, hoping the angel had injured himself severely. But he righted himself, barely flinching as he lifted the sword and turned his thunderous gaze back to her. He roared his anger. She felt it in her bones, in her muscles and behind her eyes as if her brain would explode. But she stiffened her resolve despite the ripple of fear that coursed through her. She reminded herself that she was angelic in nature too and that he was just a big bully.
But Daniel wasn't your average bully. Being an angel made him a bigger threat. But she wasn't about to let him off lightly. As he flew at her, she kept her eyes on him, ready to parry even his smartest side-swipe. Evie braced herself for impact.
Then she was rammed in her side by a force the size of a bus.