by A. E. Watson
“Yes, young Wyatt is frantic. I dare say he likes you on a short leash. He even tried flying up, but the guards didn't let him past the gates.”
“I need to talk to you about Lucifer.” I don't want to talk about Wyatt.
“Right.” He chuckles and folds his arms. “I expected you would want that, but I sort of hoped you would start with an apology for ruining my chances in the garden.”
“I’m sorry.” I say it even though it’s a lie.
“No, you aren’t.” His eyes narrow.
“No, I’m not. Mona is safe and the garden is protected. Lucifer can never get to her.”
“You would trade the world for one human?” He laughs.
“Yes. She’s my human.” It feels weird saying it like that since I feel like he and I are both humans. We both look human, except for the wings.
It takes him a moment to nod, not in agreement but as if he understands. “I know what it means to have a human, Rayne. We all do.” Maybe he’s been in love before, other than with one of his creepy incest angel witches.
“Lucifer can’t get to her and I’ve done my part. I killed the seven devils, including my father. I killed the four horsemen, releasing the pious and good from their human forms and saving them from this hell on earth. I don't feel like I have a laundry list of things left to do. It’s pretty simple now. Kill the Antichrist and prevent Lucifer’s wicked plan. How hard can it be?” I shrug.
His lips curl into a grin. “How hard has it been all along? I am thousands of years into this war; you are but seconds.”
For whatever reason that statement has my back straight and the humor gone from my face. “Don't you dare tell me you are thousands of years into this. I am the original sin. I am the fruit in the tree. I am older than any one thing on this earth. I know how hard this has been. I still have to kill one of my best friends, and even though she’s betrayed me I still don't care that's she’s the Antichrist. I don't want to hurt her.”
He looks defensive and then interested in what I’ve said. “Friend? You know who the Antichrist is?”
“No.” I sigh. “But I suspect it’s my friend Michelle. I was warned that the Antichrist is two sides of the same coin—two possible outcomes in one body. Michelle was born a male but has always believed herself to be female. Lucifer made her a biological female. He fed the side of her that was always wanting out and now he controls her. I think she’s the Antichrist.”
He flinches in the tiniest way, so subtly I almost miss it. “So you believe it’s her? And she’s your friend?”
“One of my best.”
His eyes draw to the cloud like a white ceiling above us as he nods. “Of course she is. There would be no other way for that to pan out. At least it’s just a friend.” He lowers his gaze and offers me a weak smile I think is actually genuine. “I had to sacrifice my own brother once.”
“Let me guess, it was all for the greater good?”
“Yes.” He laughs. “But it felt neither great nor good.” He stands and walks to the door. “Where is your father’s army now?”
“Oh snap, that's what I was supposed to tell you. He’s got an army of vampires and the fire witches have a bad feeling he will be able to convince the lower angels to come to his side.”
“I know that.” He nods. “He was a seraph. He might stand a chance at controlling them which is why I do not intend to allow the lower angels to fight.”
“Oh. Well, I don't know where he and the vampires are hiding. We were hoping you might start looking with us. Oh—and if we find them first, I need a way to call you for help when I find them.”
“Just call, Rayne. Look up into the sky and scream my name. I’ll hear you from anywhere in this world.” He says it like I might have known that. “And I have been looking for the vampire army. I already knew about it. The earth witches told us.”
“Will you have enough air witches for a battle?” I don't even know how many witches we have on our side in total.
“We will only have enough if all the witches fight. They must. It’s prophecy that they would find themselves united once more under the great cause. This is that moment.” He gives me one more smile and leaves the room. I don't know if I’m free to go until he shouts from the hall, “You’re free to go.”
It’s the weirdest interaction I’ve had with him yet.
Chapter Five
Constantine pacing and the witches watching him is entertaining enough to occupy my mind as we wait for Wyatt to come back from his walkabout. The fire witches’ dark eyes haunt and stalk his every move. It’s a bit eerie the way they are, clearly contemplating doing awful things to him in conjunction with lewd sexual things.
I shudder and glance back out the filmy window.
“So he let you stay there and he never hurt you, and he told you the moment you need him you should call? He didn't threaten you or try to get the light or anything?”
“No.” I shake my head again. “I don't know how else to word this, but he was nice to me. He even seemed like he might get my plight a bit. He wasn't horrible.”
The fire witches all sneer.
“Right,” I concede. “Obviously, apart from the weird being related to everyone.” I lift my hands in the air. “That’s always horrible.”
Lila snaps her eyes at me. “He’s a disgusting pig.”
“He’s a purest.” Constantine rolls his eyes. “The monarchs have been doing this very same thing for a long time. It’s not uncommon. And it strengthens their magic, just the way doing spells on the remains of your dead strengthens yours.”
“He said he would help and that I should call him if I needed him. He sounded like he understood,” I repeat the answer for the hundredth time—okay, fifth time. “And he said they know about the vampires. The earth witches told them. They’re looking for them too.”
“It’s just odd, he’s not a nice man. He’s conniving and dishonest. What could he be up to?” Constantine taps a strong finger against his lips.
“Maybe since the garden’s gone he’s got no choice but to help us.”
“That's true, but he should have been angrier about losing that option. Why isn’t he angry about that?”
“Oh my God, dude, we need to move on,” I groan. “Worrying about the angel on our side isn’t going to get us anywhere. He’s the last issue we need to be thinking about. What about the angels against us? He never even batted an eyelash at the fact Lucifer will take the lower angels. He suspects it’s what’s going to happen. That's a bad sign, right?—he knows those angels are about to work us over?” I roll my eyes and rub my temples. “Where is Wyatt?” He wasn’t home when I got here.
“I told you, his sister wasn't at the house and his father is nowhere to be found. He’s off trying to find them.” Constantine waves me off.
I give Lila a look. “Can’t you do a location spell?”
“We did one, it didn't work.” She shrugs. “His family is hiding it seems.”
“And any luck trying to find the vampires?” I dare to ask the one question I have left alone. I assumed they would tell me if they had good news. But they didn't.
“Nothing.” Lila shakes her head slowly. Her eyes dart to Constantine who is pacing and distracted again. “His blood didn't work.”
With a heavy sigh and a heavier heart, I turn and look back at the dirty window. My gaze narrows as I realize the window isn’t dirty, unless the dirt is moving. Or crawling rather. “Uhm, ewww! Something’s going on with the window.”
One of the witches comes over, recoiling when she sees the insects everywhere. “What the hell?”
“Lice, gnats, and fleas.” Constantine pinches the bridge of his nose.
“Another Egyptian special?” I ask, hardly able to remove my gaze from the thick sea of them crawling and twitching outside. My head is instantly itchy.
“Yes, stop bloody itching. You’ll have us all itching and there’s no way that curse can get through the protection spell on this place.” He scratch
es his neck and lifts his shoulders as if he’s uncomfortable.
The witches draw the curtains, leaving us with faint light coming from the candles and small sconces along the thickly wallpapered walls. The Gothic brothel theme is going strong in here. It reminds me of the earth witches and their Victorian theme, but I wouldn't ever say that. It’s an insult to be like any other kind of witch. I haven’t even had a chance to tell Constantine that the witches will all fight together for us because it’s in the prophecy. I don't want to tell him in front of them in case they protest or don't know they’re bound to help us.
The doors blow open and Wyatt comes staggering in. His little sister is in his arms. He drops her as they both start scratching and itching and immediately making me uncomfortable.
She’s crying while he’s wiping bugs off her as they are clearly biting him.
Lila runs at them, pulling a long wand from her side and casting something on them. A dark cloud drops to the floor and they are suddenly still.
Maggie lifts her gaze for mine. Her eyes are red and welts cover her face. “What is this?”
“All part of the end of days. Punishment for the people who remain,” Lila answers for me.
Wyatt shudders, wiping himself once more. “That was something I might need counseling to get over one day.” He brushes his hands through his hair, shaking himself off like there might still be a couple of bugs. “I’m gonna go shower.” He points up the stairs. His lips draw into the smile that makes everything okay, even with the marks all over his face from the bites. “Glad you’re home.” He winks and leaves, dragging Maggie up the wide staircase.
“Why would God do this?” I can’t help but ask it. I would ask him, but I suspect he wouldn’t answer me.
“I doubt very much this is God and suspect this has Lucifer written all over it. He is somehow responsible for this. He’s trying to scare us. Trying maybe to tell us that his Antichrist is his.” Constantine shakes his head. “This isn’t God. The rapture—that was God. The four horsemen—God. Flies and bloody rain and boils are a sorcerer’s trick. God is too mighty to trifle with such acts. This is something else.”
“The fae queen.” The words fall from my lips.
“Of course, that is why he wanted her,” Constantine groans. “She can control the elements and nature. She can cast powerful magic. She is absolutely his henchman in all this, including the fleas. And of course she would side with him, hoping he will kill off all of humanity so they can reset the earth and start over.”
“That might be useful.” Lila perks up, looking at one of the dark-haired ladies who is still staring at Constantine as if he is a snack. “You should be able to trace the magic in the rain and the bugs. Her magic would leave a stain like any of ours. She’s no different than we are, just more powerful.”
Constantine claps his hands. “Then let’s get to it. I am famished and you girls are looking more and more delicious as the morning goes on.” His eyes dart to mine. “And Rayne is likely to be hungry. She’s been a week with nothing to eat and she’s slept. No one wants Rayne to eat them, right?” He gives the women around us a look.
Lila laughs and shakes her head. “Come on, ladies. Let’s go call the four corners and the ancestors and see if we can’t come up with something useful.”
Constantine walks to me when they’re all gone. He looks concerned. “How hungry?”
“A ten.” I tell him the truth. It won’t do me any good to pretend or sugarcoat it at this point. I am starving and surrounded by food.
He gets even closer, searching my eyes with his and placing his large hands on my arms. “Eat from me. It’s better than killing one of them.”
I want to argue, but I know he’s right. If I start killing witches we’re in trouble.
He pulls me to him, putting us chest to chest and lowers his face, brushing his lips against mine softly.
His hands stay strong on my arms, refusing me the desire I have to grab on to him. Where I’m lost in the taste of the embrace and passion of the kiss, he’s in control. After a few seconds he pulls back, robbing me of getting completely full from the evil within him. I lean forward, wanting more, but he shakes his head. “You can’t make Wyatt sick. Eat small doses.”
“Wyatt’s already sick from that little display,” Wyatt mutters about himself from behind Constantine. “Apparently, I can feel it now when you feed. I actually felt that meal on my lips.” He shudders.
I glance past Constantine as he lowers his arms to find Wyatt leaning against the stairs, glaring at us. “I’m hungry, Wyatt. Starving. That took the edge off. I’m sorry.”
“The nature of the beast. What can I do? Besides get horribly ill from it, obviously. Tonight should be fun as a result.” His bitter tone is annoying, but I can’t blame him. If he ate by making out with chicks who were in love with him I might have to end him and them. But the fact it makes him ill is a sick twist. I hate that it’s the nature of the beast I am. It’s how I live. I wish I could stop being this and save him—save us both.
“Where’s your father?” I brush past Constantine who remains stoic and walk to Wyatt.
“We can’t find him. Maggie was out looking for him when I got there the other day. She came home today, and I happened to stop in to see if she was there. She said she hasn't seen him in ages.”
Lowering my gaze, I admit what we are all thinking, “So he’s gone.”
“We can ask Fitz. He might be able to find him.”
I lift my hand to his. “Let’s go see them.”
He takes my hand after a moment of contemplation or just to torment me. I glance back at Constantine and nod. “We’ll be back.”
“Don't hurry on my account. I’m sure Maggie will love her time here with us.” He rolls his eyes and saunters out of the room.
“We better be fast.” Wyatt gives Constantine a look. “Don't let the fire witches hurt her.”
“I’m sure Maggie can handle herself.” He laughs.
“That's what I’m afraid of.” Wyatt nods.
We hurry to the painting that’s waiting in our room. When we enter it, Fitz is standing looking at the hillside. He turns and smiles, waving as we walk to the cottage. “Good to see you both.” He hugs us each.
“Where’s Mom?” I look around.
“Willow’s in the cottage. She was trying to get a feel for you and everyone else.” He points. “She’s been doing some magical research with the earth witches.”
“I’ll be back.” I smile at Wyatt and let go of his hand, hurrying into the cottage.
Willow smiles from the bed where she looks like she might be sleeping. “Hello, Nene.”
“Is Wyatt’s dad dead?” I sit on the bed and stare at her.
She opens one sparkling eye. “He is. And I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”
“Mona’s pregnant.” I crawl to her and curl up in her arms. If I close my eyes we’re the same as before. Either both dead or alive and holding each other for real in the real world.
“That is fabulous news.” She pauses and then lifts her head.
I open my eyes to see her staring at me. “What?”
“How could you possibly know that? The garden is sealed.”
“Magic witch mirrors?” I say it like a question since she would know better what they are. “The white-eyed stag dude told her how to use it and talked to me.” I swallow hard and fight the worried look cresting my brow. “He wanted to warn me about the Antichrist being two sides of the same coin.”
Her face pales which is a stretch for her already light skin. “He said those words?”
“Yeah, he said ‘two sides of the same coin.’ And Mona was trying to be discreet when she told me, like she was hiding it and only I could know. She’s been visiting me. She even got my sisters to grab me in my sleep and bring me to the garden. And I think I was actually sleeping, but I remember the dream pretty well, which is weird, right? I shouldn't remember, and yet I do.”
Willow’s eyes widen. There’s s
o much fear and worry in them my stomach hurts. “He said ‘two sides of the same coin,’ Nene? You have to be sure that's exactly what he said.”
“I’m sure.” I nod.
“Oh, dear God. Of course. Of course.” She looks like she might be sick.
“You figured it out too, huh?” I knew she would feel terrible that Michelle is the Antichrist.
Her eyes dart to mine. “You know then?” She glances at the door.
“Yeah. I figured it out. I just don't know how to kill someone I love so much.”
She bites her lips. Her face is still pinched. “It is all part of the test. We must lose the things we love the most, like God did with his only son. He sacrificed his child. The only one he would ever have. He did it to show your parents that selflessness was required to save the earth and its people from the evil stain your family created.”
“Tell me what to do, Willow. I don't know how to do it.”
She pulls me into her and rubs my back and head. “Go back to the fire witches and wait a few days. Then come back here alone. I will have an answer for you.” She kisses the side of my head.
I sigh and smell her, breathing her in. Maybe if I’m lucky a bit of her will stay with me, and I will have her in my heart and blood for the few days until I see her again.
Chapter Six
With feathery touches, Wyatt traces the harmony flowers on my back where my wings shoot from. I close my eyes and let the feel of his hands on me be bigger than anything else in our world. It’s like shrinking the universe to the size of the room and counting only the bodies in it.
With the darkness enveloping us all the time it’s not hard to imagine we are alone.
Technically, we shouldn't be naked with each other. Inside us both is hunger and the nakedness is too much of a temptation to fight. Fortunately, he’s been ill for two days from me eating, so he doesn't seem to want anything but companionship.
“What are you thinking about?”
I close my eyes and smile. “Willow. I just wonder if maybe, when all this is over, we can just go into the picture with them and build a house and be there.”