by Thawer, Tish
“I understand. You can bind me if you’d like. I won’t fight you, I swear.” Abigail lowered her head and lifted her hands into the air.
Raven didn’t hesitate. With a fling of her ribbons she ensnared Abigail’s wrists and began lifting her to her feet. “We’ll have to use my portal to get back to Purgatory, since I can’t get through yours,” Raven explained. “In order to do that, I’ll have to touch you, okay?”
“Of course. I understand.” Abigail stood still as Raven walked forward, coming to stand directly in front of her. The hard edge of Raven’s distrust was clearly etched on her face.
“I’m going to hold onto you now. Just stay still while my inner light builds,” Raven explained.
Abigail nodded and did as she was instructed. Raven wrapped her arms around the assassin, and closed her eyes. “Ouch! Stop…what are you doing? You promised.” Raven cried out as flames burst from Abigail’s hands and started burning up her ribbons.
“I’m sorry, I’m not doing it on purpose!” Abigail screamed.
Raven scrambled to distance herself from the flames, which only caused them to burn more intensely. Red and orange sparks filled her vision as she patted her hands against her leathers. Pain burst from her back as she spun around, fueling the flames that had now drifted onto her wings.
Abigail rushed forward, wanting to help, but was blown backwards when Death arrived in a swirling vortex of shadows. “Stay back!” His voice sounded with the power of a sonic boom which thankfully doused her flames and those upon Raven’s back.
23
“Give her to me!” Michael demanded the moment Death arrived with Raven in his arms.
“She’s okay. Her wings are only slightly singed.” Garrett eased Raven into Michael’s arms, then went to check on his crying wife.
“Are you sure she’ll be all right?” Holli sobbed.
“Yes. I’m sure. She’s just passed out from the pain, I think.”
“Tell me what happened.” Michael’s voice cut through the room like glass.
“I was monitoring Raven’s retrievals when I saw Abigail arrive. As you know, I can’t hear any conversations, but only witness the scene through my pool. One minute they were talking, and the next Abigail burst into flames. That’s when I sent Holli here and you arrived. When I appeared topside, Raven was on the ground with her wings on fire and a portion of her ribbons burnt off.”
Michael growled and Holli’s sobs grew louder.
“I put out the flames on them both, and returned here with Raven immediately.”
“What happened to Abigail?” Holli asked.
“I don’t know and I don’t care.” Death spat. “It’s clear Lucifer has given her more power to combat us with, and now, hopefully Heaven will intervene and bring this to an end.”
Michael nodded at Garrett then disappeared with Raven in his arms.
“Dark Abigail!” Lucifer bellowed, clearly happy to see her return.
At first, Abigail had grown to like Asmodeus’ nickname for her; thought it made her sound like a badass. But now, every time she heard her own name, she cringed––just like everyone else.
“Did you have any trouble with your mission?” Lucifer asked.
“Actually, yes. I wasn’t able to complete either kill.” Abigail prepared for her punishment.
“Then why are you here? You should have remained until the job was completed. Is that asking too much?”
“It’s not the things you ask of me, it’s the things you don’t ask for, yet still expect. I’m not a goddamned mind-reader. I thought you’d want me to report back, and perhaps we could alter our plans.” Abigail lied, hoping to buy time until Raven had the chance to convince her friends to help her escape this nightmare.
The look on Lucifer’s face told her that if she were able to read his thoughts, she’d be even more pissed off than she was right now. It was becoming glaringly obvious how little he thought of her. So much for “You’re special, Abigail. You’re the one who can bring an end to the chaos that envelopes our realm, Abigail.” It was all bullshit, and now she hoped more than ever that Raven, Holli, and the others would accept her apology.
“There’s no need to alter our plans. Return to Purgatory and complete your assignment.” Lucifer waved her off. “If you have any more trouble, just let me know,” he added in an oddly better mood than usual.
Abigail left the throne room, thankful she was still in once piece instead of writhing on the floor from her failure.
“Babe! You’re back. What happened?” Asmodeus pushed off her bed and pulled her into his arms.
“Everything is completely messed up. Raven agreed to help me, but then I lost control of my flames. Then, Death showed up and now probably thinks I was trying to kill her.” Abigail sighed. “I just hope she wakes up soon so she can tell him what really happened.”
“Yeah. I hope so too. At least you can stay here with me until that happens.” Asmodeus pulled her onto his lap and started kissing her neck.
“Not so much. Lucifer is sending me back to Purgatory because I didn’t complete my kills.” Abigail buried her head in the demon’s chest. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“Can you hear me, my love? Please wake up.” Michael sat next to Raven on their bed and ran a damp cloth down her ashen cheek. Thankfully, Death had saved her before any permanent damage had occurred, but the fact that she hadn’t stirred since arriving back in Purgatory was a huge concern.
Michael walked into the bathroom and placed the cloth in the sink. Staring into the mirror, he barely recognized himself. He’d never felt anger like this before and was convinced it wasn’t going to dissipate until the assassin was dead. She’d killed three Reapers, tricked them into thinking she was an innocent when she wasn’t, and now, had tried to kill the woman he loved. Michael slammed his fists into the marble counters, crushing two holes into the surface.
“Is now a bad time?” called a female voice from his front room. Michael spun and stomped to the front door and found a messenger angel waiting for him. “You’ve been summoned.” The blonde angel turned and disappeared without another word.
Michael returned to Raven’s side and gently kissed her cheek. “Rest, my love. I’ll be back shortly.”
Donning his angelic attire, he flew to the main castle, excited to receive his next assignment, which he hoped would put vengeance within his reach.
24
Sirens blared as flames shot into the sky all around her. Raven bent down and tried to revive the lifeless body lying at her feet. “Come on!” she pleaded at the young boy, hoping her extra perk would kick in and allow her to breathe life back into his dying corpse. Suddenly, her lungs filled and her prayers were answered, or so she thought.
Raven exhaled, but grabbed her throat when the mist pouring from her mouth wasn’t the usual white, life-giving substance, but instead a thick black gooey stream. A maniacal laughter split the air just before the boy was ripped away, floating into the hands of a dark shadowy figure. Raven stood and pushed into the air, beating her wings as she frantically tried to reach him.
“As long as your soul continues to burn, so do theirs.” Red eyes flashed in the dark, then disappeared with the boy’s soul.
Michael pushed through the ornate golden doors of the inner kingdom, emerging into the opulent white room where all of his assignments were handed down. Gold fountains poured through crystal corbels, creating a kaleidoscope effect that filled the space with a light as bright as the sun. Blinking to adjust his vision, he saw Death standing in the middle of the room as well. “What are you doing here?” Michael asked.
“I was summoned.”
“As was I.” Michael crossed his arms and awaited their instructions.
A moment later, a booming voice filled the room. “We brought you here, both together, so there would be no misunderstanding. We are apprised of the situation, and for the time being, you are to keep your distance from all parties involved. Your instructions are to do n
othing!”
Michael looked at Death, who just shook his head. “In all humbleness, may I ask why we aren’t allowed to intervene?” Michael stepped forward and cautiously continued. “Lucifer and the assassin have proven their involvement with Loki and have now threatened Raven, another of your emissaries.”
“You are not fully informed, therefore you will keep your distance until otherwise instructed.” The light in the room pulsed even brighter, and suddenly Michael and Garrett founds themselves standing outside of the main gates.
“Well, I guess that’s that.” Garrett shrugged.
“I don’t understand. How are we not fully informed?” Michael paced.
“I don’t know. Perhaps once Raven wakes up, she’ll be able to fill us in?”
“Perhaps. Or perhaps the next time I see that assassin, I’ll become fully informed and end things once and for all.”
Lightning crackled through the sky and Death lifted a hand, waving goodbye, and then disappeared.
Michael spread his wings and flew through the thick bank of clouds which hid the archangel’s private quarters. Emerging on the other side he walked through the sparkling blue gates and through the massive marble columns toward the front door of his large estate.
“Raven?” he called out, hoping to hear her sweet voice in response. Unfortunately, he was met with only silence. Walking into the bedroom, the scene was the same as when he’d left. Raven’s long dark hair and wings were spread across the white silk sheets of their oversized bed as her prone form laid there, still and unmoving. Michael approached the side of the bed and bent down, placing a light kiss on his Reaper’s lips. Pulling away, the faint scent of burning sulfur tickled his nose. “Lucifer!” he cursed into the air.
Abigail tiptoed around the back of the mausoleum, trying hard not to be seen. She and Asmodeus had made a plan for her to return to Purgatory, as instructed, but to simply lie low until Raven was able to reach out and help her. The only problem? Avoiding the rest of the Reapers who’d been told to destroy her on site. Yes, she could defend herself easily, but how motivated would Raven and the others be in assisting her if she continued to kill their friends?
“Not very,” she whispered to herself.
She’d managed to pinpoint the direction from which all the Reapers flew towards the field, and as each one got closer and closer, she adjusted her hiding spot, depending on which portal they chose. Six hours later, her calves were killing her from the longest game of hide and seek in history. She’d kicked off her heels hours ago, so she could skip and hop between the mausoleums with ease. Unfortunately, this dodging game had already worn thin and she no longer wanted to play.
“No. I don’t care if there is an outbreak of phenoms, I don’t want you going topside alone,” Death’s voice shook, but Holli couldn’t tell if it was due to anger or fear.
“I promise, my love, I’ll be careful. It will literally take me seconds to secure the phenoms with my sword, and if Abigail shows up, you know I can easily defend myself. Besides, you can monitor everything through your pool.” She leaned up and kissed his lips, then turned and flew away, not waiting for his response.
Holli flew straight to the portals fields, angling herself down in front of mausoleum 52. Pulling her wings tight, she retrieved her sword from her belt and grabbed the handle to the door. Stepping through the blue portal, Holli emerged topside into the netherworld of Chicago. She flew straight to the top of Willis Tower, pinpointing the small group of phenoms only a block away. Pushing into the sky, she held her sword high, and within seconds––just like she’d told Garrett––she had them sucked into The Devourer and was already on her way back to Purgatory.
Stepping back through the portal, Holli held her sword in the air and watched as the phenoms were released into the gray sky. A gasp caught her attention, along with a strange knot forming in her gut. “Who’s there?” she called out, expecting one of the other male Reapers to appear and hassle her as they still did from time-to-time.
“Please don’t panic.” Abigail emerged from behind one of the mausoleums nearby. “I’m not here to hurt anyone.
Holli’s stomach throbbed with pain. She doubled over, wrapping her arms around her middle, unable to respond. Luckily, the sound of massive wings beat down from overhead and Michael’s voice billowed from above.
“Stay away from her!” Michael shouted as he slammed to the ground, landing between them.
“Wait! Please! You don’t understand,” Abigail pleaded, unwilling to back away.
“I understand that every time you’re around someone gets hurts, and that ends now!” The archangel lunged forward, determined to take out the assassin once and for all, despite Heaven’s instructions.
Abigail dove behind the closest stone building and tried to open her portal in a wild rush. She needed to flee Purgatory and return to Hell, regardless of her punishment. The angel was upon her again, though, before her hellfire had even begun to build. She scrambled to her feet and started running like a mad woman down the long rows of Reaper portals.
Michael ran forward then pushed into the air, soaring directly above the mausoleums and making it impossible for Abigail to escape. She darted left, then right, rolled, bobbed and weaved, but still ended up with a pissed off angel hot on her tail. Barely escaping a swipe of his blade, Abigail ducked and ran around the corner, directly back into Death, Holli, and her huge, freaky-beast.
25
“There’s no escape!” Death held his scythe in the air and called down a swirling vortex of the floating souls that created a spinning barrier around Abigail’s waist that held her in place.
“Please! I already tried to explain, I’m not here to cause trouble.” Abigail raised her hands in the air, breathing deeply as she tried to catch her breath.
“We’re no longer willing to take you at your word.” Death ran his free hand down Holli’s back. “Sweetheart, are you okay? Can you tell me what happened?”
Holli struggled to stand up straight with her arms still wrapped around her middle. “I’m not sure. When I returned from my retrieval, everything was fine, until this massive cramp formed in my stomach.” She gave Abigail a strange look. “That’s when I noticed Abigail hiding behind the mausoleum,” Holli cast a quick glance up at Garrett, “but she didn’t try anything. She didn’t hurt me.”
“And she never will,” Michael added from where he now stood behind the group.
“Hold on! I know you think I hurt Raven on purpose but that’s not true!” Abigail shouted.
“A fact you can’t prove until she wakes up. How convenient,” Michael replied.
“No, but I can show you what I tried to show her and you can see for yourself.” Abigail stood still, not wanting to move until she had their approval.
“Fine, but Abigail, if you try anything, I will destroy you.” Garrett’s voice caused goose bumps to break out across her skin. Ironic, since she was about to unleash her flames.
“I understand, but first, I need to explain.”
Death nodded for her to continue.
“Like I told Raven, Lucifer has tricked me and twisted our deal when he recently imbued me with even more power to complete my jobs.” She shook her head, regretting mentioning that little detail. “Anyway, when he sparked my hellfire it changed me, and now, not only can I not control my flames––which is what happened with Raven, but I am actually turning into a demon.”
Garrett and Michael exchanged a look, but Holli’s eyes never left her face.
“Here, I’ll show you.” Abigail moved to hold out her hands.
“No!” Holli shouted. “I don’t need to see anything. If you willingly come with us and let us place you in stasis, we’ll see what we can do to help you.”
Garrett looked at his wife and recognized the determined look on her face. He wasn’t going to change her mind.
“I agree. Yes,” Abigail responded immediately.
Holli nodded at Svell. The massive ice-hellion moved forward until
he was directly in Abigail’s face. With a deep breath, his chest expanded then he blew out a cloud of ice that encased the assassin, along with the souls around her, into a solid block of ice. Holli nodded at Garrett and Michael. “There. Now let’s get her back to the castle before Loki shows up to break her out again.”
Death looked at Michael, wide eyed, and shrugged a shoulder. The archangel moved toward the frozen assassin and using his sword levitated the block of ice into the air. Walking slowly, they made their way back through the portal fields, down the cobblestone main street, and up the slate steps of Death’s castle without any altercations.
“Now what do you want to do with her?” Garrett asked his wife.
“Keep her here in the throne room. That way one of us will always have an eye on her. Svell can take the first shift.” Holli nodded at her guardian, who gave an agreeable huff, then laid down in front of his prisoner.
“Michael, return to Heaven and check on Raven. Please let me know if her condition has changed at all,” Holli instructed.
“Okay...” Michael looked at Death, who just raised an eyebrow, but kept his mouth shut. The angel disappeared, finally leaving the two of them alone.
“Want to tell me what’s going on?” Garrett asked.
“Not yet.” Holli rubbed her stomach as she past Abigail, then took a seat atop of Death’s throne. “Sorry, I just need to sit down for a minute.”
“Holli, sweetheart, please! At least tell me you’re okay.” Garrett knelt down beside his wife.
Looking deeply into his eyes, Holli smiled. “Don’t fret, my love. I’m going to be fine.” She reached forward and laid a hand on his head as he bent and placed it in her lap.
“Well, well, well...has my daughter finally reclaimed the throne?” Loki snickered from across the room.