Derick hated to even think about the possibility of Annie coming back, but it was the only thing he had left to hope for. “I guess I could review the footage that the police didn’t take. Maybe there’s something that might explain why Wedge did it,” Derick hated the thought of hearing Wedge’s voice, but Pete was right; they came here for a reason. A small voice told him that Annie was on those tapes as well. Maybe after a few beers, he would be numb enough to review the tapes.
“Good. I’ll get this stuff inside and set up the monitors, if you take the van back,” Pete gave Derick a punch in the shoulder and tossed him the keys.
“Okay,” Derick stood up and resigned himself to the task.
He walked around the front of the van and opened the driver’s side door. He hoped that he could get through the tapes without breaking down. Selfishly, he decided to start with the tapes that he and Annie had made and work his way up to Wedge’s footage. It would be hard to say goodbye to both of them, but maybe it would bring him some closure.
Derick’s body felt hollow, but his mind was on overdrive when he left the car rental lot. He was grateful to have time to think about everything that had happened. He slowly roamed the streets, not ready to go back to the inn. Last night he imagined Annie curled up next to him in his lumpy bed so many times that he could practically feel her next to him. He wished that he could go straight back to Tulsa and forget this horrible place.
Walking through the streets, he ignored the window displays and the other pedestrians around him. He had never felt more alone in all his life, which was saying a lot. He wanted to call his uncle and tell him every torturous detail, but he knew his uncle was away on business. Needing to get some of his troubles off his chest, he dialed his uncle’s automated message service and left a long, rambling message about investigating the castle and losing the girl of his dreams. Breaking down, he talked about Wedge dying and Pete wanting to kill himself. He avoided talking about the Bringer of the Apocalypse side of Annie, knowing that it sounded crazy. He finally ended the incoherent message when he told his uncle to call him and slumped against the side of a pharmacy.
Running his hand through his hair, he pulled himself together and wandered down a side alley. His stomach dropped when he recognized the street that led to the cemetery where they’d made love. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he increased his speed. He needed to get back to school as soon as possible and return to his normal, boring life. He hoped that the police didn’t ask them to stay even longer.
He stopped short when he nearly walked into someone. Wanting to run away from his life, he ducked down an alley that led to the parking lot of an abandoned building. His mind was swirling with images of Annie, Wedge, his mother, and his father. How had his life gotten this fucked up? What had he done to deserve losing all the people he cared about?
Picturing Annie in that black dress made him realize that he was in over his head. He couldn’t avoid the disturbing truth anymore. He reflected on her confession and her apology for Wedge’s death and Pete’s obsession with suicide. He had to accept that Hell was a real place, angels existed, and his girlfriend was not human. Despite everything that Annie told him, he still missed her. She had lied about everything, yet he didn’t think she had done it to be cruel. It was obvious that she had a complicated life, just as she had said.
Annie…Anjali said that she was supposed to be Alazar’s Master, whatever that meant, but that Alazar had turned on her. He was obviously dangerous. Shit, she had joined their group to keep them safe. He remembered her suggesting different locations to search for spirits when they first met in the parking lot. She had been trying to tell him her secret the entire time, but he was too dense to understand.
Derick knew that whatever happened between her and Alazar, she felt responsible for Alazar. He had warned her not to let Alazar blame her for his problems. Of course, Alazar was really the Angel of Death, who was obviously capable of pushing someone to kill himself. It was clear that he used Pete and Wedge as pawns in his disagreement with her. Anjali had done everything she could to save Pete, but she was in the cemetery with him when Wedge had died. No one had been there to help Wedge.
Shit. The marks on her neck had been from Alazar and he had the vague recollection of a gash on her chest that hadn’t been there in the cemetery. Her angel was actively fighting her and yet she had taken the time to get to know him. He doubted that seducing him was a part of her cover. She had told him more than once that she had a hard time walking away from him. She sounded as if she really cared about him. Regardless of who she was, or what she was meant to do, he had to see her again. He needed to know more about her life, her real life.
Walking through the parking lot, he was so caught up in his thoughts, that he didn’t notice the man standing a foot in front of him. Looking up to apologize, the words died in his throat. The scariest man he’d ever seen was blocking his path in the middle of the empty lot.
The man was broad and tall like a gladiator. He wore leather pants with metal hooks attached to his thighs and calves and a leather jacket over a dark red T-shirt, yet what made him intimidating were his black soulless eyes.
“You don’t look like much,” the man grunted in English.
Derick reached for his wallet, knowing that it was pointless to fight the man. “I don’t have much money, but you can take what I have,” he said. It was better to give him what he wanted and avoid a beating in the middle nowhere.
“As if I care about money,” the man chuckled. He looked Derick over from head to toe.
Derick’s heart raced when he thought about what the man did want. He thought about running when a second man standing in the shadow of the building caught his attention.
Derick froze. Outrunning two men through the alleyways would be difficult. He didn’t want to be trapped. His only option was to make his way to a church that was in sight, but far enough way for them to catch him.
“Don’t bother running, he’ll enjoy it,” the second man’s voice echoed across the lot as he came out of the shadows.
The gladiator chuckled, though he didn’t look at the other man. He was assessing Derick as if deciding where to start with him.
Derick noticed the second man limping and holding his side. He was relieved to know that he could outrun the second man, but his hope faded when he saw the man’s face. Bruises covered the right side of his face, while dried blood was caked on his lip and nose. Derick had a sinking feeling that the gladiator had done the damage.
He was about to turn and run, despite the warning, when he realized that he knew the second man. He had spoken to him in the hallway of the inn. He was the one who had convinced him to talk to Annie. Derick’s stomach churned when he put the pieces together. The second man knew Annie, which meant he knew exactly who the gladiator was.
“I guess you’re the boyfriend,” Derick said, looking at the first man.
“Boyfriend? An interesting description, but I will accept it. Yes, I’m the boyfriend and you are the one spending time with my woman,” Lucifer replied. He flexed his fists to show the whelp he was going to enjoy beating him to death.
“No wonder she’s afraid of you,” Derick squared his shoulders. Annie had been right to warn him. He quickly understood why she was afraid to leave this guy. He looked crazy enough to hunt her down and drag her back.
Lucifer was confused by the boy’s statement. He cocked his head, pondering how he had come to this conclusion. Had Anjali told this boy that she feared him?
“You should be afraid of me,” Lucifer growled menacingly.
“Are you going to hurt me the way you hurt her?” Derick stood his ground, but looked around for options, if he had to fight.
Lucifer faltered. “Why do you think I hurt her?” he couldn’t understand how the mortal could know such a thing.
“She told me. I know that she’s afraid to leave you. She didn’t want to admit it to me at first, but I could tell right away that someone had hurt her,” De
rick raised his chin. His outrage over Annie’s treatment by this man outweighed his fear.
“Interesting. You say you could tell. How?” Lucifer was amused by the boy’s presumption about his relationship with Anjali. He would enjoy killing him slowly.
“She doesn’t know how to act around men. She’s shy and nervous, but it’s more than that. She cringes when people get too close to her. She hides her hands so that no one will touch her, and backs away from simple physical gestures. She always seems surprised when someone does something nice for her, even something small. It’s hard to get her to talk about you. She’s ashamed of staying with someone who hits her, but she’s afraid to leave,” Derick listed all of his observations as the man stared at him aggressively.
Lucifer thought about the description of Anjali and pondering the boy’s perception of her to see if these things were true.
Radek watched on in horror. Derick should be running for his life and instead he was confronting the devil and schooling him on his love life.
“Ridiculous. She would never speak to you of such things. Regardless, it is no concern of yours,” Lucifer stepped forward, grabbed Derick by the shirt, and lifted off the ground. He stared into the boy’s eyes and snarled at him.
Derick’s mind faltered as all of the conversations with Annie collided in his mind. She knew specific details about Hell. She had an intimidating boyfriend that hurt her. She was on a first name basis with the Angel of Death. If he were to create a picture of Hell, he would imagine Annie sitting on a throne, the Angel of Death standing at her side, and next to her would the most intimidating and crazed man ever born, the man currently hoisting him off the ground. Son of a bitch. He was staring at the devil himself, Lucifer.
“You don’t make her happy,” Derick choked.
Lucifer threw Derick across the lot until he rolled to a stop. “Lies! It seems you don’t know who you are dealing with,” Lucifer strode across the distance and prepared to place his boot firmly into the boy’s spleen.
Derick raised his head and saw two raging devils coming at him. He shook his head and tried to focus. He needed to get away or he was going to die.
“I know who you are, Lucifer,” Derick grunted. He got to his knees and grabbed his shoulder. He was almost positive that his shoulder had popped out of the socket, but the rolling had thankfully popped it back in. His bruised ribs were making it hard to think.
Lucifer laughed. He struck his boot out to kick the boy in the head while he helplessly rested on his knees, but was met with air when the boy rolled out of the way.
Derick wanted to vomit from the pain, but he had to keep moving. He needed help. He saw the second man and prayed that he would stand up to the devil.
“Tell him. You know her. You told me to be what she needed, not what she wanted. Tell him!” Derick pleaded with the stranger.
Radek cringed. He hated seeing Derick getting his ass handed to him, but at the same time, he didn’t need another broken bone. He was still spitting up blood. Seeing the fear in Derick’s eyes rattled something inside of Radek. He couldn’t stand by helplessly and watch, not again.
“Master, please! The boy is right. Lady Black isn’t happy. I told you that she cares for the boy, but it’s more than that. She loves him. If you hurt him, she will seek vengeance against you,” Radek yelled out.
Lucifer snapped his head toward his unruly servant.
Radek knew the crazed look on Lucifer’s face all too well. He had just made himself a target.
“What do you know about this?” Lucifer spit out the words. He held out his hand and summoned Radek to him.
Radek flew like a rag doll to Lucifer’s hand, only to be dropped to the ground. It took him a moment to regain his senses and speak. “You ordered me to stay with her, protect her. I watched over her. He’s right. She’s sad and lonely. You’re not always around and when you are, you’re not always kind, my lord. Derick is nice to her. He listens to her. She tried to leave him, but she cares for him. She left him to protect him from you. Might I suggest that you take it up with her, my lord?” Radek bowed his head and hoped that Lady Black didn’t take a turn at punching him later.
“I plan to confront her, after I kill him,” Lucifer used his power to raise Derick off the ground and suspend him in the air. He was going to use him as a punching bag until the boy stopped breathing, then he would dismember and burn the body.
Derick knew the end was near. He had no control over his limbs as he hovered in the air, staring down his fate. He was going to die painfully, but he decided that he wouldn’t give Lucifer the satisfaction of begging for mercy.
Lucifer pulled back his fist, spotting the boy’s fair face as his first target.
“Tell Anjali that I love her,” Derick said, starting at the devil and bracing for the beating.
Lucifer was outraged that the whelp had dared to utter the true name of his love, but he was more surprised by his confession. Usually, prisoners confessed after the beating. He looked more closely at the so-called Spirit Expert. Lucifer had expected tears, or screaming, perhaps even urine, but instead, the boy defiantly stared at him, awaiting his death. The boy was either brave or incredibly dimwitted. He decided it was bravery since Anjali would never choose a dullard.
Looking into the boy’s eyes, he saw courage, but more than that, he saw a light. It wasn’t the spark of determination, though it was there as well, but an actual light. Lucifer lowered his fist and contemplated the boy. He’d been so filled with rage that he’d ignored what was plain to see. The boy had been marked by someone powerful.
The world blurred when Lucifer realized who had marked the boy. He backed away as Radek’s plea raced through his mind. Vengeance would indeed be sought by the one who had marked the boy and it wouldn’t be pleasant when it happened.
Lucifer breathed out heavily, releasing his anger, and lowered the boy to the ground. He backed away slowly as the ramifications of his actions became sharp and clear. Anjali would have his ass if he killed the boy. It seemed that Derick would live to see another day.
“Radek, come,” Lucifer said just before he disappeared.
Derick had never been more thankful to feel the dirt beneath his feet. He fell to his knees, shaking, and nearly vomited. Both men were gone and he was still breathing. He thanked God, the universe, anyone who might possibly have helped him. He was alive and he had survived a round with Lucifer. A strong drink was definitely in order, once he could swallow again.
Chapter 16
Anjali entered the Hall of Mirrors determined to stop Michael at the Gates of Heaven before he got any further, but stopped when she saw Gabriel walking toward her.
“Father, what are you doing here?” Anjali cursed silently, knowing that she was probably too late to catch Michael before he left Heaven.
“I came as soon as I heard. What happened?” Gabriel took his daughter into his arms.
Anjali sighed and relaxed into Gabriel’s embrace. It was more comfort than Lucifer had given her.
“Father, I’ve made a huge mistake. I thought Alazar had turned against me, but I was wrong. I have to stop Michael. Please, I have to go,” Anjali stepped out of Gabriel’s arms.
“I knew there had to be a mistake. I will have strong words with Mark,” Gabriel grimaced when he took in Anjali’s frazzled appearance. She was visibly shaking.
“No, Mark did the right thing, I didn’t find out until after he left. I have to find a way to stop Michael from killing Alazar,” she ran her hand through her hair, tugging at the ends.
“No, you will not approach Michael. It’s too late, my darling. I’m so sorry, but Raphael has made the proclamation. It cannot be undone. Michael cannot be stopped,” Gabriel hated to say such a thing to her, but it was true.
“What? Why is everyone so afraid of Michael?” she couldn’t believe that her father had just told her there was no way to save Alazar.
“It’s not that I’m afraid of him, it’s that he won’t listen. It will take
time to convince Raphael, time that will only aid Michael in finding Alazar and killing him. Once an angel is classified a Rogue, they are supposed to be taken into custody, but Michael is allowed to strike a deathblow if the Rogue resists. I’m sure Alazar won’t hesitate to resist. He has always been brash. If you approach Michael without the Council’s approval, they will assume that you are trying to help a known Rogue and Michael will see you as a target,” Gabriel knew the fight between his daughter and Michael would end in a death, though he wasn’t sure who would fall in battle.
“I can’t believe that he is this unreasonable. Don’t you have some kind of authority over him?” Anjali paced around frantically.
“The Council does have authority, but as I said, it will take entirely too much time. I’m sorry. Please, tell me how all of this happened. Maybe I can convince the Council while you stall Michael, without confronting him. If you can find Alazar first, then maybe you can hide him away,” Gabriel couldn’t stand seeing his daughter so agitated. He hated Alazar, but he owed it to his daughter to do everything he could to help her and her Predznak.
Anjali quickly detailed her encounters with Alazar, explaining how she thought he was going to accept her as his Master until she found out about Wedge.
She walked over to her throne and threw herself down into the chair.
“I’m sorry that Alazar attacked you. What happened when he proclaimed that he would never take you as his Master?” Gabriel asked, trying to follow the chain of events.
Anjali hesitated. “He didn’t exactly proclaim it, but his message was clear, or so I thought. These mortals called the Spirit Experts showed up at the castle and I couldn’t convince them to leave without explaining too much. I tried to keep them safe while they were filming their documentary, but one of them died. I thought Alazar had forced him to commit suicide. It turns out that the boy was murdered, though I have no idea why, or by whom. Alazar didn’t deny his involvement, so I assumed he was guilty. Actually, he was mad that I blamed him for the death. Regardless, I shouldn’t have stormed in and accused him without all the evidence,” Anjali hated herself for making a hasty judgment.
The Third Throne: Angel of Death Page 42