“We are both available, Flower, and we both know that you want me,” he called out, but I refused to turn around. He didn’t understand that one time wouldn’t have been enough.
Half an hour later I was standing outside the Broken Shoe, my heart thumping like crazy. Once I entered the bar I realised that I should have turned around and run back to Zach, because I bumped straight into Rodriguez’s wide arms.
“Finally, we can have a chat, Miss Brodeur,” he said, leaning over the bar and caressing his thick beard. Fuck, of course he knew that I liked spending time in my local pub. Someone must have mentioned to him that I had been drinking here for as long as I could remember.
I rolled my eyes, so he knew that I wasn’t scared of him. I had a feeling that this night was never going to end.
The bar was empty. Paul stood behind the counter with his arms crossed. Royal guards were scattered around. Jon glanced at me with a stoic expression on his face. Most of them used to work for me.
“Have a seat, Miss Brodeur,” Rodriguez said in a demanding tone of voice. I guessed that I had no choice but to obey him. My demonic energy had been weakened back in the Forgotten Street. I was vulnerable.
As I suspected, Rodriguez took a white envelope from his side pocket and placed it on the table. Morpheus had warned me that might happen. Hell and its politics. This was getting out of control.
“You have been summoned to answer questions about the night in the palace by Lucifer himself. We might need to take a short trip to Hell. You violated demonic rules,” Rodriguez announced.
“And what rules might that be?” I snarled, itching to shut him up with one of my spells. The old bastard never liked me anyway, and now he had a legitimate reason to disarm my wards.
“You were trying to use illegal magic against a member of the royal family. Hell considers it as treason, mongrel,” he stated, sitting next to me. I glanced at Paul, who seemed pissed off. I counted at least ten guards. Hmm, something was wrong here. Why were there so many of them in here?
“It was a schoolboy or rather a girl error. The prince broke my personal space,” I muttered, knowing that I had no chance to run away. Rodriguez was itching to get to my head.
“You were clear on the protocol. A mongrel or a demon isn’t allowed to mess with any royal’s head,” Rodriguez stated. “Now let’s start the interrogation.”
I was ready to jump the hoop and use my power against that old bastard, but I was weak. Rodriguez was an experienced demon and he wasn’t in a hurry to take me down to Hell. He wanted to find out what I was hiding right here and right now.
On top of that, Paul was storing illegal magic in his basement, and I didn’t want to get him involved in this mess. I exhaled, gathering my energy. A second later, a guard appeared from the other entrance. It was Roger, and he looked flustered.
“Sir, we have found something in the basement,” Roger said with a nervous tone of voice. The colour drained from my face and I glanced at Paul. Whatever was going on, he wasn’t giving much away.
Rodriguez looked annoyed. He hated wasting time. My throat burned. Paul didn’t hide the magical tequila, and now he was going to get in trouble because of me. His business might even get shut down.
“What is it? Can you not see that I’m in the middle of something important?” Rodriguez asked.
Wow, this guy really had a problem with me.
“Sir, you have to see it for yourself. I insist, sir,” the guard pushed, looking very uncomfortable.
Rodriguez approached me and then grabbed my hand. A sharp agonising shot went through my left eye.
“It’s a mark, Miss Brodeur, a taste of what might happen if you decide to run,” he muttered and then he walked away with the guard. The pain was gone as soon as he stopped touching me. I imagined scratching his face with my sharp nails. A long moment passed before they returned. I really had a bad feeling about this. All this time Paul had kept away from any demonic business. I didn’t want him to get arrested.
“Well, we just caught two birds with one stone. There is something very interesting in the basement,” Rodriguez stated, smiling widely.
This time Paul frowned. He obviously had no idea what that old bastard was talking about or else he was a very good actor.
“Hold on? What the hell is in the basement?” I shouted, losing my shit.
“Wings,” the guard replied, almost stuttering. “The retired Watcher has murdered an angel.”
Chapter 12
“This place is free from every kind of change.
Only what Heaven, of itself, receives can act here as a cause, and nothing else.”
―Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy
I gasped out of shock and looked directly at Paul. His expression was unreadable, but I suspected that he knew something about these mysterious wings in the basement. I didn’t believe for one second that he was capable of killing an angel, but other questions began rolling through my mind. What exactly did I know about Paul, other than the fact that he used to be a Watcher?
Other demons had talked about angels, but no one had actually seen one. Angels were God’s creatures and Lucifer hated them with a vengeance. Some called them white demons and claimed that they had seen them walking through Hell. The silence stretched for a while and tension filled the pub.
Paul started laughing and the guards flinched. I wanted to run, get the hell out of Rodriguez’s sight. I knew that if he broke my wards, I was more than screwed. There were many things that I didn’t want him to know about me.
“Rodriguez, I think there’s been some mistake,” I said, thinking that these days the faction was trying to find any excuse to summon mongrels down to Hell. “Paul is just a barman. He wouldn’t be capable of killing an angel. He’s running a pub and doesn’t care about faction business.”
I didn’t need to say anything, but I owed it to Paul. Right now, he was in trouble because of me. A moment later, one of the guards jumped over the bar, smashing the glasses and pushing Paul outside in front of Rodriguez. Paul didn’t even try to fight him. I panicked, wondering what other surprises this evening might bring. Rodriguez was the head of the faction, but any violation of protocol was taken care of by Watchers. He was supposed to be taking care of royal business.
I suspected that Rodriguez would question Paul first, but the old demon got to me again. Just like before I was pinned down to the table, unable to move. Fire rose within me, but it faded quickly when he lowered his face closer, so I couldn’t avoid his liquid golden eyes.
“There is something about you, Miss Brodeur, that always concerned me. I wasn’t planning to get you involved in that case with missing prince George a couple of months ago, but others had claimed that you were the expert, so I went along with it,” he snarled, and his energy sank into mine, trying to break my protective wards. All right, so I got under his skin, but I still had no idea why. “Although royals didn’t want you in the palace, they trusted that you could bring the prince back. On top of that, Arthur had this suspicious relationship with you.”
“He had his … reasons,” I mumbled, feeling like my head was going to get squashed. Rodriguez was using his demonic abilities to break me slowly with the most amount of pain. This guy seemed to be getting high on my fear.
“You have been hiding things away and tonight, I’ll finally learn all your secrets,” he whispered, and I truly hoped that he would get on with it. Rodriguez would strike gold if he found out about Summer. I waited for him to ask more questions, but nothing happened. I heard movement somewhere at the bar. Some tables and chairs were being pushed aside.
“Leave her alone; she has nothing to do with this,” Paul said, sounding like he was ready to fight for me. He changed his mind quickly enough. Rodriguez put more pressure on my neck, and I fought with myself to keep it together. The old demon was trying to provoke Paul.
A moment later, he let me go and I lifted myself back on my feet, massaging the nape of my neck. I glanced around the pub, and my e
yes stopped on the wings that one of the other guards brought in from the basement. My breath caught in my throat as I stared at the enormous gold wings with shimmering feathers. Everyone in the pub were mesmerised by the piece of holiness that wasn’t supposed to exist. I instantly wanted to run my fingers over them, experience the pureness of the angel that the wings once belonged to. Silence descended in the pub, and I wondered if Paul was hiding more secrets than I could ever imagine.
“I have enough evidence to conduct an official investigation,” Rodriguez stated after some time.
Paul shook his head and I shot him a questioning look. I was worried that Rodriguez’s guards would start rummaging through the whole basement. If the wings really belonged to Paul, then the fact that he was brewing magical tequila was just the tip of the iceberg.
“For years, I haven’t bothered with faction and its politics. And you’re a moron if you believe that Maxine might be conspiring against Lucifer. She is only trying to protect all of us,” Paul said, losing his cool. I’d never seen him so angry. He didn’t seem concerned about the wings, not even one bit. I had no idea who to believe anymore.
“I’m done with wasting time. I’m taking the mongrel girl to the underworld. Guards, open the gates,” Rodriguez ordered. “We can take up the issue of the wings downstairs. Our time is overdue here.” He tried to grab me again, but this time I was ready. I swung away from him, releasing my demonic vibes. I had my last emergency potion on me, and I wasn’t afraid to use it. His brewing fiery energy reached my senses before I could make use of my magic. I was slammed back on the floor by Rodriguez’s energy, most likely dislocating a shoulder.
“Now, now, Miss Brodeur. We both know that you’re not strong enough to fight me. The secrets, let’s find out what is going on inside that head of yours.” I heard him chuckle. The whole bar started shaking, the glasses, floor, chairs, and tables. I had no idea who was summoning the gates of Hell, but icy fear settled in the pit of my stomach. This was it—my end.
I worried about Paul. He had been keeping away from the supernatural world, doing his own thing for as long as I remembered. Now he was getting involved in stuff that wasn’t even concerning him. I already sensed Rodriguez’s power breaking my wards apart. The floor kept vibrating, and suddenly I smelled the smouldering heat all around me. A silent scream escaped me and then everything stopped. Another demon was in the pub; a strong striking energy rolled down my spine. I was breathing hard, sweat dripping down my face.
“Rodriguez, you old git. What the hell are you doing in here causing such havoc in a human neighbourhood at this time of night?” a strange voice said that I recognised. Taking a deep breath, I lifted my head about an inch, but struggled to remain on my feet. Everyone in the bar, including Rodriguez, was staring back at the stranger who must have walked through the door several moments earlier.
It was Morpheus, the demon who showed up in my apartment with a deal that I couldn’t turn down. I had no idea what he was doing in here. If he wanted to rescue me, then he was already too late. As far as I remembered, he was supposed to be invisible in the demonic community.
“Morpheus?” Rodriguez asked, but it was more a statement than a question. His expression shifted, from elation to irritation. “This is a private matter that shouldn’t concern you.”
I blinked rapidly, remembering that I was supposed to keep breathing. Many questions were tangling in my head. My soul belonged to Lucifer. No one should care if I was summoned down to Hell now or ever.
“Really? I thought you only take care of royal matters?” Morpheus questioned Rodriguez with an odd smile. I couldn’t put my finger on what it was, but his energy was alive, coursing around. His enigma was affecting everyone in the bar.
Rodriguez smoothed his lion beard. For a split second, he seemed like he was at a loss for words.
“This is a royal matter. Lucifer himself provided a full authorisation to deal with this situation,” the old demon stated, puffing up his chest. Morpheus went over to the bar and grabbed a bottle of whiskey like this was a perfectly normal thing to do. A moment later, he poured some into a glass.
“Hmm…really? It seems to me that you’re taking care of a Watcher’s job. Tell me, what is this mongrel girl doing here? Are you trying to bypass Berith and take all the credit?”
My lungs were burning, and even after their exchange, I still believed that I was missing something. Politics weren’t my forte, but I had a feeling that Morpheus was trying to save my butt. Arthur or someone else must have said something to Rodriguez. The old demon wouldn’t have just showed up here otherwise. He had never trusted me, and now he found a reason to bring me up for legal interrogation.
The old git narrowed his golden eyes at the newcomer, then glanced back at me. His eyes shimmered with raging fire.
“It’s a matter of palace security, and that mongrel is my business. I’m doing Berith a favour. He will be thanking me later,” Rodriguez stated, marking me with his energy. Morpheus seemed completely relaxed. He drank some of the whiskey, and he glanced at the wings that supposedly belong to an angel.
“Well, as far as I’m concerned, you’re questioning a witness without following protocol. Watchers should be here, taking care of those stunning wings and a mongrel girl,” he stated. “Are you trying pick up some points for the upcoming election?”
It looked like Morpheus had hit the spot, because suddenly Rodriguez’s expression turned into a twisted rage.
My shoulder was hurting, and I seriously was craving a drink. That old bastard wasn’t planning to let me go easily. Ricky did say that there was going to be a vote, but demons didn’t talk about it much. Morpheus must have outranked Rodriguez.
“Election? I believe that my position is untouchable. The dark lord knows how valuable I am to him,” Rodriguez barked, and wiped the sweat off his forehead.
I had no idea what kind of game those two were playing, but I had a feeling that I could get off lightly. No doubt, someone was going to get punished for killing an angel, but I refused to believe that Paul had anything to do with it.
“Maybe he does, maybe he doesn’t. Do me a favour and leave. I’ll take care of the wings,” Morpheus said, and that chilly cold voice did something to my insides. His power touched everyone; even the guards had backed off.
“The girl is coming with me to the palace. She needs to be interrogated,” Rodriguez snarled.
“The mongrel is staying here. Don’t force me to report that you’re abusing your position on Earth. This isn’t Hell, Master Rodriguez,” Morpheus said in a cold tone of voice. The silence stretched for ages after that statement, and I was waiting for Rodriguez to challenge him.
He seemed like he was weighing his options, aware of his own position in Hell. My heart skipped a beat, then danced a triple time.
“Guards, clear out. We are leaving,” Rodriguez said.
I couldn’t believe it—he was letting me off the hook. He didn’t look at me again, but I knew that he wasn’t going to give up so easily. Morpheus had bought me some time. That memory from the past, surely it meant something. I relaxed and tried to stretch my right shoulder. I was relieved when I felt that it wasn’t dislocated. Paul shot Morpheus a sharp look, and I could have sworn that there was some kind of acknowledgment in his eyes.
“Thank you for saving my butt. It was a hell of a day,” I said, walking up to the bar.
“Rodriguez had no right to question you. The upcoming election is making him nervous. He is afraid he could lose his position,” Morpheus explained, taking another sip of whiskey.
I didn’t get what the election had to do with me. Paul still wasn’t saying anything, staring back at Morpheus with an unreadable expression on his face.
“What about the wings? Do they really belong to an angel, and what are they doing in Paul’s basement?”
“That’s a good question,” Morpheus said, smiling. “Paul, maybe you will answer for me?”
Paul exhaled sharply and scratched his he
ad.
“These are my old wings. I was planning to move them tonight. It’s a reminder that I was once someone else,” Paul said, and I was convinced that he was pulling my leg.
“Your wings?” I repeated. “Hold on a minute, let me retrace that. Rodriguez had clearly stated the wings belonged to an angel?”
“Technically, yes. The wings belong to an angel. Several years ago, God’s messenger came down from Heaven. He was supposed to protect a young human girl, but there were so many temptations on Earth that he soon forgot about his task.” Morpheus was saying, sounding amused.
“I don’t follow,” I said, looking at Paul who seemed awfully quiet. This whole thing was blowing my mind. Paul was a retired Watcher, not an angel. The wings couldn’t have belonged to him.
“I lied to you a little, Max. I became a Watcher after I failed to complete my task on Earth. These were my messenger wings that were cut away when I swore my loyalty to Berith instead,” Paul explained, like this wouldn’t shock me. “I used to be an angel. The wings used to belong to me.”
I laughed, staring at him with utter disbelief. Paul was pulling my leg; this whole story sounded completely absurd.
“I don’t think she believes you, my friend,” Morpheus pointed out. Paul shrugged his shoulder and sat on the stool.
“Maxine, meet my old friend, Morpheus. I owe him my life. It’s been years since we’ve seen each other.”
Chapter 13
“And I was therefore drawn from Hell’s wide throat to show him–and I’ve still to show him more – as much as my own schooling will allow.”
―Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy
Over the years I got used to the fact that Paul’s life was a mystery, but this whole bullshit about him being sent from Heaven was really too much for me to handle on the same night that I lost my daughter. I decided to leave and head over to Ricky’s apartment and not ask any more questions.
Doomed Cases Box Set: The Complete Collection Books 1- 4 & Prequel Page 58