To Fall (The To Fall Trilogy Book 1)
Page 44
Uriel and Gabriel spoke in unison. Their eyes flashed. Their words shook the ground beneath our feet. “THE WILL OF GOD SHALL NOT BE QUESTIONED!”
Lunging forward, Calista and Caleb grabbed me.
Caleb whispered, “No, Brother. Not now.”
Hannah stepped in front of us and restrained her voice. “Yes, Brothers. We understand. Thank you. For God’s Throne.”
The Archangels gave a brisk nod and repeated our vow. Their light streaked the sky as they ascended to Heaven.
Hannah turned, emerald eyes blazing, feathers twitching. “We’re all thinking it. Let’s get it out there.”
Caleb’s jaw clenched. “I think the time has come to start questioning. This makes no sense. Why not destroy Cresil themselves, if not for Abby, for his other crimes? Why council Lucifer and grant passage for Astaroth to come to Earth? Allow a demon prince to be among humans? It’s insane! Astaroth is dragging more demons up with him as we speak. If the Scales tip—” He shook his head. “And that bullshit with Abby? Since when does the opinion of one Guardian, let alone four, get ignored? This is not God’s mandate.”
Calista’s eyes narrowed. “I agree. There’s an agenda here.”
“Why two Archangels? Why did they want to speak to all of us, only to ignore us again?” Hannah’s questions sent a wave of panic through us.
My chest hollowed a moment before I shot off the ground, leaving the rock fissured beneath me. Sensing my siblings behind me, we raced home. I looked to my brother. “Caleb!”
“I’m already on it.” The phone went to Caleb’s ear. “Hey, Jake, what’s going on today, man?”
My own phone was at my ear, waiting for Abby to pick up. Please, God. Please. The line clicked and the shaky tone of her voice chilled my core. “Xander?”
My true Hell had just begun.
72
Abby
Waking up alone, I smelled breakfast meat and syrup. I padded to the kitchen in pajamas, daydreaming of last night, and I hit a hard body. It was a cloud-scented body, but not Xander’s.
Caleb.
I tried to cover myself and it turned into an epic fail. I needed much thicker arms to complete the job. These weren’t let-your-boyfriend’s-brother-see-you-pajamas. “Oh! I didn’t know you were here.”
Caleb turned and his neck was bright red. I’d never seen him blush. “Sorry, Abby. It’s my fault.”
“Um, I’ll change.” I ducked back into Xander’s room. They weren’t supposed to be here for another eight days. Something was wrong. After changing, I found four serious faces in the kitchen.
Meeting me at the island, Xander gave me a kiss. His voice was husky and low. “I’m sorry.”
“What’s going on?”
Taking my hand, he sat me down at the table. “We have to go out today. The Archangels want a gathering with us. I know I said Abby business trumps angel business. But—”
“What’s an Archangel exactly?”
“The Second of the Nine Choirs are…like us, they’re soldiers, but much more powerful, and most importantly, they are messengers for angels of the Upper Echelons or His Throne. They are responsible for delivering our commands and assignments. Archangels are the equivalent of generals in your military. Only seven exist, where Guardians number in the millions. It makes meeting with them difficult.”
“Is everything okay?”
He nodded with a tight smile. “Yeah. I want you to stay here, though. Don’t go anywhere, okay? This shouldn’t take us long. We’ll be in the area to the south.”
“Okay.”
Xander laced our fingers together and guided me to his room. His lips sealed over mine in a deep kiss. I wrapped my arms around him and he picked me up. “Abby, I love you, with all of my being.”
A chill swept over me. “I feel like you are saying good-bye for good.”
His eyes bore into mine with a surprising intensity. “No, I’ll never say that word to you. I just want you to know how much I love you.”
“I do. And I love you, too.”
He kissed me once more.
I watched my angels take off from the yard. The house was cool with the back doors open; a morning winter breeze flowed through. With country music on, I cleaned up the kitchen from breakfast.
The trash bag was full and I went to throw it out. Reaching the gate, I realized the canister was out front. I had to laugh at what the garbage truck going up their mountain must look like. Putting the bag down, I unlatched the gate and went to get the can.
A lanky form came up the hill. He waved. “Hey, Abby!”
I smiled. “Will?”
He had on running shorts, a white T-shirt, ball cap, and sunglasses. Slung across his chest was a camera case. “I prefer, Iron Will. You ever see leg muscles like these?” Jutting out a scrawny leg, Will drew up the nylon shorts an inch above his tan line. Man, he was white.
I laughed. “No, they are quite a sight. What are you doing here?”
“Hiking. There’s an awesome trail here I like. Unbelievable views. Wanna come?”
He knew I couldn’t. “Funny, Will. Why don’t I run a marathon while I’m at it?”
Will grinned. Bozo barked from the backyard.
Will finished walking up the drive and his head cocked to the side. “This isn’t your house. What are you doing here?”
“It’s Xander’s house.”
He exaggerated understanding. “Ah, I see.” I blushed crimson and Will asked, “You want help with the garbage can?”
“No, I’ll get it.” Bozo skidded next to me and growled at Will. My stomach dropped and any trace of a smile faded away as the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.
“You sure? It’ll give me a chance to use these muscles.” He was closer now. Too close.
Bozo bared his teeth and my heart raced. I was in trouble. My phone rang to Xander’s ringtone. Will’s smile sharpened into something else. Something so unlike him. Something…evil.
I tried to control my voice. “Excuse me, I’m sorry, Will, can you give me a sec?” My fingers trembled on the screen. “Xander?”
“Abby! Are you okay?” His words were rushed and the wind muffled his voice.
Before I could answer, Will grabbed the phone from me with fingers like ice, and he put the speaker on. “Hello, Alexander.”
Xander’s voice was panicked. “Abby, who is that?”
Will said, “Alexander, did I ever tell you my favorite color? I’ll bet Abby can guess.”
Trembling, I was rooted to my spot.
“ABBY!”
Will ignored Xander’s plea. “It’s pink. I prefer the color in polka dots. Mmm, Pink Polka Dots. And you, Alexander, have been playing with my Pink Polka Dots for much too long.”
He took off his sunglasses. Will’s eyes were black. All black. No whites.
Cresil.
Bozo launched at him. Screaming, I took off for the house.
A yellow fur ball flew past me; Bozo’s body landed with a sickening crunch in the rocks, and small whimpers came from him. I didn’t stop or turn around. I left Bozo, my protector, there to die. One thought flashed in my mind. What Xander told me.
Run.
Reaching the backyard, I grabbed the gate and swung it closed. My feet didn’t stop. The latch caught. I kept running. Pain speared my heart with every breath. I wasn’t far from the house. A large shadow moved on the ground and gravel spit up behind me. I didn’t look back. The door was right there, another couple of feet.
A cold hand gripped my arm, yanked me back, and I screamed. Cresil jerked me around to face him, still holding my phone. Meeting his eyes, my own scared reflection blinked back at me.
“Should we let your rat hear this? I think we should. I think he should know what he’s been missing this whole time.”
Clawing at him, I dug my nails into his arms.
“Oh, Pink Polka Dots, please fight. You are going to be scrumptious!”
His grip was like an iron shackle. No matter how much I ga
sped, air wouldn’t come; it was locked outside of the vise gripping my lungs.
Cresil grabbed my hair; each strand strained and pulled on my scalp. He jerked me forward into the house and my feet stumbled to keep pace with him. Taking what little breath I had left, I screamed again. As he dragged me by my hair, my chest ripped with pain.
“Oh, I’m gonna have fun with you. Too bad, we don’t have a lot of time. I was gonna draw this out, but oh, well.”
I sobbed with the phone inches away.
“You hearing this, rat? She’s crying. Sweet tears for me are running down those pink cheeks.”
Xander cried, “Abby! Abby! Hold on for me, please!”
Scowling, Cresil’s chilled hold released me and air rushed around my ears. The walls of the family room flew past, my shoulder slammed onto the tile, my head bounced, and warmth spread down my face.
Cresil stalked over like a lion to his wounded prey. Blackness edged into my vision and I fought to breathe. His hand went to my chest and ice sunk into my heart.
“Oh no. That won’t do. I want you to enjoy this just like your mommy did.”
To be continued in
About the Author
Donna AnnMarie Smith’s New Adult Paranormal Romance, To Fall, debuted in 2015. Her love of the desert and experience as a wife of a United States Marine inspired her to write the To Fall Trilogy. She and her husband, Chris, live with their three daughters near the White Tank Mountains in Arizona.
You may find her on Twitter @DonnaAnnMSmith, Facebook www.facebook.com/DonnaAnnMarieSmith, and at www.Donna-AnnMarie-Smith.com.