by Willa Blair
His smile lacked its usual warmth but she appreciated it all the same. Both of them were worried sick. Sean had a killer running loose, plus now a possible demon explosion on his hands, and Abby just wanted to crawl into the bed with Darach and hold him. Something the nurse said would not be tolerated when she’d done just that last night.
Not that she would have disturbed him. He lay like a corpse, his normally bronze face pale, his torso and arm covered in bandages. She didn’t have to see under the bedspread to know his thighs were swathed the same way. He’d been stitched up with enough thread to hem a dress.
God help her, what if Darach did die? Could Michael make him an immortal a second time? Dare she ask—no beg—the archangel to do so if worse came to worse?
“Abby, I don’t suppose you’ve heard from you-know-who?”
She wondered how Sean seemed to read her mind. It was a bit disconcerting at times.
“No. I even tried to star 69 the number he called from but it said number not available.”
“Well, I’m sure—”
“Hi, may I come in?”
The woman standing in the doorway looked like a model for a glamour magazine. Her auburn hair hung almost to her tiny waist. A waist Abby would love to have. In fact, Scarlet O’Hara would be envious. The black sweater she wore was a perfect foil for a magnolia complexion. Not a blemish in sight. And the sweater emphasized a set of boobs Abby couldn’t carry off with her height even if she could afford the surgery.
The sound of Sean’s boots hitting the floor caused Abby to turn her head. The lieutenant looked like someone had punched him in the gut.
Looking at him and then back at their visitor, she would say they were almost the same height. Could have something to do with the fact the woman was wearing five-inch heels.
Regardless of her extraordinary looks, Abby needed to remember her manners. The woman was here for a reason. She pulled herself out of the recliner the staff placed in the room for her and started for the door.
Before she could get there, Sean jumped in front of her. “Hold on, Abby. We don’t know this woman or even what she is.”
“Sean, you’re being rude.”
“And you’re overstepping your bounds, demon. Now get away from her.” The woman snarled in answer to Sean’s words.
Well, looks like she could get out of introducing herself, but she’d still like to know who the woman was and how did she know Sean was part demon?
Instead of moving, Sean got closer, and the woman stepped over the threshold.
“Uh, look you two, why don’t we take this out into the hall. Sick man here, remember?” Abby inserted.
The woman glanced at the bed, and concern beat inside her gaze for a second, before she once again took a step.
“I mean it. Darach is…he could die…and he needs to stay quiet.” Abby put on a false manner of bravado, and stepped between the bristling duo.
The woman immediately grabbed her by the arm and pulled Abby behind her.
“Now, demon, we fight.”
“Fine by me, but I have to warn you I don’t go down easy.” Sean’s eyes glittered red, sending Abby’s temperature down a few notches.
“First, I would like to know the name of the one I kill.” Sean’s statement caused the woman to bristle.
“My name is Arianna, and you will be the one to die.”
The more Abby stood there watching Sean and the woman posture their dislike and animosity, the madder she became. She again inserted herself between the two would be combatants.
“I don’t care what you two do to one another, but do it somewhere else.” She gave Sean a look that had his eyes flaring a deeper red before he gave a quick nod. Abby then turned to the woman. “As for you, I don’t care what your name is, if you disturb Darach, you will answer to me.”
Arianna’s cheeks turned a light pink. “Forgive me, I should have given you more information. I was a bit startled to find you in the company of that demon.” A bright-red-tipped finger pointed toward Sean.
“He is—”
“I am not a demon.”
“Really, then why can I smell sulfur in this room?”
“Please you two, not again. Sean is a halfling. And you still have not stated your business.”
“Michael sent me to guard you until Darach gets back on his feet or…”
“Don’t you dare say it, he is not going to die!”
“Sorry again. Look, are you cool with being here with this…this…creature?”
“I am a man, not a creature. Now why don’t you just give your archangel a call and ask him. He knows who I am.” Sean bristled.
Arianna cocked an eyebrow, but pulled out her phone. “If you are brave enough, whatever you are, then why not follow me out to the waiting room while I make that call.”
Sean huffed but removed himself from Darach’s room. Abby fought and won her battle against the tears that had threatened ever since she’d first seen Darach look so helpless, lifeless almost. What if he didn’t make it? What would she do? He was the first man she’d given her heart to, and Abby didn’t think she could live without him. Crazy as that sounded, she didn’t want to give him up. He’d brought so much into her life. And if he did pull through, she promised she would make up how she spoke to him the last time. She should have told him about her vision, then maybe this wouldn’t have happened.
Darach’s phone rang somewhere deep inside her purse. Something that shouldn’t have happened, she was sure she’d turned it off per hospital instructions. Yet, the unmistakable chimes of Michael’s number caressed her ears.
“Hello.”
“I see you are watching over our immortal.”
“Yes, but I have a few questions for you, Michael.”
What sounded suspiciously like laughter was turned into a quick cough.
“And what would those be?”
“Why did you do nothing to keep Darach from being hurt?”
Michael cleared his throat before responding. “Darach had free will to go into that alley. And just as all creatures have free will, he chose to do his duty. I did try to warn him, and in the process got my wrist richly slapped for my interference.”
“I don’t understand. God is merciful. Why would he be upset about your warning?”
Again, she heard him clear his throat.
“All I can tell you is there were events set in place long before even I came into existence.”
Abby wanted to scream that was not an answer.
“I know, but it’s the only one I can give you. But ask yourself, if Darach had arrived back at the bar last night safe and hearty, would you have realized just what he meant to you?”
Before she could reply she heard a soft click. She tossed the phone back in her purse and hoped it broke. Which probably wouldn’t happen since it worked regardless of being turned on. She was sure having it smashed to smithereens wouldn’t keep it from going off again.
Abby slid the chair closer to Darach’s bed. She gently eased her fingers into his. Such strong hands to be lying so still. She closed her eyes and remembered what it felt like to have them run over her body with a scorching touch, to have them swipe her hair out of her eyes, or just hold her. Would she ever feel those things again? Would Darach wake up from the coma the physician said he could remain in for an indefinite time? She hated herself. If he hadn’t been so set on protecting her, he could have stayed home. She never should have hunted the demon that night. She should have let life happen and then even though she would never have met him, probably, then at least he would be safe and well.
“Ms. Dupree.”
She forced her attention away from Darach’s almost non-existent breathing. Arianna had returned without Sean. She hoped they had taken their battle outside.
“Yes.”
“Do you mind if I sit down? It was a long flight from LA.”
“I didn’t think you immortals got tired. And couldn’t you just teleport?”
“Not of
ten, but it does happen. And I thought I’d do it the mortal way for a change. Dumb idea.” The executioner sent her a quick smile. “Look, I’m sorry for what happened before. I was just surprised to see a demon alive in Darach’s room.”
That was the second time she’d used his given name. Had she known him before now?
“Did you know Darach before?”
“We met when I attended a training session he gave. To say he wasn’t happy dealing with a bunch of newbie executioners would be putting it mildly.”
“I thought Michael trained all of ya’ll.”
Arianna laughed. “Well, he was suppose to, but I think he made Darach do it as punishment.”
“He probably spouted off to Michael.”
Abby glanced back at Darach’s chest—he still breathed—before looking at the other immortal.
“I hope you didn’t kill Sean.”
A snarl very much reminiscent of what she was use to from Darach erupted from the woman’s lips. “No, but he got on my everlasting nerve. Who is this halfling? Why is he someone Michael would say is safe?”
“Michael didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?” Her curiosity forced the woman’s body to lean forward giving Abby a glimpse of fine lines around her eyes. She might look like a million bucks in most ways but something or someone had put those marks on her face.
“That Sean saved Darach’s life. If he hadn’t been hunting him to give him a message from Michael, Darach would have bled to death in that alley.” Just saying the words caused Abby’s stomach to revolt into a painful tension knot. Her heart began to hammer so fast she almost couldn’t catch her breath.
“Hey, you all right? Should I call a nurse?”
“I’m…fine…just give me a moment.” Abby took several deep breaths, but it didn’t keep her hands from trembling as she eased her hand from beneath his and smoothed the already wrinkle-free bed-covering.
“I didn’t realize the demon saved his life.”
“Well, from what I’ve learned of Sean Black, he keeps things pretty much close to his heart. He and Darach have been acquaintances since Darach was assigned here a decade ago. He called Sean when my friend went missing.”
“I’ll try to keep that in mind when dealing with the halfling.”
“Why don’t you call him Sean? It might make the dealing easier.”
Arianna’s amber eyes twinkled, before she retained the somber expression Abby figured most immortals wore.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you. There’s already enough violence without you two inventing more.”
Abby turned her attention back to Darach. He should have already awakened. His body was receiving fluids and nutrients from the IVs inserted in both his arms. She prayed they would do their work and keep him alive until he came back to her.
“Do you want me to go get you anything to eat or drink, Ms. Dupree?”
“No thank you, and please call me Abby. It’s what I’m used to.”
“Okay, I’m a bit curious, do you mind telling me how you met Darach?” Arianna’s tone was friendly, and yes a bit curious as she said, but she wondered if the woman just wanted to keep her from jumping off the deep end like she so wanted to do.
“It’s a pretty short story. Mortal woman fights demon, immortal executioner saves her butt…”
****
Darach woke to the sound of voices. Where was he? The last he knew the demons were closing in for the kill. He inhaled and his chest exploded with pain. He slowed his breathing, and in doing so he recognized the scent of antiseptic, the smell of bandages, and above all the heavenly aroma of jasmine.
Slowly and extremely carefully he tried to turn his head toward the sound of her voice. Darach wanted to see Abby, but couldn’t make his limbs do what he wanted. His body felt like frozen slush. The same with his eyelids. When he tried to raise them, they remained shut. Whatever damage his body sustained it seemed it would take a while to heal.
Tired from his efforts, he just listened to the sound of Abby’s voice. It bathed him in peace. If he could do nothing else for the rest of his immortal life, then he would be content.
“…And now I’m in love with Darach.”
His heart skipped one beat, then two, before the rhythm evened out. Was it possible? Could Abby truly love him? And what if she did? What type of life could he give her if he died? What type of life if he lived? Yet, he wasn’t sure if he could live without her.
Darach’s pulse slowed down to a crawl as his body began to wear down just from being awake.
He allowed the silken threads of darkness to envelope him. When he was stronger he would make sure Abby knew he felt the same way.
****
Abby paced the small confines of the hospital room. One day had turned into four. Still Darach did not stir. The doctors would tell her nothing, and that in itself said too much. They didn’t think Darach would recover.
It was surreal. He should not be able to die. He was immortal. Why didn’t they make rules that would keep him safe? Why couldn’t there be laws that said he couldn’t die because he was good?
And speaking of good, she’d tried to reach the archangel several times over the last forty-eight hours, but to no avail. Sean was out hunting the killer, Arianna was here for a bit and then gone as needed to help search for the demons who attacked Darach.
“Abby…”
So softly spoken was her name, she thought she imagined it. Still she turned toward the sound. Darach’s lids flickered once before they opened to reveal dark spheres of confusion and pain.
“Darach?” She whispered his name—almost afraid she was hallucinating.
“Abby, dinnae cry.” His voice was hoarse from disuse, but Abby didn’t care. He spoke, he lived, he would make it.
“Oh Darach, I thought I’d lost you.”
The slight chuckle emitting from his throat was a poor imitation of the rich baritone she loved, but she’d take what she could get.
“Nay, I fear ye will be stuck with me fer a verra long time.”
****
Angus made sure to keep to the dark side of the street, downwind from the new immortal and the demon. What a strange combination. One who was almost Satan’s minion working hand in hand with the archangel’s executioner. He’d not planned to be out this late, but there had been no media news about Darach’s attack. He needed to know if his cousin would live or die before he made his next move.
Reminder: Archangels do not shed tears over what happens in the mortal realm. It would be fruitless since he would never get any work done if he allowed his hardened shell to crack. As he reached for a golden cloth and wiped his eyes, he repeated, archangels do not shed tears.
Chapter Fifteen
It had been three days since Darach awoke the second time. Seventy-two hours stuck in the bed because the mortal doctor would not believe he was doing much better. He hated lying there, instead he should have been spending his time in a better way. Four-thousand-three-hundred plus minutes he could have been holding Abby in his arms.
Enough was enough. Abby, who had dozed in fits and starts during his sojourn between the sheets, had finally fallen into a deep sleep. It was time. The nurse would not be around for at least thirty minutes. Darach carefully removed the IV from one arm and then the other. He prayed an alarm would not be triggered; he didn’t have time to explain how his body was completely healed from his wounds, that the numerous sutures needed to stitch him up had disappeared and only pale pink scars showed the results of his escape from death. Soon they would be gone also.
He needed to get to his house, get some clothes, and then talk to Sean. All before Nurse Ratchet arrived to shove more unwanted pills down his throat. His body, which at first lacked the ability to heal itself immediately, had finally done just that. The doctor would see it as a miracle, Abby as a blessing, and for Angus, who he was sure was behind the attack, as the signal to try again. Without leaving the bed, he concentrated on hi
s home. When the teleportation began, he breathed a sigh of relief before his body became molecules.
A moment later, he stood in his bedroom, and a moment after that he was dressed and headed for the NOLA PD.
****
“I need to speak with Lieutenant Black, please.”
“Sir, he’s in a conference with the chief. He’ll be out in a moment.”
“Thank you.” Darach nodded to the frazzled redhead behind the front desk, and moved back. By his estimation, he’d been gone from the hospital around five minutes. Still time to get back. He just hoped Abby didn’t wake up first. He watched as Sean exited a room in the inner sanction of the station, and was hailed by the receptionist. The halfling turned his head in Darach’s direction, and then strode to where he stood.
“Highlander, are you crazy? You should be in the hospital.”
“Good to see you too.” Darach grinned. “I hear I have ye to thank for saving my arse.”
“Yes, and believe me I’ll cash in on that favor one day.”
“Good enough. Now listen, I dinnae have much time.” He drew Sean further into the corridor leading to the cells.
“I need ye to get Abby out of that room for a bit, tell Arianna I said so, and then I need to talk to ye.”
Sean stared at Darach’s clothing like he wanted to see under the material to the wounds beneath.
“Look, I’m healed completely. But, in order to catch Angus, no one else must know.”
The halfling’s eyes glowed red for a moment. “You got it. I’ll try to get by no later than seven tonight.”
“Thanks.”
Darach said nothing more as he turned and exited the way he’d come in.
Five minutes later he was back in bed in the despised gown and with the IVs hooked up once more. Abby still slept but her now restless movements could mean she would wake anytime. At least he’d made it back. Now, if his plan worked, he would bring Angus down and hopefully without anyone else dying. He also needed to talk to Michael. He’d rather do it in person and would if things played out like he wanted them to tonight. He loved Abby, and now that he ken she loved him, he would make sure she was taken care of no matter what.