by Susan Illene
“You gave a werewolf a tattoo today,” one of them informed her. “And you didn’t say anything when he healed fast from it. We know you’re a sup sympathizer.”
She gave the guy a menacing glare. “I run a business and I don’t discriminate against my customers. As long as they pay and don’t cause trouble that’s all I care about.”
We crept up behind her attackers. Cori was wise enough not to let her eyes linger on any of us so we wouldn’t be noticed too soon. There was a slight easing of tension in her, though.
Once everyone was in place, I aimed my gun and spoke. “Department of Homeland Security. Put your hands up!”
“What the…?” The one holding the gasoline canister spun around.
“Put your guns down or I will shoot,” I warned his buddies, who’d redirected their aim at us.
The middle man ran his gaze to the rest of my team. “I already got the gasoline poured. If you shoot, you could ignite it.”
He tossed the can toward the store and pulled a Zippo from his pocket. “Or I could.”
I dipped my head so he couldn’t read my lips and whispered. “When I say go, I want Olivia to take the guy on the left and Tormod the guy on the right. I’ll get the one in the middle.”
The nerou had good hearing. Both of them gave me subtle nods.
I lowered my gun and holstered it. “Look, I don’t want anyone to get hurt today.”
“And they won’t if she’ll just get out of our way,” the guy replied.
“Go!”
It only took three bounds to reach my target. I leaped on top of him and had him flat on the ground in a second. The fall and my body weight knocked the wind out of him. I took his Zippo and threw it across the parking lot. Then I flipped him around. Pulling out the pair of handcuffs O’Connell had given me, I restrained the guy.
I looked over and caught Tormod doing the same. Olivia still hadn’t gotten the hang of hers, but O’Connell happily stepped up to help her manage the cuffs. He’d taken a liking to her because she was always nice to him. It didn’t occur to him that she was nice to everyone—except Tormod.
Cori came to stand next to me. “Thanks. It was a close thing there for a couple minutes.”
“That’s what I’m here for and God knows I owe you a favor or two.”
“Yeah.” She rubbed her face. “But I’d hoped you’d never have to repay me like this.”
Sirens wailed in the distance. We jerked our heads in the direction of the sound. I waited to see if they’d come our way. Sometimes I thought they would only to discover they were going somewhere else. This time the sound grew louder and they appeared down the street. A patrol car pulled into the parking lot.
“Good.” I patted the guy I was holding. “Looks like you didn’t have to wait too long.”
He was shivering on the snow-packed pavement—not that I cared. Two officers I’d met earlier in the day came out. They shook their heads and smiled when they saw us.
“You guys are almost as busy as we are,” one of them remarked.
“Just saving you some trouble.” I lifted my captive up.
Olivia and Tormod did the same.
The officer glanced at the handcuffed men. “What happened?”
I gave him a brief recounting of events. After that, we switched out handcuffs so we could take ours with us.
He gave us a nod. “We’ve got another car coming, but you guys are free to go. We’ll just need you to send in your report later.”
“Sure thing.”
Damn reports. It was going to take me hours to write them tonight. I needed to teach the nerou how to handle them.
“Now can we stop for the day?” O’Connell asked as we reached the van.
Magic rose up to surround us, deluging my senses. I had to grip the hood of the vehicle. It was so powerful it made me nauseous. I caught the nerou looking green in the faces as well.
“What’s wrong?” The agent came to my side.
Then his eyes lit up and he smiled. “Wow, I feel really happy right now.”
“I’ll bet you do,” I grumbled.
The angels had finally stepped up their efforts. That was a peace, happiness, and tolerance spell all rolled into one. I suspected it had gone up all over the world. Nearby I could sense one of the crystal stones pulsing with its activated magic. That was why they’d been placing them everywhere. To create a spell that could affect everyone who wasn’t immune to magic. They’d needed anchors for it to work.
“Did you guys get that?” I asked the nerou.
Tormod puked. “Damn angel magic.”
My thoughts exactly.
“What do you think this means?” Olivia asked, looking worried.
My gaze ran to Cori where she worked across the parking lot. I caught her smiling as she cleaned up the gasoline mess. Even the guys we arrested were in sudden good moods. Considering they were handcuffed and being put in the back of patrol cars you’d think they must be on drugs to be that blissful.
“I don’t know,” I answered her. “But I suspect we’ll find out soon.”
Chapter Forty
Lucas
Emily had finally been cleared of any signs of the plague. He and Melena planned to take her home in the evening where she could finish getting her strength back in more comfortable surroundings.
For now, she wandered the halls aimlessly. Coming out of the isolation ward had only made Hunter’s death that much worse for her. She was no longer sheltered and away from everyone else.
“How’s she doing?” Melena asked, coming to stand next to him.
“I’ve seen rocks with more signs of life.”
She sighed. “It’s going to take time. We’ll need to be patient with her.”
He’d come to the same conclusion. All things considered, Emily was still taking Hunter’s death better than he would if he lost Melena. There was no world for him without her in it. But the teenager was young and still had many experiences yet to live. She just didn’t realize it yet.
Lucas pulled Melena into his arms. “How did your patrol go?”
“Ever since that peace spell went up yesterday it’s gotten boring. I think the Fairbanks police are relieved they can finally take a break. We drove around, but we didn’t see anything.”
Lucas had been hit with the magic as well, but it had only lasted a couple hours before he overcame it. The spell had cast a wide net, but it worked more effectively for less powerful individuals. Even now he could feel it pulsing at him, encouraging him to be accepting and happy. It was too bad Emily was immune to it.
“I’m glad you took the nerou out anyhow.” He breathed in Melena’s fragrant hair and wished they were alone. “The more they see of the world the more they will get used to it.”
“Did the nerou healers get away okay?” she asked.
They’d mastered the technique for dealing with the plague and had finally left to help other cities.
“Yes. They flew out this morning. Others are coming in tonight for Ivan to train. I imagine it will take weeks to end the spread of the disease, but he is also working with Paula to develop a vaccination so the plague can never be used as a weapon again.”
Even as they healed patients, new ones arrived to replace them. The battle wasn’t over yet.
“I hope they come up with something soon.” She relaxed into his chest as he played with her hair.
“As do I.”
Up ahead Emily continued to pace along the hallway. He considered stopping her, but perhaps the exercise would do her some good after lying in bed for many days. Lucas found walking could help work out frustration and perhaps it did the same for her.
Melena stiffened. “We’ve got guests in the lobby.”
“Who?” He pulled away from her.
“Archangels.” Her eyes turned frantic. “Go tell the nerou to hide. I’ll stall our guests.”
She raced off before waiting to see if he agreed with that plan. He didn’t like it, but it was too late to st
op her. Lucas flashed to the patient treatment area of the clinic where Micah, Yerik, and their nerou offspring were watching television.
“Can you believe this?” The daimoun pointed at the TV. “Even the Middle East is calm. It’s downright boring on Earth right now.”
Lucas thinned his lips. “Not quite. The archangels are here. I suggest we keep the nerou out of sight and confront them.”
Running wouldn’t save them, but at least they could delay them a bit. Perhaps negotiate.
Yerik ordered his son and the few remaining nerou to stay put no matter what happened. Then he, Lucas, and Micah headed off to face the archangels. As they came into the lobby, he found Melena and Kerbasi already speaking with them. There were five of them, not including Arial—whose eyes were wide with fear. This wasn’t going to be a pleasant visit.
“I just want to say I had no part in their foolishness,” the guardian stated, hands on his hips.
“We are aware.” Remiel’s voice came out dry.
“Look.” Melena drew the archangel’s attention. “You couldn’t hold the nerou forever. They have a right to be free and live normal lives.”
“Do they?” Remiel lifted a brow.
Melena crossed her arms. “Don’t give me that imperious ‘I know better than you’ look. You’re too far out of touch with the real world to know what it needs.”
Lucas grabbed her before she could cause further trouble. If anyone was going to do that it would be him, but he’d wait to see what the archangels had to say first. Since they hadn’t gone straight to executing people that was a positive sign. For them, anyway.
“You may believe what you wish,” Remiel said to Melena. Then his gaze ran to the rest of those assembled. “Good. You’re all here now and we can begin.”
“Begin what?” Yerik stepped forward.
“The sentencing process.”
Melena stepped closer to the archangel. “In a clinic full of recovering plague victims? Is there some disconnect in your heads where practicality and sensitivity don’t work together?”
“Doing this here was to your benefit, but if you’d prefer to adjourn to our courthouse, we can do that instead.” He gave her an inquiring look.
Lucas had been in that courthouse a few too many times and he had no desire to return there or for Melena to see it. Never mind that it was just outside the gates of Heaven, which always made his skin crawl. There was far too much happiness and peace going on in that place for his liking.
“Let them handle it here.” He pulled Melena back to his side.
He worried what they might say, but if he’d learned anything over the centuries it was that fighting them only made matters worse. The best he could do was hope they’d be fair.
Remiel addressed them all. “You thought to cause chaos in the world to distract us, but not any longer. We have calmed the violence to give humans and supernaturals time to accept living openly with each other. It is also an opportunity to reorganize and prepare ourselves for when the spell dissipates.”
Lucas had suspected the spell wasn’t permanent. Magic could only influence natural behavior for a brief period. Even direct compulsion had its limits.
“You left us no choice,” Yerik said, his expression defiant.
His mate stood beside him, clutching his arm. Lorna had come with him today rather than stay at home. She’d been visiting with patients until now.
“We will get to you soon enough,” Remiel replied, disdain in his voice. “Lucas and Micah will go first if they could step forward.”
He hated to comply, but he did it. The archangel would only force him otherwise. Micah came to stand next to him.
“You two will be opening a training area here in Alaska. It will be for all the nerou remaining in North America—many of which you’ll need to bring back. For the next year, you will spend your time familiarizing them with Earth and its modern technology. You will also train them to become permanent enforcers and peacekeepers between humans and supernaturals. When we deem them fully ready, they will be allowed to go out into the world.”
Lucas relaxed. All things considered, it wasn’t such a bad punishment.
Remiel waved two of his fellow angels forward. Each of them held metal bands in their hands. Now Lucas got nervous.
“You will both also wear these around your ankles. They will prevent you from leaving the state of Alaska without my permission. This is not negotiable,” he said, voice resolute.
Micah glanced at him and shrugged. “It could be worse. Alaska is a few steps above Purgatory and at least they have food and decent shelter here.”
The angels kneeled down and fastened the cuffs around their ankles. After they finished, Remiel placed the spell that would keep him and his brother restricted. Lucas suppressed a shudder. Even if the state was more than six hundred thousand square miles, it still left him feeling confined. Melena rubbed at his arm, which made him feel slightly better. She was here and that was all that mattered.
“I call the guardian Kerbasi forward next,” Remiel announced.
The rest of them took a couple steps back to make room.
“I took no part in this.” Kerbasi screwed his face up.
“No, but your punishment period is not over so we must give you a new sentence to complete,” the archangel explained.
He glanced at Melena. “You mean I will not be staying with the sensor anymore.”
“You will not.” Remiel clasped his hands in front of him. “Instead you will be joining Lucas and Micah in their endeavors. The nerou will need someone who has come from the same place as them but learned to live life here on Earth. You will help guide them.”
The guardian gave Lucas and Micah a broad smile. “I believe I will enjoy this job.”
Lucas had a sudden urge to rip Kerbasi’s head off. He’d thought his punishment acceptable until now. How could they possibly think the three of them could work together?
“I ask that you reconsider,” Lucas said, addressing the archangel.
Remiel put up his hand. “It is decided. Do not interfere.”
Then he moved to the guardian and touched the armband he still wore. Light infused it as the archangel placed a new spell on it. Now the three of them were trapped in Alaska together. Lucas would never have considered this sort of punishment.
“Ariel, step forward,” Remiel beckoned.
The female archangel came to stand in front of him. She held her head up, but there was a glisten of tears in her eyes. Whatever was about to happen to her, she must have known it would be bad. Lucas almost felt sorry for her—almost.
“You chose to lower yourself to consorting with Earth-born races. Therefore, you will be punished in front of them rather than at a regular tribunal.”
Ariel nodded. “I understand.”
“Spread your wings.”
Everyone scrambled out of the way as she slowly spread them open. Lucas had always envied angel wings, though he’d never have admitted it aloud. Hers had pure white feathers covering them and spanned for six feet on either side of her.
Remiel flashed to behind her and put a hand on each wing. Clutching them tightly, he began to chant in an ancient language Lucas could not understand. Melena gasped next to him, sensing what was happening. Then he noticed the wings change color. It started at the edges. They darkened to black with the stain spreading until not a trace of white showed anymore.
The archangel came back around to face Ariel, who was now crying. He put a hand to her forehead, the expression on his face grave.
“You are banished to Hell.”
Ariel screamed. “Please, no!”
Sparks flew from his palm and in the next moment she was gone. Lucas and the others present looked at each other. Melena had an expression of outrage on her face and he had to hold her back.
No one had ever seen an angel fall before. He wasn’t certain he ever wanted to witness it again. He’d halfway liked Ariel in comparison to the others of her kind. What became of n
ewly fallen angels in Hell? Were they made to suffer before being accepted? Perhaps it was better he didn’t know.
“Yerik,” Remiel said, wiping his hands on his pristine white robe. “Step forward.”
Lorna jumped in front of the daimoun. “Punish me instead. It’s my fault he acted the way he did.”
The archangel gazed kindly at her. “We suspected you might say that. How far will you go to prevent him from following Ariel?”
“I’ll do anything,” Lorna swore.
“Your son needs you for some years yet if he is to turn out better than his father, but as it stands now you will not remain alive for long. Do you understand what I’m saying?” He gave her an inquiring look.
“Yes.” Her hands shook as she answered.
Lucas couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Would they encourage her to become immortal? He’d had to battle to get that privilege for Melena.
“I will gladly give her my blood,” Yerik said, putting his arms around his mate.
“No, you will not.” Remiel shook his head. “Considering your parentage and the state of her health, it would kill her.”
“Then who?” The couple glanced around.
“Melena may provide one dose of her blood since she seems inclined to pass it to sensors already.” Remiel shot her a censorious look. “She is the only one with the right chemistry for it to be safe. One dose will not grant immortality, but it will give you the additional years you need and remove your current health problems.”
When it came to blood exchanges, it was always complicated. Lucas had suggested turning Melena into a vampire at one point, but the archangels had said she wouldn’t survive the transition. They’d had to be very careful giving her doses from him.
Lorna exhaled a breath. “I can accept that.”
“Yerik must still serve a sentence,” Remiel warned. “The gravity of his crimes are too great to do otherwise.”
“As long as my mate lives, I can accept anything,” Yerik promised.
“You must be aware that holding you in Purgatory is not an option. We also know you relocated Zoe to the moon, which was creative—even if it did require us masking her presence there.”