‘Can I get you anything?’ Olivia frowned, ‘some coffee or something stronger? Perhaps something to eat?’
‘Maybe later,’ Issac replied as he focused on the network of tiny blood vessels. ‘I’ve managed to strip away the rot and encourage new skin growth. I’ve also restored good blood flow, but I don’t know.’
‘What?’
‘There’s severe muscle damage. I don’t know what the hell Thomas did to her, but it looks like they’ve been put through a meat grinder.’
Olivia shuddered.
‘Having been the unfortunate recipient of Thomas’s wrath myself I can only imagine a fraction of what they put her through. Thomas was mad at me, but he didn’t hate me the way he hates her. I’d have wished for death before handing myself over to him willingly. That’s why I have such a profound respect for her even though she’s an angel and why I’ll sit here rebuilding every blood vessel and bone, even if it takes the next 32 hours.’
‘You’re a good man Issac,’ Olivia murmured. ‘I’ve heard about the animosity between angels and Sentinels and I’ve now seen it with my own eyes. I can’t imagine it’s easy for you to spend so much time and care on someone you consider your enemy.’
‘You want to know a dirty little secret?’ He paused for a moment although he did not look up.
‘Sure,’ she leaned in further.
‘I don’t hate them, I never did.’
‘Really?’ she replied curiously.
‘There are many more like me. This thing between angels and Sentinels? It’s all Azariel and Thomas; they’re the ones perpetuating this stupid feud and it has lasted for eons. That’s the curse of immortality I suppose, no fresh blood, no new ideas, nothing ever gets better. Both sides breed their warriors to hate. Around and around we go, never learning from our mistakes. Azariel and Thomas have both lost sight of what is really important, they’re both so dead set on who gets to rule Heaven in God’s absence. They don’t see that both our people suffer.’
‘Is that why you were banished to Earth?’ Olivia asked. ‘I can’t imagine your opinion was very popular.’
‘No,’ he continued to run his finger along Scarlett’s damaged wing millimeter by millimeter as if he were stitching the finest, most delicate needlepoint. ‘I was smart enough to keep my opinions to myself.’
‘Why then?’
Issac finally paused and looked up at her, his deep chocolate brown eyes penetrating.
‘I just don’t get it,’ she shook her head. ‘When I had a chance to speak with Julien last night, he told me that you are one of the most powerful healers the Sentinels have ever seen, perhaps the most powerful. It just seems weird that after everything I’ve heard about Thomas, that he’d be willing to give up someone that gifted and banish them to Earth.’
‘He wanted me to do something,’ Issac finally answered, ‘something I wasn’t willing to give. Something that was so wrong it went against nature itself, and I could not and would not be a part of it, no matter what he threatened me with. No punishment would ever be worse than what he wanted of me.’
‘Well, now you’ve piqued my attention,’ Olivia leaned in closer, ‘and I have to ask, what was it he wanted you to do?’
Issac stared at her.
‘I’ve never told anyone,’ he admitted.
‘No one?’
He shook his head, ‘it disturbed me, that all this time I’ve kept my silence, but you have to understand there is no one higher than Thomas, he is the ultimate authority among my people. No matter how much his request filled me with dread, there was no one I could go to, no one I could trust. Even now it still weighs on me.’
‘How so?’ she frowned.
‘I refused him,’ Issac replied, ‘but I have often wondered if he was able to find someone else to do it instead.’
‘Issac,’ Olivia asked worriedly, ‘what was it he wanted from you?’
Issac continued to stare at her, clearly torn.
‘You can trust me,’ she told him softly.
‘He… he wanted me to raise the dead.’
‘I’m sorry?’ Olivia blinked certain she’d misheard.
‘It’s not actually that difficult,’ he frowned turning back to Scarlett’s wing so he wouldn’t have to look at Olivia, it was easier that way. ‘Because it was human corpses, he wanted me to raise.’
‘I’m sorry, you’re going to have to run this by me again,’ she shook her head in confusion, ‘and take it from the top. What the hell would he want with humans? He thinks we’re lower than vermin from what I’ve been told.’
‘That’s true,’ he sighed as he continued to work on Scarlett’s wings, ‘but, the angel host and the Sentinel army are more or less evenly matched. That’s why Thomas and Azariel have been deadlocked for centuries. They don’t have the numbers to tip the scales either way. In order to shift the balance of power Thomas needs more men. The humans are the perfect cannon fodder. Abundant, easily procured and dispensable.’
‘But they wouldn’t follow him, not willingly,’ Olivia frowned, ‘and I doubt he has the charm or temperament to talk them round.’
‘He wouldn’t need to,’ Issac shook his head as he concentrated, ‘that’s why he wanted to raise an army from the dead. The human body is easily repaired, it’s a fairly basic template. You get the brain operating even on the most basic level and the heart will start pumping, the muscles will start firing, the lungs will begin breathing. Of course, the spirt is absent, that spark, the soul, the fundamental core of humanity is gone. So, what you basically have is a fully functioning human with a blank slate, he can program them however he wants. A disposable front-line infantry; he’ll throw them at Azariel's ranks, and when they’re exhausted and overrun, he’ll send in the Sentinels, fresh, lethal killers. Job done, war won, Thomas rules Heaven and we’ll all suffer, angels and Sentinels alike.’
‘My God,’ Olivia breathed in horror.
‘God,’ Issac scowled. ‘If he hadn’t left none of this would be happening.’
‘Do you actually think Thomas went through with his plan?’
‘I doubt it,’ Issac replied after careful thought. ‘I don’t think there’s anyone else capable of it. There’s only one other person who comes close to my skill level and that’s Aalia, but I know her and trust me there’s no way she’d agree to that no matter what Thomas threatened her with. It’s wrong, everything about it cries out against nature and we both know it. Besides it has been a very, very long time since I was banished. If Thomas had found someone to take my place, he’d have his army by now and would already have overthrown Azariel.’
‘Unless he’s biding his time waiting for the right moment,’ Olivia added, her eyes troubled.
‘But what could he possibly be waiting for?’ Issac shook his head in denial. ‘There is nothing more important to Thomas than killing Azariel and overthrowing the angels. He is not a patient man; he doesn’t play the long game. Trust me, if he’d had a replacement for me, he’d already have had his army, he wouldn’t wait.’
Unless it was to gain possession of the Book of the Heavens Olivia thought grimly to herself. Issac was probably right, after all he knew Thomas better than she did. She’d never met him and quite frankly hoped not to. However, something about the whole conversation sat like lead in her stomach and that strange feeling of unease that had been plaguing her for days returned with renewed vengeance.
By the time the sun was once again setting Olivia found herself looking up at a soft tap as Julien poked his head around the door.
‘Hey,’ he nodded softly, stepping more fully into the room and gazing at Scarlett. ‘She looks better, how’s she doing?’
‘Issac worked for like eighteen hours straight healing her wings; he’s finally finished. She’ll sleep now, but he says if she’s not conscious by the morning we’ll have to wake her. She needs food and water; she’s pretty dehydrated as it is but she’s dead to the world right now. We’ve tried to wake her but she’s still exhausted. Issac say
s that sometimes happens after a major trauma and some pretty hefty healing.’
‘What about her wings?’ Julien asked.
‘He’s done what he can,’ Olivia replied quietly, ‘but we won’t know for some time if she’ll have full use of them. But at least he managed to save them from being amputated.’
Julien let out a slow shaky breath. ‘I guess I owe him.’
‘He’s a good man,’ she agreed quietly.
‘Where is Issac anyway?’ Julien frowned.
‘He’s in the bathroom.’
‘Uh huh,’ Julien raised a brow, ‘I hope he’s careful. I still don’t think he quite has the hang of those new hands. I have to admit I was a little worried he’d accidentally hurt Scarlett.’
‘He wouldn’t do that,’ Olivia shook her head. ‘I was watching him the whole time; I’ve never seen anyone so deliberately gentle.’
‘Still,’ Julien replied unconvinced, ‘after seeing what he did to your porch railing I wouldn’t want to let him anywhere near my… personal area.’
‘Well fortunately for you he’s not anywhere near your personal area,’ she smiled in amusement. ‘I’m sure he’s fine.’
They both turned as they heard the bathroom door slam and Issac appeared. They watched silently as he limped slowly and painfully across the floor before lowering himself carefully into the chair with a wince.
Olivia flicked a glance at Julien who was grinning widely.
‘No one word,’ Issac warned them both, ‘not one single word.’
15
Scarlett’s eyes fluttered, rolling back in her head as she gradually awoke. Her vision was hazy, and her head pounded. Her mouth was so dry she couldn’t even swallow.
‘Here,’ a soft voice spoke quietly, lifting her head and pressing the rim of a glass to her lips.
The water was cool, soothing her ragged throat. She reached up with clumsy hands and grasped the glass, drinking deeply.
‘Slow down,’ the same voice murmured.
She stopped gulping so desperately and drank slower, almost draining the glass before she fell back against a soft pillow.
She closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them again, she was unsure how much time had passed. The worst of the pounding had receded to a dull ache and although her mouth didn’t feel as dry, it sure as hell didn’t feel clean. She ran her tongue over her teeth finding them sticky and unpleasant.
She blinked slowly as the blurry room came into focus. She was in a bedroom of some sort, with cheerful pale blue and yellow curtains at the window. A sweet old-fashioned dresser sat close by with a vase of fresh flowers in full bloom.
Her gaze landed on a dark-haired woman sitting close to her bed, watching her with patient eyes. She jolted, first in shock, then in panic.
‘It’s okay,’ the woman soothed her, reaching out and pressing her back into the bed when she tried to scramble away. ‘It’s okay, you’re safe Scarlett.’
‘What?’ Her voice came out as a strange, harsh croak, so foreign to her ears she stopped mid-sentence.
‘I know this is all very confusing for you,’ the woman told her softly, ‘but you are in no danger. My name is Olivia, this is my house. When you were brought to me you were very badly injured.’
Scarlett blinked as it all came rushing back in on her. Lucifer’s cell… Thomas…
She yanked the sheets down roughly and stared at her body. She was wearing nothing but a bloodstained bra and panties, but her skin, despite being dirty, was unmarred. She rolled over; although her wings were still extended, they too were whole and intact. She lifted her hands to find, not only were her fingernails where they should be, but that she was able to flex her fingers easily.
‘How?’ she asked roughly.
‘Julien found a healer,’ Olivia told her.
‘Julien?’ Scarlett croaked, ‘he’s here?’
‘Yes,’ she nodded, ‘and he’s been very worried about you. He’s been fussing around you like a mother hen; we had to kick him out several times while Issac was healing you as he was driving us mad.’
‘I…’ Scarlett swallowed hard, unable to find the words.
‘I know,’ Olivia murmured in sympathy, ‘I know it’s hard. I’ve been where you are.’
Scarlett looked up at Olivia.
‘I was tortured by a demon,’ she told her. ‘I don’t think there was a single bone in my body he didn’t break. He beat me, tore out my fingernails one by one, burned my skin, dislocated my joints, slowly screwed metal pins into my bones...’
Olivia broke off, drawing in a breath. Even after all this time, it wasn’t easy going back to that dark place.
‘It takes time,’ she continued after a moment, ‘to come to terms with what they did to you. Even though the injuries have been healed and the marks removed from your body, you will always bear scars. You will never be the same Scarlett, but it’s up to you whether it breaks you or makes you stronger.’
‘You’re the Guardian, aren’t you?’ Scarlett asked quietly.
‘Yes,’ she nodded, ‘they won’t find you here.’
Scarlett rolled awkwardly; unable to lie completely on her back while her wings were extended, she stared at the ceiling.
‘Do you remember how you ended up here?’ Olivia asked. ‘You were more or less just dumped on my doorstep.’
Scarlett closed her eyes, as flashes and fragments of memories crashed in on her. Vince, he’d come for her, with Gabriel, but they hadn’t been the ones to carry her to safety. Her mind was drawn back to the powerful all consuming, overwhelming presence of Metatron and her body shuddered involuntarily at the memory.
‘Scarlett?’
‘I don’t remember,’ she mumbled, turning her face away from Olivia.
‘What about Sam? Do you know where he is?’
Scarlett shook her head.
‘Julien said you gave yourself up to save him,’ Olivia continued to watch Scarlett carefully. ‘He said Sam was dying. Is he… is he alright? Can you at least tell me that?’
Scarlett turned back to Olivia slowly.
‘I don’t know,’ she finally admitted. ‘They took him, but they wouldn’t tell me anything. I don’t even know if he’s alive.’
‘It’s okay,’ Olivia replied, ‘we’re going to find him, I promise you.’
Scarlett nodded.
‘I stink,’ she blurted out, unable to handle the intimacy of the conversation.
‘Do you think you can stand?’ Olivia asked. ‘There’s a shower just through that door. I brought in some clean pajamas for you; we’re roughly the same size. You might feel better if you have a wash and get into some clean clothes. Then I’ll make you something to eat, as what you need right now, is food and some more rest.’
‘That sounds good,’ Scarlett admitted reluctantly.
Olivia stood and pulled back the soiled sheets, reaching for Scarlett’s hands and slowly helping her into a seated position.
‘You okay?’
Scarlett nodded as the wave of dizziness abated, before letting out a breath.
‘My wings,’ she told Olivia quietly, ‘they feel strange.’
‘They were very badly damaged,’ Olivia leaned down, so they were once again eye level. ‘Issac, he…’ she shook her head trying to find the right words. ‘He healed every single individual bone and blood vessel, he spent hours trying to save your wings. The blood supply had been cut off and rot had already set in. You were very lucky they weren’t amputated. I’ve never seen anyone so dedicated, so focused. He managed to strip away the bad flesh and re-grow fresh. He repaired as much as he could but there was a lot of muscle damage. It’s going to take a while for you to be able to move them properly and even then…’
‘I may not regain full use of them?’ She looked up at Olivia, her eyes filling with bitter tears. ‘He took everything from me.’
‘Who did?’
‘Thomas,’ she whispered, ‘Sam’s father. It wasn’t enough, what he did to me, he had to
take even the most fundamental part of who I am.’
‘No,’ Olivia placed her fingers gently under Scarlett’s chin and lifted it until she met her eyes. ‘Don’t do that, don’t let him win. Issac saved your wings, against tremendous odds. You will be able to use them again; it’ll be painful, and it may take a long time, but you can do this.’
‘I can’t…’ Scarlett blew out a breath and blinked back the tears, ‘I can’t fold them back in. Will you help me?’
‘Of course,’ Olivia straightened, ‘just tell me what to do.’
‘I can’t lift the weight of them, my muscles aren’t strong enough.’
Olivia reached out, carefully grasping gently along the top ridge and lifting, the feathers feeling incredibly soft beneath her fingers. One by one she helped Scarlett fold her wings back in, watching in rapt fascination as the huge wings disappeared slowly into her back until all that was left were two faint lines running parallel to her spine.
‘Wow,’ Olivia murmured, ‘that’s incredible. They just disappear, don’t they?’
‘It’s how we pass for humans when we walk among them,’ Scarlett breathed heavily as she pushed herself up, swaying slightly. Olivia leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her, steadying her.
‘Are you sure you’re up to this?’
‘I need to wash,’ Scarlett replied resolutely, ‘my skin feels like it’s crawling.’
Olivia nodded; Scarlett didn’t need to explain. She knew exactly how it felt after an assault like that. It wasn’t just the blood and dirt, it felt like their fingerprints, their touch was all over you.
She helped Scarlett into the bathroom, sitting her down on the closed toilet seat while she switched the water on and let it run to the right temperature. Retrieving a couple of thick fluffy towels, she set them down close by.
‘I’ll be just outside the door if you need any help, okay?’
Scarlett nodded, watching as Olivia slipped through the bathroom door and closed it behind her. She sat for a few moments more, eyes closed, willing the strength back into her limbs. Finally, the need to clean her skin pushed her shakily to her feet. She peeled her dirty bra and panties from her body, dumping them in the trash can, before stepping under the hot spray.
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