by S Lawrence
I will most likely die without even knowing the reason they are killing me.
The image of last night pops into my head, but I’m standing there in Cheyenne’s place. I’m the one having my throat ripped open. It’s my dead eyes looking at me.
I shiver at the glimpse of my future.
Rubbing my arms, I force the thoughts away. For now, I have to figure out my next hiding place. I need to get my check from the club and cash it before I leave town. Tomorrow, I will do that and go collect the money from the deposit box I opened a couple months after I got here. I’ve run with nothing too many times.
I prepared better this time: money saved, things stashed at a couple places around town, and a car. It looks like crap, but I had a new engine put in it; it will take me far from here.
Pulling out my laptop, I turn it on and wait as it boots up. I turn the T.V. on because I can’t stand the silence, leaving it on the hotel information channel so I can avoid any news reports.
Finally, I type in my password and open my document. I started researching places after I got here. I knew this wouldn’t be permanent; I wish it were. I love this city. It is a living thing.
I begin my search. I usually try to go across the country but I’m running out of places. Maybe this time I should stop somewhere in the middle. Chicago or Saint Louis both have a high population and one that has a portion that is transient. No one pays attention to new people moving into the area.
There’s also Denver, but I’m worried it isn’t far enough away. Although the high amount of tourism could hide me for a while. If they did show up, I might be able to hide in the mountains or live there and commute to the city.
It could make it harder for them to narrow down my location. It is a possible place. It’s getting harder to decide, harder to find new places. I might have to broaden my search. I might have to move to Europe or South America.
I open the file with information about my money. I’ve invested some and I have an account with the money from my parents, insurance, but I never touch it. That would mean I’d have to go in as myself, which is a last resort.
I don’t know if they are watching things to do with my parents. Their home is still sitting empty in ruins, held in a trust.
I don’t remember it but I’ve looked it up online, used the satellite view, and there it was. Overgrown yard and roof falling in. I wish I could sell it, but again, they might be watching it.
They hold me captive even without knowing who I am or where I am.
I’m almost ready to let them find me, just to find release from this half life I live. I grow tired of the fear and loneliness.
Death grows more appealing each time I’m forced to run.
There’s magic here.
I had hoped it would be enough to save me.
Chapter 6
DAGEN
They found her.
Every time my phone rings, I’m afraid that’s what I’m going to hear. I’m not used to this feeling of fear. I don’t even know this woman. I feel like shit because while I fear for her, I fear for myself more. I’m scared of what I might never experience.
A horn alerts me that the light has changed and I didn’t move in that exact instant. I’m tempted to just fucking sit here through the whole time, really piss them off, but I’m in no mood to deal with angry tourists tonight.
I just need to figure out if she left town completely. If she’s here somewhere, then I have a chance at keeping her safe. I finally pull out into the intersection, and the guy behind me is probably about to have a stroke, considering he hasn’t let off the horn since he started. He should have time to get through the light.
Turning left, I head toward Fremont and all the old casinos. I haven’t looked here yet, but it’s the last place she could be. Parking at the corner, I get out and decide to search the garages on foot. It will take longer, but I can’t sit in the car any more. I could use my demon speed, but there are too many cameras in this city.
I walk and walk, circling up through the first garage then heading into the casino. I walk straight through, ignoring the looks from both men and women. I wonder how they can tell I like both? It takes a while to get through the maze of slot machines and gaming tables, but finally I break out into the lobby of the actual hotel.
Walking up to the check-in desk, I smile at the face I see there. I’ve known Connie for years, and she smiles back.
“What do you need, Dagen?”
“Who says I need anything?” I question.
“Please, it’s been a long time since you just came around to see me.” She raises her eyebrows and jerks her chin up a little, demanding to know.
“I’m looking for someone.” I reach in and pull out the flyer.
“They owe you or you collecting for someone else?” I might have earned a bit of a reputation over the years. I used to collect debts for people.
Not the gangsters or the hotel owners, but I did help those that couldn’t afford to lose money or things.
“Neither. She could be in some trouble.” Her eyes look down at the picture, studying Charlie’s face.
“Always trying to protect people. One day, you’re going to get hurt.” I can hear the concern in Connie’s voice. Motherly concern.
“Not me. You know better.” And she does. I saved her when she was just a girl. Saved her from a horrible man. She saw me for what I was that night, even though I had hoped the rain would hide my true nature.
“Even avenging angels can be hurt, Dagen,” she whispers, glancing up at me. I gave up a long time ago trying to convince her I wasn’t an angel. Now I guess, in a tiny way, she’s been right all along.
“Have you seen her?” She nods. “When?”
“She checked in this afternoon. For one night.” She types on the computer and then looks back up. “Room 1588. Be careful, please.”
“Always am.” I squeeze her hand before turning away and heading toward the elevator.
Pushing the button, I wait for just seconds before the door slides open. Stepping in, I lean back against the glass wall and look out at the casino as the elevator begins to rise. I let my gaze skip around the huge room and stiffen. I straighten and look closer. There in the middle, staring right at me, is Eden.
She smiles as she turns and, uncaring who might see, races with her unnatural speed for the stairs. I can do nothing but watch as she climbs. The elevator stops and the door slides open just as she reaches the same floor.
I race out and let my demon side free. Time to hunt.
“I’m going to find her first,” she sings out, her voice echoing through the halls.
“I’m going to gut you, Eden,” I call back. I run blindly at her as we both turn a corner.
Blindly. That was my mistake.
I didn’t see the other until it is almost too late. My only thought is to stop them, keep them from her. I let my powers free completely as they draw their blades.
“This is going to be fun, Dagen.” I start at her knowledge of my name. “Oh, Eden told us all about the mighty Dagen, so sure he could protect all his charges, only to be murdered as she killed all of them right in front of you.”
I grit my teeth as the temperature drops several degrees.
“Do you know what Eden has done since that day, besides killing stupid humans?” I don’t open my mouth. “She made it her mission to pay you back for the scar she still carries. Do you want to know how?”
Again, I don’t answer. Eden grins, and it is more evil than anything I’ve seen in Hell. “You’re so cruel, Ever. I killed them, drove them to extinction, one by one. Whispered in the ears of the humans who willingly, greedily, slaughtered one after another until most of your precious animals have been destroyed.”
It does exactly what they want it to, and my rage bursts forth. They come at me together from front and back. I fight for her life.
I grimace as one blade cuts through the skin of my back. The angel blade is poison. I can only hope to kill them befor
e I die. It’s snowing in the casino, and the tourists think it’s a gimmick.
I step aside as I grab Eden’s forearm, jerking her forward as Ever thrusts at me. I grin when Ever’s blade sinks into Eden’s stomach. Not a blow that kills her instantly but it will eventually.
I can die knowing that bitch won’t be able to kill another thing. I go down on one knee as Ever tries to help Eden.
“Die, you bastard. Die knowing that I’m coming back here to kill that girl. I will kill every single person in this hotel so I know I killed the right one.” She picks Eden up and races away with her.
I sink to the floor as blackness blinks in front of my eyes. My lids try to close, and as I force them open, I imagine I see her standing a few feet from me.
“You’re safe for now, beautiful, but you need to run and keep running. I wish I could have found you first.”
I let death take me.
Chapter 7
CHARLIE
He’s dying for me. I don’t even know him, but he is dying because of me.
Another in a long line.
The music was so loud as the elevator door slid open, I couldn’t help but step out. It was my chance to see my stalkers. My chance to maybe end this game of cat and mouse.
Instead, I heard her words to him right before she disappeared like the Flash. My only thought is they are not human. The words are deafening in my brain. I watch as he goes completely down, and suddenly his face flashes in my mind. His face as he carried me last night, his lips curved in humor at my slip of the tongue.
I step in front of him, and his words hit me like a punch to the gut.
How does he know I’m running, and why was he looking for me?
I’m still staring at him when I notice the snow falling. Inside the hotel. Snow falling. His eyes flutter, and I see red. As in, his eyes are red. Crimson.
He is not human. What the fuck is happening? I feel sick to my stomach. I want to run right now but for some reason I can’t explain, I don’t.
I suddenly realize the music has changed. A different song. It settles my pounding heart. I’ve never heard it before is my first thought and then I realize that isn’t exactly true.
I tilt my head, closing my eyes, and there it is just barely audible last night in his arms. That realization forces me into motion. He’s huge. Looking up, I see a luggage cart at the end of the hall. I race to it, my mind wondering why in the world no one is reacting to anything that is happening. I drag it back to his side and then lean through it and grab him under the arms. Heaving as hard as I can, I move him a little.
This is going to be about committing, so I tighten my hold and literally throw myself back, letting my body fall. His upper body is halfway on, and I grimace as I brace my feet against the cart and pull, scraping his back against the metal. It will be the least of his worries, if he survives. Once I get him on far enough that he won’t slide off, I race around and basically fold his legs up, wedging them against the end. I’m sweating even though it is frigid in here. I see the snow has stopped falling while I struggled with him. I grip both bars and start pushing him toward the elevator. I have no idea what my plan is after I get him to my room and I’m choosing to ignore the claws that are sticking out from the end of his fingers.
Were they there last night? Better question is what the fuck is he, and are the ones determined to kill me the same?
I ignore the looks of the people on the elevator. “Drunk.” I shake my head, trying to look like I’m completely done with his crap.
The woman nods in sympathy as the man grins and shakes his head. Luckily, my floor is the first stop. I shove him out and make my way down to my door, opening it and dragging him backwards into the room. As the door slams shut, I jump, staring at his extremely still form.
He called Cherry. I start pawing over him looking for a phone and finally find it shoved in his back pocket after I rolled him from the cart. He hit the floor hard. Not my fault.
The screen lights up when I tap it and I see a bunch of texts asking where he is. Torryn. Lillian. Over and over. Lillian’s name pops up as I’m trying to decide. So I take a chance and hit the call button.
“Oh my God, Dagen. Seriously, what the hell have you been doing? I’ve... We’ve been so worried.” She draws a breath and I see it as my chance.
“He was fighting some women. I think he’s dying.”
She gasps. “Who is this? Where are you?”
“I’m Charlie. We’re at the Nugget. I brought him to my room. He said he was saving me. His song is different.” I’m rambling.
“What room?” I can hear her running as the sound of her shoes hitting the floor echoes over the phone. I tell her. “Don’t leave! We are on the way.”
“Okay.” I hang up on her and start shoving my stuff in my bag.
He told me to run. He’s dying and he told me to run.
I throw my bag over my shoulder and turn to leave but I stop at his side. “I’m sorry.” I think of what she called him. “Dagen. I wish I could have heard more of your song.” I don’t know why but I lean further over kissing his forehead. It is cold under my lips. “Thank you.”
I stand and turn toward the door and scream. I scream until my breath runs out. As I draw in more, another man or boy, I’m not sure, steps forward, looking between the man on the floor and me.
“You told Lillian you would wait.” He sounds angry, and I shiver. He doesn’t look dangerous, unless you look in his eyes. His eyes say he might be the most dangerous person I’ve ever met. “You would leave him to die?”
So much accusation in those words. “He told me to run,” I whisper.
He studies me before stepping around me and kneeling beside the one called Dagen. My knight in shining armor. Dagen’s song is mixing with another, and it makes me look at the young man closer. I’m just about to ask who he is when his hand flashes out, locking around my wrist.
As I jerk back, I scream again as I have the sudden feeling of falling. Everything is black then suddenly the feeling stops and bright sunlight blinds me for a few seconds. I blink, trying to clear my vision. When I can see again, I look around and scream again.
This is not a habit I wish to form. Three others are looking at me, and I’m somewhere completely different.
“What the fuck?” I spin around as he releases my wrist. “Where the fuck?”
A man covered in tattoos laughs. “She’s totally perfect for him.” The woman at his side elbows him and shakes her head.
“Who are you people?” I demand but before they can answer, I shout what I really want to know. “What are you?”
Chapter 8
LUC
“Get her out of here, Lillian.” Both women look at me, and I try to send Lillian a message.
Take her from this room in case I can’t save him. He’s close to death. The blade’s poison is burning through his body.
If he dies this time, he’s gone. I can’t bring him back again. I know because I’ve tried with others.
I am allowed one rebirth for them. Any more and they come back changed. Truly beings of Hell, nothing of them remains. Lillian looks at me closely and then nods.
“Charlie. If you come with me, I’ll try to explain.” She waits while the other woman looks between Dagen and me, and finally Charlie nods.
“He tried to save me.” She looks at me, tears in her eyes, and she scrubs at them before they fall. “Please help him.”
“If I can. I will do everything in my power to save him.” They leave, and Torryn closes the door, leaning back against it.
I knew he wouldn’t leave, but he’s seen demons die from blades before. He knows how bad it is going to be.
I hear Lillian in the other room. “He has a lot of power. If anyone can save Dagen, it’s Luc.”
I get to work and even as I do, I call out to Caliel. I could use his help. He appears in seconds.
He doesn’t ask what happened; he recognizes the damage the blade has done.
“It’s spread throughout. I need your help.” He nods, coming to stand on Dagen’s other side.
I draw a deep breath to center myself and I hear him do the same. Closing my eyes, I let my head fall forward and release my powers. Caliel releases his right after, and I hear Torryn groan from the force. The women gasp as it rolls out through them.
Evander appears, pulled here by me. I don’t need to look to know he is assessing the situation.
“Torryn, help me contain it,” he growls as he fights to keep our powers from flooding out into the entire city, to mask it so that it doesn’t act like a beacon for the Fallen.
They work quickly, Torryn following his instructions to the letter. Just as they set a barrier and start to shield, I hear Charlie screech again.
“Wings.” Fuck, Lillian has to get control.
I block out the fast words tumbling from Lillian’s mouth. I trust she will at least keep the girl here, and luckily, her wings make her look angelic. If they had been black like Torryn’s newly acquired ones, we could be in trouble.
“We must hurry, Lucifer,” Caliel says. “It has almost reached his heart.”
“Did he just say LUCIFER?!” I was really hoping his voice hadn’t been as loud as it sounded.
“Charlie, please let me finish explaining.” Lillian is on the move.
“Fuck that, and I’m sorry, but fuck you. Get out of my way.” The girl growls, and I hear Torryn’s answering growl rumble in this chest.
“I can’t do that. I don’t want to force you to stay but I will.” Lillian’s voice has dropped and is filled with confidence. “His life depends on you.”
Caliel and I blast him with more light, with more power, and finally we burn away the remaining poison. Sighing, we pull our powers back within ourselves. I raise my eyes and nod at him.
“Let me help you ward this place. They might not know exactly where you are, but there is no way the Fallen don’t have a good idea of the area. They will be hunting him. Hunting you all.”