Eli flared out his power and pinned Talbot to his seat. Tell me, why are you running?
The man’s Adam’s apple did a quick bob up and down as he licked his lips. Who are you?
A bounty hunter and I want information. Talbot relaxed slightly, so he was an angel or one helluva actor.
How would you feel finding out your mate was really a demon? My relationship was a total lie.
Eli knew exactly how he’d take finding out Ashley was the enemy. It would rip him to shreds. Big question was, what would he do about it? Would he be able to end her life? That was something he couldn’t answer and sure as hell hoped he’d never have to find out. Are you trying to convince me you’re not a demon? There was no way for him to be sure exactly what Talbot was. Eli looked around, and when he was positive no one was paying attention, he dropped his shields and became visible. Talbot raised a brow.
“I should have known it was you.”
“Good. Then you won’t mind stepping outside where we can speak in private.”
Talbot lifted his coffee cup and sipped. “I can do better. I actually have a room here so we can speak freely. I’ve got nothing to hide.”
“I find that difficult to believe since you ran off rather than stay and help us fight,” Eli snarled. “Lead the way, and don’t think for one second I won’t shove my dagger in your heart in front of the humans.” It might be messy, and he’d have to call in reinforcements to wipe their memories, but he’d be damned if Talbot would escape.
After tossing a wad of cash on the table, Talbot got up from his seat and headed for the exit. Eli followed him to the bank of elevators and stood, hands clasped behind his back while they waited. When one of the elevators dinged and the doors opened, they both stepped inside. Fortunately, it was empty. As they ascended the floors toward number twelve, the elevator car came to an abrupt halt. Eli tensed, his senses going into overdrive.
“What are you trying to pull, Talbot?” The other angel looked as nervous as he felt.
“Shit, this isn’t me.”
No sooner had the words slipped from his mouth than demons appeared. So many that the elevator groaned under the extra weight. A sharp object jabbed Eli in the arm as he reached for the dagger strapped to his thigh. His fingers wrapped around the handle and pulled it free, but numbness travelled down his arm and to his hand, causing him to lose his grip. He heard the sound of metal as his blade hit the floor and his vision blurred. His heart sped up and beat in his temples until that was all he heard. Shit. He was in serious trouble.
6
Ashley marched––as best one could over razor sharp rocks––with Wraith on one side, and Eli’s imaginary, screeching soul on the other. Her nerves were frayed.
“How much farther?” Her wings were tired from being stretched out to protect them from the acid bath.
“We should be able to see the horizon change shortly,” Wraith responded.
“Thank goodness. Will the nightmare that’s been hovering beside me this entire time finally go away?” She secretly crossed her fingers.
“Is he still here?” Wraith turned his head and looked up at her.
“Unfortunately, yes.” At first it had been difficult to wrap her mind around the fact Eli wasn’t real. It was only an illusion brought on by Hell itself. However, after a while she’d grown tired of the whining. “You’d think if Hell was going to try and trick me, they’d at least realize Eli wouldn’t carry on in such a manner.”
Wraith snorted. “No one said all demons had common sense.”
“I’m quickly learning that.” Her eyes caught something in the distance. “Did you see that?”
“What?” The hound looked around. “I don’t see anything.”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course not. Apparently I’m the only one with hallucinations here.” She scanned the horizon. Maybe her mind was playing tricks on her again. “I thought I saw a shadow moving in the distance.”
Wraith raised his nose and sniffed. “You probably did. Someone’s been following us for over an hour now.”
Ashley slapped her hands on her hips. “Why didn’t you say so? More importantly, why didn’t I sense them?” She grew worried and wondered what else she’d missed.
“I’m not surprised. You’re still a baby in this world after all, and if I had told you, what would you have done anyway? They have not posed a threat and seem only curious at this point.”
She let out a sigh. “I guess I forget how much I don’t know. All the more reason to carry on and find my grandmother.” Wraith only shook his head, and she had to wonder what was rattling around in his Hellhound brain. Something said she was better off clueless.
They continued in silence for what had to be another hour. Time in Hell was different than in the human world. A day here went by quickly, but the night felt like an eternity. Being tortured would do that to a soul.
“Look,” Wraith whispered, and she lifted her gaze from the shards of rocks to witness a pink skyline.
“Does that mean we’ve finally reached the end of this pit?” Dear god, she could only hope.
“Yes. The blood rain will end as soon as we cross over.”
Relief swelled then realization dawned. “Umm, what exactly will we be crossing into?” Since Wraith had been a wealth of absolutely no information, she figured it was better to ask. Hopefully, the screaming illusion of Eli, tailing her the entire time, would vanish as well.
He lifted his chin to stare at her as they stepped out of the rain, and she folded in her wings. The stench had been replaced by the smell of orange blossoms and she inhaled, taking several deep breaths to cleanse her lungs of the last place they’d been. The landscape had changed to vivid, green rolling hills with a sky that was a kaleidoscope of pinks. Trees with tall, black trunks, topped with hundreds of flowing branches of tiny white flowers, stood in groups of three to five.
“I feel like I’ve stepped into a cartoon. Everything is so bright and smells delicious.” Her mouth actually began to water.
“It’s so you become complacent. Beware of anything that flies.” Wraith stepped one big paw onto a patch of grass and moaned with pleasure.
Ashley’s gaze darted across the sky. “Why? What happens with the flying things?” Did she really want to find out?
“They breathe big fire. This might be a good place to practice your skill of killing demons.”
“Big fire? What the hell does that mean exactly?” Something told her she was about to find out as she spotted a tiny flutter in the sky. As it moved closer, it revealed itself. Nothing more than a dragonfly, a double set of cobalt blue wings tipped with purple. The color was stunning, but as it drew even closer, she noticed the tiny dragon head. Realization hit as it buzzed in front of her and hovered. She didn’t know whether to panic or laugh. The damn thing was just too cute.
“Is this the big fire?” she asked.
Wraith snorted. “That tiny thing?”
“I take that as a no.” She held out her hand. “Hi there.” The small creature landed in her palm and made a small cooing sound. “So, what exactly do we need to watch out for, if not this little guy?” The second the words slipped past her lips, the dragon-like creature shot off into the air and vanished. A large roar exploded from the sky.
“Its mother,” Wraith shouted over the racket. “You need to use your persuasive nature to convince her not to char us.”
Ashley scanned the sky and spotted a creature as big as a B-52 bomber, and it was headed their way. “What the hell? How am I supposed to reason with that?”
The Hellhound gave her a level stare. “You might spread your wings and plaster on your most menacing Angel of Death look.”
“Seriously?”
“I dare not kid, and you’d better hurry,” he urged. “Momma looks pissed.”
Oh, this was the craziest thing ever. Of course, she was a human who had become the Angel of Death trapped in Hell, doing Lucifer’s bidding. This should be a walk in the park. She summone
d her wings and spread them wide, letting them become a beacon to announce who she was. The silky black feathers dusted with gold had apparently become her calling card. She widened her stance and crossed her arms over her chest.
“How do I look?”
“Impressive, I dare say.”
The creature landed several feet in front of her and gave a huff. Its black eyes bored into her and issued a challenge.
Crap.
“This looks nothing like the cute little thing that just fluttered off.” There was no way in hell the two were related. This beast had three thick, large claws protruding from its hands and feet. Its body was covered with black scales that appeared more like armor. Horns jutted from knees and elbows. Leathery wings that spanned several feet and were tipped with razor sharp claws, flapped up and down in slow motion, moving the blades of grass nearby. But the beast’s head caused her to swallow the fear that rose from deep inside her. A gaping jaw full of pointed teeth and almond-shaped holes, where eyes would normally reside, glowed with Hell’s fire. The flames spiraled upward until they exited the creature’s head via two enormous horns.
She swallowed again. “Any suggestions would be really nice about now.”
“Not even I would mess with that,” Wraith whispered and took two steps away from her.
Chicken shit.
She gave him side-eye and summoned her courage. “We wish to pass.” The wind picked up and ruffled her feathers.
“You wish to die.” The demon’s reply shook the ground and rattled her teeth.
“Get in her mind!” Wraith shouted.
“I’ve never done it from a distance. I have to touch them.”
“You’d better learn quickly, because I don’t think she’s going to get all lovey-dovey with you,” Wraith snapped.
Ashley knew he was right so she closed her eyes, reached into her mind, and found the black thread she’d grown to recognize as her power. Grasping it, she followed the blackness until it sparked with power. She opened her eyes. Somehow, she’d managed to teleport herself because she was now standing only inches away from the demon.
Hells bells!
Shoving aside her fear, she placed her hand on the creature’s arm and slipped inside the demons mind. She pushed through murkiness so thick it made her feel as if she were suffocating. Evil wrapped itself around her, and she had to force herself to stay balanced or become lost to it. The urge to succumb was tempting, but she thought of Eli, her father, and aunt Viv, who she knew must be frantic with worry by now. Ashley promised herself that she’d pay her aunt a visit soon and somehow explain her crazy life.
Visions of torture, so vile she nearly retched, bombarded her and became part of her own memories. She quickly pulled free and swayed. She met the demon’s burning eyes.
“You,” the beast whispered. “You are true death.”
“Then you know I can kill you right now with only a thought,” she replied with all the authority she could muster, praying it wouldn’t come to that. She despised taking a life, no matter how evil it was. Many demons couldn’t help what they were or the acts they were commanded to perform.
The demon bowed her head, the fire dimming slightly. “You shall pass unharmed.”
Ashley pulled back her hand and folded in her wings. “Thank you.” She looked over her shoulder at Wraith, who was still as a statue. “Come on, dog.” He let out a snarl and trotted toward her. She was more than ready to reach their final destination.
Eli woke with his head in a vice, at least that’s how it felt. Someone kept turning the screw tighter and tighter, until he thought his brain would crush like a grape. He tried to focus his vision, but his surroundings blurred and spun.
Shit, what the hell happened? He seemed to recall he’d stepped into an elevator with… Who had he been with? He searched his foggy memory as the room came into view, and he focused on a form in the corner.
“Where am I?” his voice came out scratchy.
“Sorry about that, but it was necessary to get you here,” stated a female voice that held a familiar note. Was it someone he knew?
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
She laughed and moved closer. “You haven’t changed a bit. Still cocky as ever.”
His vision cleared enough to make out the woman. Thick raven hair, except for the blonde that framed her face, hung to her shoulders. Her black wings, tinged with crimson veins, were a dead giveaway. She was a fallen.
He shook his head to help clear his vision.
“Can’t be,” he whispered.
A smile curved her black, painted lips and revealed a pair of fangs. “So, you do remember me.”
“Sherease.” He’d been so occupied, he’d only now realized he wasn’t restrained but was sitting on a bed. “What the hell?”
She moved to a table and poured water into a glass then held it out to him. “I injected you with a concoction that allowed me to bring you to my home.”
He accepted the water and looked at it with a cynical eye.
“I swear it’s not poisoned.”
“Why should I believe you?” She was a fallen and had just admitted to drugging him. “And what am I doing…where exactly?” He went to stand and quickly realized what a bad idea it was and sat down again.
“The water will help your body rid itself of the toxins. I don’t blame you for being leery, but drugging you was necessary. You’re in my home in Hell, and the only safe way for an angel to enter is knocked out.”
He did a quick scan of his surroundings. A small kitchen, a couple of chairs in front of the hearth, a desk in the corner, and the bed he sat on. It was small but comfortable and nothing to indicate he was in Hell.
“You can’t enter Hell unless brought in by a demon or the ferryman. Normally, when a demon brings an angel here, it’s for torture. They want their victim awake. By knocking you out, I eliminated the discomfort of your travel.” She pointed to the glass he still held in his hand. “Drink and you’ll feel better.”
He was still leery but brought the glass to his lips and downed its contents. The coolness quenched his thirst and coated his parched throat. Immediately, the ache that beat at his temples began to fade. “Okay, my head is clearer so start talking.” He had to admit, he was curious as to why Tegan’s mother had abducted him.
“My granddaughter is on her way to see me.” Sherease motioned to a chair by the hearth then took the other for herself. Eli rose, feeling much better and rubbed the back of his neck.
“I’m aware of that. You do realize she is my mate, and if you intend her harm, I’ll kill you.” No sense in beating around the bush. She might as well know up front where he stood.
“Of course I’m aware of it, why do you think I brought you here?”
He rolled his shoulders to remove some of the tension. This conversation was quickly pissing him off. “I’m still waiting for you to tell me.”
He had to temper his anger; he wasn’t so stupid to not realize he couldn’t get out of Hell without her help. Angels, unless fallen, didn’t have a revolving door to the Underworld, and the ferryman charged a high price. Those who’d attempted to travel here had often not come back. He shuddered to think what kind of fate they had met.
“How’s my son?” There was a look of sadness in her eyes, and he debated how much to tell her. After all, she was a fallen.
“As well as can be expected.” He swore there was a fleeting flash of anger in her eyes, but maybe he’d imagined it.
“He loved Ashley’s mother and it broke his heart.” She sighed and seemed to calm. “However, I understand why they did it. You realize had they allowed Tegan to bond, Ashley would have never become who she is?”
He scratched his chin. “You mean it was planned?”
“Yes. It was before the Seven had gone corrupt. Ashley’s human life has helped prepare her for her destiny.”
“How do you know all of this? You were gone long before he met Ashley’s mother.”
“I
t was part of the Maker’s master plan. I can’t tell you any more than that.”
Eli felt his jaw slip open but didn’t speak.
“When Tegan allowed me to go free, I came here to gather Intel on Lucifer and learn what his plans were.”
“What are his plans?”
“Eliminate all the Nephilim. Matter of fact, he’s managed to bring a few here and forced them to mate with a fallen.”
“Shit.” The Nephilim were daughters of angels and humans. The only women destined to become an angel’s true mate. His anger toward the demon king grew even more, if that were possible. “What happens to the females? Do they turn?”
“No, they don’t become evil, contrary to what you might think. Worse, they are tortured and forced to breed. Lucifer’s ultimate plan is to start a new race, eliminate humanity. The daughters of the fallen, along with his demons, will create a new race.”
He dropped his head into his hands and stared at the wooden planks. “How long?”
“This has been going on for years. He’s managed to infiltrate your world and the humans’. You need to find the remaining Nephilim and hide them where they’re safe. Our ra… Your race may depend on it.”
He looked up and found her studying him. “What else?” He knew there had to be more. She could have told him all of this in the human world since they were both able to walk there.
“Ashley will soon become hungry. You’ll need to feed her before you leave here.”
“What?”
7
Ashley and Wraith continued in silence, until a sharp pain drilled her gut and caused her to double over.
“What’s wrong?” The hound touched her.
“I…” She shivered. “Damn that hurts.”
“What’s it feel like?” He pressed his wet nose into her belly, where she had her arms wrapped around herself. When she thought she might collapse to the ground, the knife in her gut stopped stabbing her.
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