But when Valerie met Alexa’s eyes, she flinched at the sudden amount of disgust and hatred directed at her. It was the exact same look she’d received after the attacks on Hallow Hall, as though she were to blame for all those mortal deaths.
Alexa looked quickly away before her emotions betrayed her. Her throat burned and she bit her lips to keep them from quivering.
Alexa cast covert glances around the room for a glimpse of white fur, but there was no sign of Lance. Yet a few seconds ago, she could have sworn she felt a brush of fur around her legs.
After a long silence, the archangel Jeremiel spoke. “Shall we continue now that everyone is here? Good.” He cleared his throat. “As I was saying, there are a few matters we need to discuss. Now, as you already know, the pagan god Hades has returned to the mortal world and holds the Helm of Darkness in his possession.” Jeremiel paused. Although his voice had remained light and calm, Alexa felt a chill emanating from him and noticed that the heads of houses shifted in their chairs. “The Legion is currently in a state of open warfare. The number of deaths is mounting, and the Legion’s mandate to protect the mortal world is at risk with the recent desertion of angels. It has been a long time since desertion undid so many angels. With this loss, our numbers are not enough to combat this new threat.” He paused, as though he was readying Alexa and the others for what he was about to say next. “Which is why we have asked our mortal allies for assistance in these dark times.”
“Here we go,” whispered Milo, giving Alexa a sidelong glance.
Jeremiel looked to Sabrielle and gave a nod of his head. “Sabrielle, if you please.”
The archangel Sabrielle pushed her chair back and stood up, making her way towards the middle of the room until she faced both groups.
“I’ll cut straight to the chase,” she began, her voice ringing through the room like tiny bells in a breeze. “You haven’t been asked to this meeting to add to the depressing décor—although it could use some sprucing up—especially the curtains. This isn’t the 1970s, people. Disco is over. We—that is to say, the Legion and I—are putting together special teams. Teams of angels and mortals, paired together.”
There was a collective intake of breath from Erik, Rachel, and Matt.
Alexa didn’t have to look at Erik to see the disapproval ripple over his face. She was sure Rachel and Matt probably felt the same way. From the corner of her eye, she saw Rachel’s pinched face and was sure she was about to throw a fit.
When Alexa looked over to the table of Sensitives, Valerie’s face had gone a shade whiter than before with a look of horror. Michael was staring at Sabrielle, his mouth slightly open. But when Alexa glanced at the archangels, she was surprised to see that their expressions were tight and guarded, as though they were just getting used to the idea of pairing mortals with angels.
“You can’t be serious.” Rachel’s disbelieving laugh echoed around the room. There was no fear in her voice, only anger. Alexa was torn between being impressed at her boldness and thinking Rachel was really, really stupid.
Rachel’s eyes moved to Michael. “Why are you listening to them? They murdered our people. Children died because of these… these things. Or have you forgotten? I’ll never be paired with an angel, with a dead thing. It’s never going to happen. I’d rather slit my wrists.”
Sabrielle stared at Rachel like she was a piece of gum stuck to the bottom of a pair of her expensive shoes. “Hmmm. Pretty face… strong body… there’s fire in you. I like that. Pity you’re just a mortal.”
Rachel’s face twisted angrily. “I’m more than just a mortal, you—”
“But… if it’s death you seek,” Sabrielle interrupted, her smile turning wicked, “I can assist you with that—”
“Sabrielle,” growled Jeremiel. “Don’t make me regret this.”
Sabrielle winked at Rachel and shook her head of beaded braids. “The Legion and the Sensitives have been working together for centuries to fight a common enemy. This is not the first time they have been paired together. Don’t forget who you are and why your race was created in the first place. You were bred by the archangels. Never forget that.”
Rachel flinched as though Sabrielle had slapped her. She shook as red blotches marked her face. Her eyes watered, but no tears fell as she stood in shaking silence.
“Michael?” said Rachel, her voice quivering in rage. “How can you let this happen?”
Michael looked at Rachel for a long moment before he said in a cold voice, “Be quiet, Rachel. If you don’t want this assignment, you’re free to leave. Go now. But if you stay, you won’t interrupt again. Are we clear?”
Rachel flashed him a look of pure venom, but she said nothing and looked more like she was struggling to keep from crying.
Matt swore under his breath. When Alexa stole a look at Erik, his face was a couple of shades darker, clearly battling his own emotions as though he fought the urge to lash back. He looked like a caged animal.
Even Milo looked distressed when she finally glanced at him. The word bred didn’t settle well with anyone here, except for the archangel who shone like a star. Sabrielle.
Alexa scowled as a hatred grew from the pit of her stomach, similar to indigestion.
“Let’s start this again,” said Sabrielle, her expression smoothing from repulsion to a more pageant-queen-like smile. Her gold crown shimmered in the light, and her silver robe made her look like an ice queen—beautiful and terrible. “As I was saying, before I was rudely interrupted, we’ll be pairing angels and Sensitive operatives for a special assignment.” Her smiled widened as she looked from Alexa to Matt. There was no warmth, and it was a terrifying sight. “Because of your strengths, but also because of your work history. You five have been chosen as the first of those teams.”
“Lucky us,” muttered Erik.
In a flash, Sabrielle was in his face, pointing a jeweled finger at him. “Is this a joke to you, little boy?”
Erik grimaced at her use of words, but he said, “No. Unfortunately.”
“Good.” Sabrielle raised a groomed brow, seemingly satisfied. She flashed her brilliant teeth, staring at him as though he might be good to eat. “We’ve lost contact with two of our Counter Demon Division teams that were sent to Hills High School in Queens, New York, to investigate a rift somewhere inside the high school. High schools are hot spots, favorites among demons. Young minds are more susceptible to demonic influences because their life forces shine brighter, and it lures the demons to them.” Sabrielle paused and then said, “Some of these missing angels are considered among our most celebrated warriors, the best the Legion has. One in particular, Willow, is a team lead and an extraordinary angel. We haven’t heard from them or the other team in three days, and we have no means of knowing what’s happened to them.”
“Are they alive?” inquired Milo.
“Yes,” answered Sabrielle, her gaze cutting through Alexa and the others. “As far as we can tell, their souls are still intact. Twenty angel souls in total, and they’re all missing.”
Alexa cast a look at Milo through her eyelashes, but his eyes were locked on Sabrielle with an expression that looked a lot like mistrust.
“Which is why we need you… this team,” said Sabrielle, motioning toward the group with a long, manicured finger and giving no indication that she noticed Milo’s reservations. “To get them back.”
Erik swore under his breath, but Alexa said, “You do realize that the most probable scenario is that Hades has them. How do we know this isn’t a trap? You could be sending us straight into Hades’ hands, and then we’ll end up missing too or worse. He’s expecting it. That’s why the angels haven’t come home yet. If I were him, that’s exactly what I would do—”
“Are you comparing yourself to a pagan god?” mused Sabrielle.
“No, but what I’m saying is—”
“Of course, we’ve examined the possibility that Hades might be luring our teams into a trap,” said the archangel, extending her arms. �
��What do you think this is? Sunday night bingo? Do you not think we’ve already discussed this assignment and all it entails at great length before we called this meeting?”
Alexa felt her annoyance rise like a fever. “I’m sure you did, but—”
“We know Hades has acquired new strength,” continued Sabrielle as though Alexa hadn’t spoken. “But we can’t abandon our angels, not when we need them most. It goes against our basic laws. We don’t leave anyone behind. And it can’t be a trap if we already know it’s a trap, now can’t it? It’s a chance we’ll just have to take.”
“We—as in us, not you,” whispered Erik so that only Alexa could hear. But from the shift in Sabrielle’s brows, Alexa knew she’d heard him.
Alexa kept her eyes on the archangel female, realizing that her braided hair looked more like a wig. “You don’t get it,” she said. “Hades isn’t some regular demon. He has the Helm of Darkness. How can we defeat a pagan god with a weapon that makes him a hundred times more powerful than any other Greater demon?”
“Simple.” Sabrielle’s gaze fell on Alexa. “Because now we have a weapon of our own.”
CHAPTER 8
SILENCE FELL INSTANTLY AND THE ROOM STILLED. Alexa felt the attention of everyone in the room home in on her. Several of the Sensitives were straining forward in their seats, as though trying to get a better look at her. There was an electricity in the room, the crackling current of people desperate for information.
“The Legion has been given a gift—a weapon—in the form of a girl,” continued Sabrielle, the whites of her eyes showing. “Nothing is invincible. Even a pagan god as powerful as Hades can be defeated—if you have the right tools.”
Alexa’s mouth went dry. Something similar to adrenaline pounded through her body until it felt almost like a heat wave. But it wasn’t enough to completely drown her stage fright. She heard a roaring sound in her ears, like rushing blood. Erik moved into her line of sight. His lips moved in the shape of something like what weapon? But she couldn’t hear him. She could barely hear herself think over the roaring in her ears, the pounding in her head.
What was she supposed to do? What kind of weapon did they think she was? She had just come into this gift, this soul channeling, and she barely understood it. When she looked across the room to the Sensitives, staring at her through the empty space that separated them, she saw the same expressions she remembered after the attacks in Hallow Hall—mistrust and a little bit of fear.
Even the archangels looked a little apprehensive. The archangel Jeremiel was watching the Sensitives as though they were about to object. The archangel Ariel was thin lipped with a frown on her face, clearly opposing this new arrangement but having no choice but to accept it.
Alexa moved her gaze across the room to where Metatron still lounged on the sofa. He caught her staring at him and looked her direction. He sucked on his cigar, his expression stark. Alexa had the distinctive feeling he was behind all this. Metatron would probably sacrifice his beloved Michelle and Jasmine for the sake of the Legion. Throwing Alexa to the wolves was nothing to him.
When Alexa looked back at Sabrielle, the wicked, feral gleam in the archangel’s eyes sent a chill up her spine. The archangel clearly relished the idea of war.
Erik tilted his head. “Alexa,” he whispered. His hot breath tickled her ear. “What the hell is going on? Why is she staring at you like you’re the answer to her problems? What’s this weapon she’s talking about?”
“It’s nothing,” said Alexa, shrugging. “It’s just… I can do stuff that I couldn’t before, that’s all.”
“What kind of stuff?”
Alexa leaned away from him. The words wouldn’t come. Although she didn’t have a real mortal heart, she felt something slam against her chest followed by a tightening knot as though the space inside her was imploding.
Erik sighed through his nose. “Fine.” He turned his attention to Sabrielle and raised his voice. “If I’m to be on one of these special teams, I demand to know what weapon you’re talking about.”
“Oh, you do, do you?” Sabrielle’s eyes found Alexa again. They gleamed like tiny moons.
“You speak of Alexa as though she isn’t even a real person,” interjected Valerie. “Like she’s just some weapon, some tool you’re going to use.” Her face was stern, but when her eyes met Alexa’s, there was a softness there, as though she felt sorry for her.
Alexa’s eyes and throat burned.
“She’s not a sword you can thrust and jab—she’s a girl,” continued Valerie, her voice rising with the darkening of her face. “This whole thing doesn’t seem right to me at all. None of it. This is another foolish scheme concocted by the Legion at the expense of a young person.”
Sabrielle never lost her smile. “She stopped being a person when she died.” Intakes of breaths filled the room as the archangel continued without missing a beat. “She’s an angel. And, as an angel, her fate is sealed.” She addressed the Sensitive table, light glimmering off her teeth, and never looked at Alexa. “She serves the Legion, and we’ll use her in any way we choose.”
Alexa’s body stilled as she felt a rush of cold and hot course through her. “Excuse me—?” She moved forward, but something hard gripped her elbow and pulled her back. She looked up to find Milo’s eyes on her. Thin lipped, he shook his head, and Alexa understood his silent warning.
She moved back, but her anger only increased.
Red blotches marked Valerie’s face. “Are you saying Alexa has no voice in the matter? That she cannot refuse? She has no choice?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” beamed Sabrielle. “She’s a tool. Her purpose is to serve the Legion, just like all of you—”
“Sabrielle!” warned Jeremiel. He stood up slowly from his chair, his hands gripping the edge of the table. “This is not helping our situation.” He looked at the table of Sensitives. “These are our allies, and I will not let you demean or insult them. Especially now, at a time when we need them most. We need numbers to defeat Hades, and the time of creating more angels has come and gone. You’ve asked to address this council, as it is your right, but if you continue on like this, I will remove you. You will be civilized.”
Sabrielle’s smile tightened at the corners. “As you wish, Jeremiel. But I’m sure I must have misunderstood you,” she said, with a sneer that made her eyes as cold as ever. “So silly of me, but it sounded as though you were suggesting that the Legion and the Sensitives were friends.” She gave a silvery laugh that made the hairs on the back of Alexa’s neck stand up.
Jeremiel’s eyes narrowed. “Tread carefully, Sabrielle.” He regarded her for a moment as though giving her time to compose herself. “Perhaps we should wait before exposing Alexa’s new gift to our enemies,” said Jeremiel. “She needs more time.”
“Time? She’s already been exposed,” said Sabrielle. “According to Ariel, Hades saw what she’s capable of with his own eyes. Our secret is out. We can’t hide her. We need her.”
“If I may address the council,” said Milo, stepping forward and not waiting for an answer. His voice commanded attention, but Alexa could see the tension in his shoulders. “I must caution you on this arrangement. Alexa hasn’t been trained in how to use this new ability. We would need time to train her properly—”
“We don’t have time.” Sabrielle’s voice was hard, but she was still smiling.
Milo blinked. “Sending her out to use her gift without proper training is a mistake. It’s dangerous—”
“I’ll decide what’s a mistake,” said Sabrielle, her voice velvety soft. “Your job is to obey orders.”
Milo’s face twitched, but he stood remarkably stiff.
Sabrielle raised a satisfied brow. “Now. As I was saying—”
“How exactly are you planning on using me?” asked Alexa. Her temper, which seemed to have been bubbling just beneath the surface the whole time, was reaching the boiling point.
“Very simple,” said Sabrielle. “Ar
e you not a soldier in the Legion’s army?”
“Yes,” said Alexa after a moment. “Yes, but what I mean is—”
“Do you not possess the power of soul channeling?”
“I do.” Alexa shook her head slightly. “You don’t understand. I’m not sure that I can—”
Sabrielle dismissed her with a wave of her hand. “Do you not want to save innocent lives? Do you not care about the fate of the mortal world? The world where you once belonged? These mortals in this very room?”
Alexa knitted her brows together. “Yes, but—”
“Good. You will use this gift to serve the Legion. This ability, this special gift is not yours alone. You belong to the Legion, and as such, any new gifts and abilities belong to the Legion and will be used in any which way the Legion deems fit.” Sabrielle moved about the room, her chin raised like a queen. “Make no mistake. We’re at war. And we will use everything in our power to defeat our enemy. If it means using a new weapon, a weapon that we know works—we will use it to defend ourselves.”
Alexa stood stock still, her sweaty fingers coiled into fists. “What if it doesn’t work? What if I can’t—I can’t make it work?”
Sabrielle stepped forward, so close Alexa could see the small specks of gold in the archangel’s silver eyes. “Then you’ll just have to make sure it does, won’t you?” answered Sabrielle. There was a coarse excitement in her voice, the callous pleasure of someone who was anxious to test her theory.
“As long as you are willing and want to save lives, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to call upon your gift under well-organized conditions,” said Sabrielle dismissively.
“I’m not sure I agree with you.” The archangel Ariel turned around in her seat and waited for Sabrielle to face her before she continued. “Milo raises a valid point. Shouldn’t we be more cautious? Shouldn’t we wait until Alexa feels confident enough with her new abilities.”
Sabrielle looked incredulously from Alexa to Ariel. “If we want to survive, we must take action now. Every minute we waste arguing about this, hundreds of lives are lost—angel and mortal—while the demon army grows. Do you think Hades is waiting around, arguing with his demon lieutenants on battle tactics and politics? No. The time is now.”
The City of Flame and Shadow Page 6