by Avery Rae
I took a cab to Hazel's place, hoping not to leave a trail for Priscilla or Gael's hounds to track. I'd always been careful about that. Once inside her apartment building, I walked upstairs and dragged my hand along the top of her door frame until my fingers brushed her spare key. I was surprised to find she had put it back after the last time I showed up.
I turned the small silver key around in my hand with a faint smirk. I found it hilarious that her short ass kept it up there. If she ever had to get it, she would need one hell of a boost.
I unlocked the door and stepped inside. My smile faded in an instant. That fucking angel was on her couch again, but instead of holding a floral mug, this time he was holding my Hazel.
Before either of them had even noticed me, I strode across the room and yanked him away from her. Nathaniel made a face like he smelled something awful as I jerked him in close, teeth bared.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Tension strained Edwin's voice. "Aren't you angels supposed to be chaste? Why are you trying so hard to screw her, huh?"
Hazel's eyes flew open wide. "You're an angel?!"
Well, fuck.
9
Hazel
"Are you kidding me?" I shouted, then clapped a hand over my mouth, looking at the walls of my apartment with a wince. My neighbors didn't need to hear this freak show. I continued much more quietly, my voice strained. "What's wrong with you two? First, Nathaniel comes in here talking about how you're involved in organized crime, now—"
"Seriously? You're stooping low for a holy man." Edwin's expression was furious as he pushed Nathaniel away. "Why would you tell her something like that? How desperate are you?"
"It's true?" I asked, my eyes growing wider. "It's freaking true?!"
"Oh, it gets even worse, Hazel." Nathaniel suddenly looked as if he was enjoying himself. He didn't seem like much of a beacon of light right now. "You see, he was involved with organized crime in the early 1900s."
I looked at Edwin, then back at Nathaniel. I let out an unsure laugh. "That's not possible."
"It most certainly is possible," Nathaniel interrupted as he gave Edwin a smug look. "Do you want to tell her or should I?"
Edwin suddenly looked bored by the entire conversation, his fury melting away with a slow shrug. "I'm a demon, babe."
"So I'm supposed to believe you're a demon mobster from forever ago?" I let out another short laugh. "What is this? You guys have some sort of long con going on or something? What's the endgame even supposed to be?"
"This is the truth, Hazel," Nathaniel replied. "Everything's been laid bare. Now you can make the right choice. Although, it's an obvious enough one after what you've heard, isn't it?"
"Choice?" I asked. "What choice?"
"Between me and him."
I froze, eyes slowly narrowing as I processed what he had just said. How dare he? It was as if he had made up my mind for me. There was nothing I hated more. My whole life had been dictated by others. By the stupid Earth that couldn't even keep itself in order. I wasn't about to take it from these two also.
"You're assuming there's a choice to be made between the two of you," I replied. "And right now? My choice is very easy because there's only one."
A slow smile spread across Edwin's face, and I scowled.
"Oh, no. You're not getting it." I pointed toward the front door. "I want both of you to get out of here. Now."
"Babe—"
"Don't babe me. Just go."
"Please, Hazel," Nathaniel pleaded. "It's important that we talk through this."
Grinding my teeth, I walked over to Nathaniel and jabbed him in the chest. "I want you to drop that whole good guy shtick you have going on. Right now. Nobody who lies as well as you do is that innocent."
"I assure you, I only want what's best for you."
Edwin snorted. "Yeah, Hazel, he only wants what's best for you."
I snapped my eyes to Edwin's and crossed the distance between us. He folded his arms and looked down at me with dark eyes, daring me to do something. I wanted to scream at him just as much as I wanted to kiss him in that moment. But they would both give him too much satisfaction. I clenched my hands into fists as a tremble of fury worked its way through my body.
It wasn't fair, but I was mad at them both for lying to me. Hiding something so huge. I didn't care that he was a demon. I didn't care that Nathaniel was an angel. I wasn't strictly normal myself.
We passed down stories of demons and angels in my family, so I had a feeling they most likely existed. I wasn't exactly surprised. It was the fact that I had a feeling they might have known what I was, and that scared me. Because I was unsure of what that meant.
Were they using me for something? I couldn't be sure. I didn't even know to what end they would use me. But the fact that they had both specifically picked me was enough to cause alarm. I had enough going on in my life right now without this. I had been through enough. I was done.
"Get out," I hissed. "Both of you. I don't want to see either of you ever again."
I didn't mean it, but I wanted to. I was so tired of the lies. Mine and everyone else's. I wished I could live in the version of the world where people told little white lies and not everyone held some intense, life-changing secret. Like finding out the only two people you had grown close to in a long time were an angel and a demon. That didn't happen to normal people.
"C'mon," Edwin said with a smirk, "just be honest with the angel and tell him you want him to go. No need to spare his feelings by kicking us both out."
"You don't have to worry about me sparing anyone's feelings," I replied with a scowl. "I want you gone."
Edwin was about to say something, then paused. He took a step closer. "What's going on with your eyes, babe?"
My first thought was that they must be bloodshot from all the drinking, but this was something else. I was gradually starting to notice that I could barely see straight. I was shaking from head to toe. And there was this overwhelming feeling burning inside me, like I wanted to tear the world down around me. Worst of all, that didn't sound like a bad idea to me at all anymore.
"Mosca, I would suggest you step away from her," Nathaniel said in a calm voice.
"Don't tell me what to do with my girl."
"Alright," he replied lightly, "don't tell me I didn't warn you."
"Shut up, both of you, just shut up!" I felt warm. So warm. It was as if my blood had been replaced by liquid fire. I clenched my eyes shut. In the next moment, my entire body seized, a trembling gasp forcing its way from my throat.
That was when I could feel them all around me. Souls. Lost ones. These weren't summoned by Druids. They weren't violent. They were lost and lonely. Abandoned. They reached out for me, thankful to be seen. They wanted to help me, I realized. And I knew just how.
"What the hell is going on?" Edwin asked, bewildered.
When I next opened my eyes, I nearly faltered at the sight of Edwin and Nathaniel. A veil had been lifted from my eyes, and I saw them for what they really were. Edwin's eyes glowed like the embers of a fire and Nathaniel's were no longer blue but a light yellow. And he had wings. It's all true. They had both lied to me. They had come to me under false pretenses, because that was what liars like me attracted.
Whatever hesitation I felt disappeared in an instant as anger surged through me once more. I reached for those wandering souls. Calling to them. Commanding them. They responded eagerly.
Edwin took a step toward me. "Hazel, come on, let's—"
"No more." The voice I spoke with was harsh and cold, unlike my own.
Silhouettes shimmered into view in front of them. Both men froze as souls slid inside them, taking control. I could feel them fighting. A war was taking place inside them, even if they looked calm on the outside as they obediently walked to my door. Nathaniel opened it. Edwin looked back at me, resisting just a little harder, but he couldn't help but follow after Nathaniel. He shut the door behind them.
I could track their every movemen
t without even seeing them, just by feeling the souls that piloted them outside my apartment. The moment the door to my building was shut, I released them and collapsed down to the floor, taking in short, gasping breaths. My eyes began to widen as I processed everything that had just happened. The eerie calm I had felt during it all was replaced by sheer terror. I had no idea what I'd just done, or how.
Never before in my life had I summoned souls alone, let alone controlled them, nor had I heard of any other Druid doing it. So how in the world did I just do that?
10
Edwin
"What the fuck was that?" I growled as I gained control of myself once more. It took me a long moment to process what I had just experienced. Hazel had not only made souls appear out of thin air, she had used them to control us.
I didn't know about angels, but I sure as hell knew that when a demon was possessed, they could put up a hell of a lot more fight than that. I'd seen it before.
But that wasn't the only thing that was messed up. Hazel's eyes had changed. They turned a deep, dark red that I had seen before—in Hell. And in that brief moment, I could've sworn she was a demon. She didn't just look like it, she felt like it, too. What else are you hiding from me, babe?
Nathaniel got to his feet, brushing the dirt from his gray slacks with a look of disdain. "You mean to tell me you haven't figured it out yet? I assumed you were here for the same reason. How delightful."
"Just say it, you prick."
Nathaniel's smile fell into a frown. "You're very rude, demon."
"Your attitude isn't so sweet either."
"No, I suppose not." He sighed. "Hazel carries the blood of your kind in her."
A string of curses flew from my lips. "How? Until now, she was perfectly fine."
"She wasn't made into a demon like you were," he said quietly. "She was born. Demon or not, she is far too precious for someone like you to sully."
Sully? I gritted my back teeth together, resisting the urge to lay into him. If he was feeling talky, I wasn't going to ruin that. Not until I learned more. Heaven knows I wouldn't get a word from Hazel.
"Does she know?" I asked.
"We don't believe so. Her mother had an affair, and it was never made known. That was the only time I've seen her use her powers."
"What sort of powers does she have?"
"We're not certain." He lowered his voice, stepping in closer as a smattering of people passed by. "This is the only time we know of that a demon has mated with a Druid. She survived their last attempt at a mass sacrifice, so we know she's at least stronger than the average mortal, but—"
"Hold on. You knew that shit was going down and you didn't try to stop it?"
Nathaniel's expression clouded over. "It's not our place to interfere with mortal matters. Free will is important to us."
"Yeah, because it keeps your herd nice and trim. What they're doing isn't natural, you twit. They're screwing with the free will of countless people, and that's where you draw the line?" I let out a hollow laugh. "You mean to tell me that's what your big boss had in mind when he created Druids? Never mind the fact that you're down here screwing with Hazel's head. So much for free will."
"They were meant to keep Earth in harmony." He stiffened. "Although perhaps they have lost their way somewhat. We're trying to correct that, and we believe Hazel is the key."
"Wow." I shoved my hands into my pockets and clicked my tongue. "I knew you holy fucks had to be lying to yourselves up there, but it's even worse than I imagined. Aren't you a little embarrassed that Hell has to pick up your slack?"
"Don't even pretend to understand—"
I held up a hand. "I'm done listening to you. Just stay away from Hazel. Next time I see you around, I won't be so kind."
I turned to walk away.
"She's in danger."
I stopped in my tracks. "Because of who?"
"Her fellow Druids. They figured out what she is, and they plan on sacrificing her." He let out a long sigh. "I should've found a way to tell her sooner, but—"
"But you started thinking with your dick instead, didn't you?" I said with a smirk. Nostrils flaring like a pissed off horse, he opened his mouth to go in on me, but I cut him off. "Look, there's nothing to worry about. You know it didn't work last time. She survived. Might be immortal."
"You're not listening to me, Edwin. They won't be having her summon souls like last time." Nathaniel's jaw hardened. "By sacrificing a powerful being like her, they could open up Earth to Heaven and Hell."
"We would wipe each other out and everything in between." I barked out a cynical laugh. "A true reset to the balance."
"That's exactly what they think. I'm worried they're being manipulated from outside sources."
"No shit? We just imprisoned one of our faction leaders for doing just that."
Nathaniel grimaced. "I suppose the Druids are the easiest way to affect things on Earth."
He might be an asshole, but he was right. I was sure whoever in Heaven was behind this had the same thoughts as Lilith—that they could take the place of their absent leader and right all the wrongs. People who wanted that sort of power were never the type who should have it though. Never.
Despite Lilith's good intentions, I had no doubt it would've taken less than a decade for her to become a tyrant. It was inevitable. No one person could be in charge of it all. The Tribunal was hardly better, but at least it kept the power distributed.
"Look, I'll help you out however I can, but you need to stay away from Hazel."
Nathaniel narrowed his eyes. "That won't be happening."
"You think you got a chance? She's mine, Nate."
"You were kicked out of there just like I was, Ed. She isn't committed to either of us yet . . . but it will be me."
He nearly got me with that one. "You only let me know she was in danger so I wouldn't oust your ass, didn't you?"
He gave me a slow smile, then shrugged. "It was an added benefit, I'll admit."
I couldn't believe I was stuck with this guy. Hazel had better thank me later because this was going to test every last ounce of patience I had. But hey, it was better than my favorite girl ending up dead. I didn't want to have to fight in a holy war either. So, I could bear him for a little while. I definitely wouldn't let him take her from me.
After making sure that Nathaniel really left, I made my way back to the portal that was tucked in an alley near the townhouse. I had to stay because I couldn't risk the chance of him getting alone time with Hazel. Did that make it seem like I didn't have confidence in myself? Fuck if I cared. I thought I was fantastic, and I was sure Hazel did, too—judging especially by the way I made her tremble in bed—but I was a demon. He was a literal angel. I wasn't going to act like I could compete with that. I was the guy you stayed with short term.
Back in the day, I liked it like that. But none of those nameless, faceless women in my past had been Hazel. The fact that I couldn't reel her in with a single look made her all that more irresistible. She made me work for every syllable that was coaxed from her lips, and I loved it.
What I didn't love was how complicated this whole thing had become. I should've known there was something different about her. Why else would she have survived? Druids didn't strike me as the type to care whether they did or not.
Despite how normal Hazel always seemed, there was this ghostly quality to her that made you question whether or not she was really there. She was detached. Ready to leave this life any minute. So why hadn't she? Because she couldn't, apparently. At least, not in the same way that the others killed themselves. I should've known.
Knowing I needed to find out more about what she was, I set off in the opposite direction I usually would. As the cloudy red sky crackled with thunder and lightning above, I trekked over the ashen ground to Lilith's former palace. It was Delilah's now. Last I heard, she slid right into her role as the faction leader of the pleasure demons.
If you were to ask me, I would say that she was a littl
e too happy about it, but I didn't think she had anything planned. She just wanted to lead. To have the position that Lilith hoarded for millennia. I couldn't blame her. She'd been second fiddle for a long time. But I sure as hell wouldn't want that kind of responsibility, and I struggled to trust those who did.
The thought of trying to keep control of even the Brotherhood made me shudder. Samael spent so much time talking to those crazy assholes, trying to crack through those hard veneers to get to the damage that was under the surface. It wasn't for me.
As I approached the castle, there were several beautiful incubi and succubi sweating in the ashen air, their skin glistening as they worked on rebuilding the castle gates. They were still fixing the damage that Berith's army had done a year earlier when we fought Lilith.
They'd chosen to repair the palace first, and even added on some new additions. It was bigger and more impressive than when Lilith had ruled, which was a feat in itself. I would have repaired the gate walls first, but that showed how little danger they thought they were in. Hell was as peaceful as it had ever been.
"What're you doing here, hunter?" one of the succubi asked, flicking her long red hair over her shoulder. Her bright green eyes locked onto mine. I looked away. I wasn't going to fall for any of that compelling bullshit they could do. It was bad enough having to deal with Priscilla accidentally brushing against me when she was in too good of a mood—and I liked her.
Besides, just because Hell was at peace didn't mean we got along. There were too many backstabbers down here for any of that. We could barely trust our own, let alone others. I knew that all too well.