The Helm of Darkness

by Kim Richardson

  And she was still changing.

  She could feel it. Even now, walking in the mortal world, she could feel it like a cancer spreading from her chest to her veins. It was subtle. If she didn’t concentrate on it, she’d miss it. But it was there, always there. The Change. That’s what she called it. She could feel it leaking its darkness into her. Changing her. Fear and darkness pounded in her like the beating of a heart in her cold and empty chest.

  “Hurry up, fledgling,” said Milo. “Why are you so slow? Keep up. I’m not going to carry you.”

  “If you call me fledgling one more time, I swear I’m going to claw out your eyes.”

  For the first time, a smile twitched the corners of Milo’s mouth.

  Alexa had not been so eager to get back to the mortal world just to spend time with golden boy. She knew she would end up back in Horizon if she got in Milo’s way, but she wanted to see Erik. Erik would ground her and make her feel normal again.

  It wasn’t going to be easy, seeing as her petty officer seemed quite content to shadow her. Still, she knew what she must do.

  She had to ditch Milo.

  CHAPTER 3

  THEY CONTINUED ON IN THE slush and snow. In front of them a group of young people slowed their progress while they texted on their smart phones and slipped and skidded on the sidewalk. The mortals laughed as they steadied each other, and Alexa couldn’t help but smile.

  Milo looked over his shoulder at Alexa. “See that tall glass and steel building with the copper roof? That’s where we’re going.”

  Alexa followed his gaze. The building had over thirty floors and looked like a glittering spike. She had to lean back to see the top floor. There was something creepy about the building. Only the top floor had yellow light spilling from its windows, as if no one lived in the rest of the building. A sign stenciled over the front entrance read, NYC LUXURY FIFTH AVENUE.

  Alexa crossed the street and hopped onto the sidewalk on the corner of East 102nd Street. She had to run to catch up to Milo.

  He turned to her. “Once we’re inside I need you to stay close, but not too close,” he said.

  “Got it.”

  “Just follow my lead,” he continued and then frowned slightly. “Don’t do or touch anything unless I tell you to. Do you understand? I don’t need you to mess this up.”

  “I said I got it,” said Alexa angrily. “Even though I don’t know what we’re looking for.”

  She flashed him a smile. “I’ll be a saint, promise.”

  Milo grounded his jaw and then made a beeline for the front entrance where he swung open the front doors.

  The pressure hit her first. Her ears popped just as they would when an airplane came down to land. And when she swallowed to relieve the pressure, she smelled the reek of burned flesh, rotting fruit, sulfur, and death. It was a smell she could taste, and it left a sour taste in her mouth and throat. It was a smell she could never forget—the smell of demons.

  Alexa halted. Something turned her insides to ice. She was hit with an overwhelming feeling of sadness. It was as if a great number of people had suddenly been murdered.

  “You felt it too, didn’t you?” said Milo.

  He moved right next to her in a second, so quickly it made her flinch. She felt as if he could see right into the brewing darkness in her soul. He watched carefully, as if she were about to combust into flames.

  “Mortal souls have died here—a lot of them and very recently,” he said. “I’ve felt this same sensation of loss before, but it’s always the same.”

  Alexa tried to hide her surprise at Milo’s sudden intimacy.

  “I—yes. I felt something like that. Like I was sad all of a sudden.”

  She’d never met another angel whose senses were so intuitively close to hers. Apparently, Milo had more talents than she had first imagined.

  They stepped into a grand lobby with a modern design in the gray-and-white marble floor and countless doors and elevators. A long hall stretched ahead to a lounge area with gray mid-century modern sofas and chairs. At the end of the lobby was a reception area. A young woman with chin-length hair sat behind the desk, and she snapped to attention when to the two angels entered the lobby.

  Alexa was surprised the human girl wasn’t green in the face and wearing a mask. But then again, she probably couldn’t smell anything. Humans couldn’t smell the rotten stink of the demons and other supernatural creatures that moved among them.

  Alexa couldn’t see any demons, but her angel senses perceived the pulsing of death in the air. Demons lurked inside this building.

  Milo crossed the lobby and stopped to examine a list of names on a large side panel on the left side of the wall. Alexa followed him and peered over his shoulder, careful not to touch him.

  “What are we looking for?” she asked, her voice low.

  Milo shot her a glare, reminding her that she was to follow his lead.

  Alexa glared back. “You never said I couldn’t ask questions.”

  “And I never said I would answer them.” Milo’s intense gaze made her uneasy, but she wouldn’t look away. If this was a staring contest, she was going to win.

  Milo watched her for a second longer and then tapped his index finger on the panel next to a name. “Dr. Stephen Prevost. He’s an antique dealer and private collector of ancient Native American art and artifacts.”

  She noticed that the good doctor’s apartment was the penthouse. “What does he have to do with your investigations?”

  “Apart from the fact that the building smells like a demon shindig—everything,” said the angel.

  Alexa was surprised when he elaborated.

  “Because it has demon written all over it. I’ve been following a series of deaths that the mortals were unable to explain because they lacked our senses. Every murder scene had traces of demonic energy. All of the victims were private collectors and dealers, and their trail led me to New York. None of their artifacts were missing. The police don’t have any leads, but they missed one crucial fact in their investigations. All of these cases had one thing in common.”

  “What?” asked Alexa, genuinely curious.

  “They were all members of The Crowns of the World,” answered Milo. “It’s a secret society of wealthy men who like to wear colorful robes and tall hats. And they trade their collections to each other in secret.”

  “Okay.” Alexa shrugged. “So, why the secrecy?”

  “Because some of their most prized artifacts were stolen from prominent families in times of war,” said Milo. The intensity in his voice made her shiver. “The objects these dealers trade in rightly belong to their countries of origin. They have no right to claim ownership. And from what I’ve seen, most of the objects belong in museums.”

  “And this doctor is part of this society?”

  “Exactly.” Milo nodded. “As far as I know, he’s the only one left. All the others have been killed. If there’s a connection between his collection and the demons who are targeting the members of his society, I’ll make sure he tells us.”

  Alexa raised a brow. “And how do you plan to do that? You think this doctor is going to spill the beans about his secret stash to complete strangers like us? I don’t think so. Unless you plan on torturing the poor bastard.”

  Milo looked at Alexa as if she were something he’d found stuck under his shoe. “He’ll tell us.”

  Before Alexa could come up with a retort, he had made his way towards the receptionist.

  “Good evening,” she said cheerfully. Her big brown eyes lingered on Milo’s body, and her face flushed. “May I help you?”

  She licked her lips sensuously.

  Alexa rolled her eyes at the sultry tone in the woman’s voice. She crossed the lobby and stood next to Milo. She wasn’t sure whether to laugh or scowl at the woman, so she settled on crossing her arms over her chest. Milo and Alexa weren’t an item, but this woman didn’t know that. The receptionist paid no attention to Alexa. She could have been the vase o
f white lilies on the desk.

  Milo’s brilliant white teeth shone when he smiled, and he leaned over the desk until he was almost close enough to kiss her. The woman stilled and inhaled sharply. She had been seduced by his beauty, and she pushed up her breasts with her forearms until they practically spilled out of her low-cut red cashmere sweater.

  “Oh, come on,” whispered Alexa under her breath.

  “I’m sure you can help,” purred Milo, his voice soft and as low as Alexa had ever heard it.

  “Can you tell me if Dr. Stephen Prevost is in? I’ve just arrived from a trip to Australia with something of great interest to him. I’m sure he’ll be happy to see me. He and I go way back.”

  It took a few seconds for the woman to shake herself free of the Milo-effect.

  “Ah. Yes. Yes. Of course. He came in about an hour ago. Just a sec—let me call him.”

  The woman picked up a phone and dialed a number. After a moment she hung up.

  “I’m sorry, but he’s not answering. Dr. Prevost is a very busy man. Maybe you can try again later.”

  Milo cocked his head. “Later isn’t going to work. See, I’m leaving in a few hours. And it’s imperative that I speak with Dr. Prevost. All I need is his floor key.”

  “Floor key?” she said lazily. The words tumbled out as though she’d just gotten fillings and the muscles in her mouth weren’t working.

  She frowned suddenly, as though his effect was wearing off. “What’s…what’s this all about? Do you have an appointment? He won’t see you without an appointment.”

  Fear flashed in her eyes for a moment, and as she leaned back, her hand fumbled with the phone—

  Milo reached out and grabbed the receptionist’s hand before she could make another call. He squeezed it gently and said in a voice as soft as his touch. “What’s your name?”

  The woman blinked as if she were trying to remember her name. “Paula.”

  “Paula,” said Milo, his voice low and soft, a lover’s voice. “We do have an appointment, remember?”

  Alexa moved closer as the woman blinked and said, “You have an appointment?”

  When Alexa looked closely into Paula’s face, she could see that her eyes were unfocused, like she was in some kind of trance. Even her mouth hung slightly open. Alexa was both shocked and annoyed at how easily the receptionist had fallen under the Milo spell. She wanted to slap her. Yes, he was very good-looking, in an unnatural kind of way, but this was pathetic.

  “I do have an appointment,” said Milo, flashing his teeth. “Dr. Prevost said to come right up to his floor when I got here. He told me that all I had to do was ask you, Paula, for the keycard for his floor, and that you would give it to me. It’s not a problem, I assure you. I’m his friend. He trusts me.”

  “He trusts you,” said Paula. Her face beamed as Milo nodded in approval, and she inched closer to the contours of his lips.

  “Can I have the keycard, Paula?” asked Milo intimately. There was a musicality to the way he said her name, a familiarity that made Alexa feel intensely uncomfortable.

  Paula rummaged in a drawer and pulled out a small silver keycard. She handed it to Milo without hesitation.

  Milo inspected the card and then lifted Paula’s hand to his lips and kissed it. “Thank you, Paula.”

  The receptionist’s eyes widened in surprise, her face a brilliant smile. Alexa felt both pity for the woman and fury at Milo for using her like this. Somehow it didn’t feel right. She hoped this show of flirtation had really been out of character for the angel warrior.

  Milo walked towards the elevators, and Alexa followed him as he slid inside. She caught a glimpse of Paula’s unnaturally happy face before the elevator doors slid shut.

  “What did you do to that poor woman?” asked Alexa. Milo’s manipulative power had freaked her out a little. “How did you do that?”

  Milo shrugged as he leaned over and slipped his keycard in the slot above the panel that read: TO ACCESS FLOOR 30, INSERT ROOM KEY.

  He brushed against her, and she flinched, too much for him not to notice. He smelled of salt and citrus and male perspiration. Could angels smell like that? He was close to her in the elevator, and his scent and his power were difficult to ignore. He leaned even closer to her, and she refused to back away. She was not about to let him intimidate her. His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and she could see his muscled chest. She wondered if he’d unbuttoned it before he spoke with Paula.

  “I didn’t do anything,” said Milo.

  The elevator jerked as it ascended, and he slumped back against the wall. His expression was unreadable, but his lips were drawn tight.

  Alexa gave him a flat stare. “You know what I mean, you Jedi mind-trick smartass. How did you make that woman give you the keycard for the penthouse floor? It was like she was under some kind of spell.”

  “I asked for the keycard and she gave it,” said Milo. His golden hair caught the light and his elegant lips twisted. “Sometimes all you have to do is ask nicely.”

  “Whatever.” Alexa bit back her words and gazed at the control panel. The number thirty button was missing. Without the keycard, they couldn’t reach the top floor.

  For the first time since she had returned, she felt a little nervous—nervous and naked without a weapon.

  “Can I have one of your swords?”

  “No.” Milo’s smile disappeared.

  Alexa reached up and pulled at her own hair. “Jesus, you’re so irritating.”

  “You don’t need a weapon,” said Milo. “We’re here just to talk to the doctor, to get some answers from him. Unless you’re planning to kill him? Now that I don’t recommend—especially after everything you’ve done—”

  “I’ve done,” seethed Alexa. “Tell me, exactly what have I done? Hmm?”

  When Milo didn’t answer, she said, “You just said these collectors are being killed by demons, so the chances are good that some are lurking around here. I need a weapon. I need to defend myself. Ariel wouldn’t let me take a soul blade but—”

  “Then you should have thought about that before you screwed up.”

  She didn’t even realize she was trembling with rage until Milo stepped into her line of vision. “You better learn to control your emotions, or else we’re going to have a problem.”

  Alexa balled her hands into fists and tried to calm down.

  She gave him a close-lipped smile. “Excuse me for not being perfect like you, Golden Boy. I’m not perfect, and I don’t pretend to be. Perfection is boring. Flaws are much more exciting.”

  Milo’s mouth fell open slightly, and his control slipped for a half second. “You take your role as guardian too lightly, and that’s a huge mistake. You should try harder.”

  Alexa felt the slap of the truth in his words.

  “Don’t worry, Dad. As soon as we get back to Horizon you can ask for a transfer. That way I won’t leave a stain on your perfect character.”

  Milo stiffened and opened his mouth to say something, but he only shook his head and scowled. They continued their ride in silence, and Milo seemed a little angry.

  Alexa smiled.

  She tensed when the light for the twenty-ninth floor illuminated, and then the elevator stopped at the thirtieth floor. She braced herself as the doors slid open.

  They stepped out into a foyer with the same gleaming marble floors as the lobby.

  Art and glass cases with native artifacts lined either side of a long hallway. Even to an inexperienced eye, Alexa knew these pieces were from native cultures that extended all the way to Mexico and Latin America. The range of artifacts was impressive: a Native American headdress, necklaces, masks, small ivories, fur clothing, dance costumes, ceramics, engraved gourds, and weaving tools. Alexa felt like she’d stepped into an ethnology museum.

  Although the artifacts would have been fascinating to explore, the stink of demon energy set her nerves on fire. The potency of it was choking. It was like stepping into the smoke in the aftermath of a
house fire.

  Milo felt it, too. The fear in his face echoed her own.

  “We’re too late—”

  A high cry of pure and mindless terror split the air and froze Alexa in her tracks. It went on and on like a note from a violin. Then it grew higher and thinner and sharper until it stopped abruptly.

  Alex’s hands went automatically to her waist and brushed her empty leather scabbard. She cursed under her breath.

  The sound came again, louder this time, and then there was another, and another. It was the sound of someone being tortured, and it was coming from somewhere beyond the hallway.

  CHAPTER 4

  MILO PULLED OUT HIS SWORDS in a single movement and rocketed down the hallway. He moved like the DC Comic character The Flash, faster than she’d ever seen an angel move. Alexa shot after him, but she barely caught up to him before he disappeared into a connecting room.

  Alexa barreled into the room a second later, her fists tight and ready to fight. Milo had halted with his swords out before him. She moved in beside him and looked around. Her eyes watered at the foul smell of demons and death.

  The enormous room was a masterpiece of sleek modern architectural design with gleaming gray marble floors and concrete posts that supported a high ceiling. It was furnished with modern amenities and expensive decor: a full bar with hundreds of bottles of vodka, rum, gin, and wine; white leather sofas and chairs; and more of the artifacts and art that she had seen in the lobby. Even though Manhattan twinkled through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, the effect of the fabulous furnishings was diminished by the presence of a group of half-naked twenty-something, drugged women who lounged on the couches and chairs next to a pile of rotten corpses.

  A man stood in the middle of the room with the glowing sphere of a soul in his hand.