Heaven's Prisoners

by Matthew Angelo

  I stood up slowly and headed to a window and fell. My gun bounced off the carpet out of my reach. Reaching for the phone, I dialed Axle and waited for an eternity before he answered.

  I heard a shuffle of papers. “Rian, what’s going on?”

  “I don’t know. Something’s going on. I can barely stand and hold my eyes open. Someone has done something to my place.”

  I heard the door crash open. Rolling onto my back, I saw two figures approach in my blurry vision. “Someone’s here.”

  “Rian! Rian!”

  One of the figures grabbed the phone from my hand. “Detective Erickson, we have Rian’s attention right now. He’ll call you back.”

  Another voice rang out to my left. “The gas worked.”

  “Of course it did.” The voice from the one on my right sounded familiar, Markus? “A regular potion wouldn’t have knocked him out. But mixing it with sleeping gas and boom. Nighty night angel.”

  It was Markus. That son of a bitch was behind this. That meant the other person was the contractor. Did Sean James make a deal with Markus? It didn’t make sense. Markus was only a part Incubus. None of this made sense, or it was the gas.

  “Don’t worry, Rian, we’ll take good care of you,” said Markus.

  “You said he would be mine. I need him.”

  “And you’ll have him. Patience Mr. James.”

  “He’s still not asleep. You said the gas would work.”

  I heard a loud sigh from the blurry figure I pegged as Markus. Hands grabbed me and lifted me. Weightlessness greeted me as both men carried me out of my apartment.

  I heard Markus’ voice. “It’s a shame he has to die for what he did to my sister. The things I would do to him in the bedroom would be legendary. Too bad though.”

  “Is that necessary?”

  “Watch your tongue, Mr. James, I can send you to hell faster than you want.”

  I tried to struggle and speak, but my voice fell silent. Here I was, being carried to God knows where in just my underwear. Neither one better hopes I come out of this anytime soon.

  “He’s struggling.”

  “Now, now my little angel. Relax.”

  A sharp pain registered in my brain as a fist connected with my face. Everything went dark.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Cold. Pain shot through my head, and it throbbed in time with the beating of my heart. I tried to rub my temples in a vain hope to ease the pain, but my knuckles cracked against a board. Fuck. My heart raced as I remembered what happened in my apartment. If any of them hurt my dog, I’m gonna kill them.

  Anxiety threatened to overwhelm as fear of where I lay made itself readily apparent. Refusing to open my eyes, I searched my surroundings. I shivered a little as my bare legs made contact with the edge of the wooden box at my feet. Raising my left hand, it finally hit the board. I estimated I had about six maybe eight inches of space between my chest and the board above me.

  The sigils on my wrists burned as they recognized the danger I was in. My back ached and suffered the same as my wrists. The contractor royally fucked me good with no foreseeable way out. I thought being nailed to a cross was bad. Honestly, this was worse.

  Please, God, let this be a nightmare. It wasn’t. My breath quickened and every part of my being wanted to panic. Not only would it get me nowhere, but my air would run out quicker, and I in no way was not ready to give up and die. I’m still scared though. I’ve faced death before, but this is a whole other level of fuckery I’m having a hard time handling.

  Forcing my breathing to slow, I meditated on my situation. This echoed my vision. I touched the board above me and let my hands wander across it. Within seconds, it ended with a grove, and another began. This ain’t one piece! That’s a good sign. At least I hope.

  I pushed against the wood, and it gave a little. “Yes!”

  A dusting of dirt fell on my face when I push on the wood again — good thing I had my eyes closed. Not that it mattered, I wouldn’t see a damn thing, anyway. I wiped at the dirt and rubbed it between my fingers — the texture dry and grainy, like typical Colorado topsoil when it hasn’t rained in months. For once, I’m thankful for global warming.

  I pushed harder on the board and heard a crack as whatever held it broke and the board loosened a little. More dirt in my face rewarded me for my efforts, and I coughed as some of it entered my mouth. Apparently, I didn’t eat enough as a kid.

  Even facing death, my sarcasm reigns supreme. I checked the dirt again, and it was the same. More fell, and my pulse soared knowing my test of the boards would seal my doom if I didn’t move fast. If only I could see. Can someone get me a light? No, well fuck you then. Fear definitely brings out my inner asshole.

  I spit out more dirt as a pile of it rose beside my face. How long can I hold my breath? Not sure, but it looks like I’m going to have to test that theory. I can only hope the contractor was lazy and didn’t bury me the traditional six feet under. If not, then trying to get out may kill me.

  “Okay, Rian, it’s now or never.”

  I pushed hard and fast at the loose plank and another. Both came into my makeshift coffin as dirt rained down on top of me. Digging fast, I turned and lifted with my knees and back to push at the dirt.

  My chest grew tight as I held my breath. My body wanted to let it all out, but every bit of willpower I had kept it in. My wrists and back burned worse signaling the extreme danger I was in. The pain made it hard to dig; like someone slashed at my skin with a hot poker. Panic took over as my calm melted away. In a frantic effort, I dug at the sandy dirt, and cool air reached my right hand.

  A surge of hope filled me, and I dug faster standing up with all my strength. My head and shoulders popped out of the dirt, and I exhaled the breath I held and sucked in as much air as I could. After some time of heaving for air, I scooped more dirt away; it hurt to breathe as the grave restricted my breathing.

  “Sweet Mary, Mother of God, thank you for the strength.”

  I crawled out coughing up dirt and lay chest down on the ground; my head turned to the side. The cool air eased the burning of my skin, but not enough. The way out scratched me the fuck up all over and who knows the number of splinters I’d have in my ass.

  Rolling over onto my back I winced in pain, staring at the night sky. Stars twinkled and not a cloud in the sky. I lay there a few minutes trying to calm down. It looks like I’ll join Jacob in therapy over this event.

  I ran my hands over my body, making sure I wasn’t bleeding anywhere. Where’s my underwear? I dug, trying to find my modesty. Naked and out in the open terrified me more than someone burying me alive.

  Time dragged as I searched the dirt for my briefs and finally found them. I slid them on and breathed a sigh of triumph. No longer will nature be able to see my shortcomings. I scanned my surroundings: a few trees and a lot of rocks. The rushing sound of water and fighting caught my attention.

  I shuffled over in the direction of the sound. As I got closer, the sound of fighting increased. A lantern lit up the area. Axle and who I could only guess as the contractor fought it out. Not good. Contractors were stronger than most people. I was right. The man hit Axle knocking him over. Axle fell hard, cracking his head on a small boulder.

  I ran toward the contractor, barreling into him. He hit the ground hard and me with him. Climbing on top of him, I grabbed his head and slammed it back into the ground. He gave me a look of surprise.

  I drove my fist into his face. “Yeah, asshole, I’m still alive!”

  Fuck, that hurt! No matter what the movies tell you, hitting someone in the face hurts. He struggled underneath me and landed a blow to my side with the cracked ribs. I cried out in pain as my sight exploded into stars.

  He pushed me off and kicked me in the legs. “He told me you wouldn’t wake up. Said you’d die in your sleep.”

  I rolled away from another kick that would have landed on my face. Gotta stay pretty. “He lied, you dumbass. What does it take for your kind to reali
ze demons lie?”

  “Markus is a demon?”

  He seemed genuinely taken back by the information. I shuffled to my feet and spun kicking out, a perfect back kick. He staggered back and pulled a knife. I narrowed my fighting stance as much as I could. He had regular clothes and boots. The only thing being protected on me was my shame.

  “Yeah, he’s a demon.” A lie, as Markus only carried half a demon’s bloodline.

  The contractor shifted his stance as well. “He showed no signs.”

  “Are you kidding me? He reeks of power, how could you’ve missed it!”

  “It doesn’t matter now. I’ll have what I need.”

  He swung forward with the blade which I barely dodged. Swinging out, I knocked his knife arm out of the way — the blade falling from his hand and scattering into the dark. He pulled out another one. This one looked familiar.

  He waved it in front of me. “Look familiar? It’s a shame I’ll have to kill you with your knife.”

  I nodded. “Yeah? I bet it won’t happen before I grab the gun in Axle’s holster behind you and shoot you in the head.”

  “You won’t kill me, Mr. MacCaren. Doesn’t your kind have a code of honor? Protect and serve.”

  I fainted with a punch as a distraction before kicking out with a roundhouse across the man’s face. He recovered fast and sliced at my leg. Wincing in pain, I jumped forward, kicking out, hitting him in the chest and sending him backward into the churning river.

  I ran over to Axle so see if he lived. A pulse let me know he survived the blow to the head and hoped a concussion or nothing serious came from this. A loud growl distracted me. I turned to see Sean James, the contractor rushing me. I didn’t have time to move and his body connected to mine.

  “Son of a bitch.”

  I hit the large boulder with my back, and the air rushed from my lungs. A solid object hit my head and grounded me. Looking up, my vision blurred as a rock hit the ground at the contractor’s feet.

  He stepped forward. “Now, it’s time to end this. Is your soul prepared?”

  I rolled to my left and grabbed Axle’s .45 Kimber from the holster. “Is yours?

  I pulled the trigger as the deafening sound of gunfire echoed around me. The smell of gunpowder drifted in the air. Shoes on gravel reached my ears. Focusing on the contractor in front of me, he stepped forward. My vision slightly blurred. I watched him drop the knife and pitch forward, dead. A large hole exited the back of his head.

  I shook my head to clear the blurriness. Switching the safety on, a groan from Axle caught my attention. Scooting over, I tried not to move him.

  I looked him over for any other signs of trauma. Satisfied, I searched his pockets and found his cell. The signal wasn’t the best, but it beat nothing. I tapped the contacts app and scrolled until I found his department’s number.

  “You should have this memorized, Rian.”

  After a few rings, someone finally answered.

  “Sergeant Graves of the Preternatural Monster Squad, what do you need boss?”

  They called him boss, how exciting. “Yeah, this is Rian MacCaren, I need an ambulance or two and some backup.”

  “Is Detective Erickson okay?”

  The PMS may be a small department, but it was a close-knit one. “Yeah, but he may have a concussion and isn’t awake. I think we’re somewhere along the Poudre River in Poudre Canyon. It's fucking getting cold. Make it fast.”

  “Stay on the line, Rian, we’ll track you with his GPS signal, and I’ll patch you into emergency.”

  I tapped the speaker button. “Sounds good, Sarge.”

  I slapped Axle on the leg. “Well, buddy, it looks like we live another day. To be honest, I’m glad. I wasn’t ready to die and not ready for you to go either.”

  The emergency operator talked me through what to do. She sounded pleasant with a husky voice that carried a no-nonsense attitude. I liked her already. She stayed on the line the whole time.

  Shivering, I wrapped my arms around myself trying to warm up. Lights flashed in the distance followed by the siren call of the ambulance echoing in the valley. Lucky for me, Poudre Fire District also had paramedics. Behind them, a fire truck and a small line of patrol cars.

  I turned toward Axle. “You are one lucky fucker.”

  It took a few minutes for everyone to get to Axle and me since we weren’t close to the road. They worked fast in getting Axle on the stretcher and into an ambulance. A firefighter covered me in a blanket and gave me an awkward look.

  Yeah, it looks bad, but what else would three guys, with one in his underwear be doing off-road in the dark? If your answer wasn’t fighting crime and defeating evil, then you need Jesus. Another ambulance showed up, and the paramedics tried to coax me onto a stretcher. I shook my head no but walked. I still had my pride.

  While I watched Axle getting driven away, I used his phone to call Lana. Her excitement at hearing from me echoed through the speaker. It seems I never called her after finding Jacob. I then got a lecture on my communication skills.

  “Dammit, Rian, where have you been?”

  I huddled in the blanket as I watched the body of the contractor get zipped up. “Fighting crime, trying not to die. I need you to do me a favor and don’t freak out.”

  “What do you mean, ‘freak out?’”

  “I’m heading to the hospital, Axle’s in bad shape. Can you bring my change of clothes to the hospital? What I’m wearing isn’t working.”

  “I don’t think this is the time to worry about fashion, Rian.”

  “It does when I’m wearing just my underwear.”

  Ending the call, I figured I’d let her mind wander on that image. Yeah, I’m an asshole at times.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I hate hospitals. Mostly it’s the smell. The sterile, stagnant air invades the nose and makes me cough. Maybe it’s psychosomatic that I always cough at a hospital. I blame the smell and recycled air that gets pumped through the air conditioning unit.

  Poudre Valley Hospital was a nice place, but like all others, reeked of sickness and greed. So glad they let me go. I didn’t trust them to take blood in fear; it contained something more than human DNA. It did, but I wouldn’t know how much more and if a lab tech or doctor found anything, I’d become a lab rat.

  They cleaned my cuts and wrapped my ribs and sent me home after Lana showed up with clothing from the office. My apartment was still open when I got there, and luckily enough, my neighbor had Jezebel. To say I was glad to see her was an understatement. From now on, she’s going everywhere with me. Her training starts next week — time for her to learn to sniff out the supernatural baddies.

  I returned to the hospital to visit Axle. I knew he’d be okay, but I had to see him with my eyes. Trust was never my strong point, though the doctors here were good, and the hospital had a reputation of being the best in the region.

  The clattering of heels caught my attention. “Rian, wait up.”

  I looked back to see Raiza. She dressed quite conservatively but still looked beautiful. Red pumps, tight jeans, and a black belly shirt that threatened to expose her assets was pretty much the most normal thing I’d ever seen her wear. Usually, it was gowns or other high-end fashion.

  I pushed the button on the elevator a few times. “I’m surprised to see you here, Raiza. Didn’t realize you and Axle were close.”

  She shrugged and flashed a grin. “Not as close as you two are, but I help him at times with cases. He’s a good man, and I came to check in on him.”

  She tossed her long, straight hair exposing a pale neck. Her lips red with lipstick and her green eyes flashed with mischief. Raiza didn’t need her glamor to seduce men; she knew she was sexy. If I were less professional, I’d take her up on one of her many offers, but so far logic has always overpowered desire at some point that will no longer work.

  She placed a hand on her hip. “Why Rian, why are looking at me like that?”

  A sly smile spread across her lips, and she sm
iled wide, running her tongue across her teeth. At one point, I found her easy to resist, but now, she tugged on more than just my heartstrings. If I were a violin, she’d play me all day if I gave in to her charms.

  I turned back toward the elevator as the doors opened and hoped she didn’t see me blush. “Like what?”

  She followed me into the elevator and pushed the button for floor two. “Like what, indeed. I figured Axle was more your type, but I see I may be wrong.”

  I shot her an intriguing glance. “We’re just friends, Raiza. Nothing more, and I don’t have a type.”

  “Hmm.”

  I never shied away from my sexuality. At least not a whole lot. For the most part, I swore off both men and women. Relationships had too much drama in them, and I had a hard time protecting myself, let alone someone else. Feelings were like an emotional STD. Keep that shit away.

  “He’s all yours, Raiza.”

  She grabbed my arm and pressed herself against me, her glamor crawling across my skin. “He’s handsome enough, and of Viking stock. Haven’t had one of those in a while. But he’s into someone else. Now you on the other hand, how come you’re single? I know you turn people’s heads, I’ve seen it at the club. Not to mention you ignore my advances then look at me with desire. You’re a confusing man, Rian.”

  I shrugged her off as the elevator doors opened. “I’m a man of contradictions. Now calm down.”

  Raiza let me go. “I’ll behave, for now. You can’t hold out forever, Rian. We won’t wait forever.”

  I stopped and regarded her curiously. “Who’s we?”

  Her eyes widened. “You mean you haven’t figured it out? Well, I leave that to the fates decision, and if you find out or not. I’m not the only one who wants you. How does one figure out the case of Rian’s love life?”

  “It’s easy; I have none.”

  I walked by her, and she smirked. “There lies the problem, Rian. You need someone in your life. I heard about what went down at Belladonna’s a few months back. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”