“Kristen.” Sebastian smiled when she turned to him, as if he needed proof she remembered who she was. “I know things must seem confusing right now.” His voice took on the soft lilt of a therapist, fake comfort words. “Perhaps it’s best if you come with us. There’s discord at home. The Siders need your leadership.”
Kristen scoffed. “Have you learned nothing from me, Sebastian?” She clasped Luke’s hand as if for backup, though she looked unbreakable. “Keep them in line with cruelty, reward them with your kindness. If you can’t manage a few Siders for a week then I’ve wasted my time training you these years.”
He winced at the blow.
Eden glared at Luke. “Did you force this on her?”
He laughed, the sound bouncing around the empty club. “You throw around orders and for once someone doesn’t jump, so it must be a conspiracy. Kristen does have a mind of her own.”
“Yes,” Eden said, keeping her voice even. “A sick mind. She’s not well right now.”
Luke cocked his head, offended. “You say these things, talk to me like she's not right here, can't hear every word, and wonder why she hates you?” She saw Kristen stiffen beside him. Luke raised her hand, kissing the knuckles, a clear flaunt of his prize though Kristen’s smile showed she didn’t view it that way. “Let's go. You don't have to see them again.”
“Wait!” Eden called as they headed back toward the stage. “What would Gabriel say, Kristen? How badly would it hurt him to see you with Luke?”
“He knows,” Kristen said quietly. “He told me what he did to you. What Az was too weak to do himself. Gabe gave up everything for the two of you.” Kristen shrugged but emotion battled in her eyes. “Why would he ever care what happens to me?”
Eden shook her head. “Kristen, it’s not—” The words caught her. “My God, you saw him? Where?”
“Stop it!” Kristen’s outburst left her face scarlet. “I can’t save Gabriel. No one can. And it’s your fault!”
“So you’re whoring yourself out to the Fallen?” Eden screamed back.
Luke charged, his face suddenly an inch from Eden’s. “It wasn’t enough for you to take Gabe from her? You’ve decided to take away the only other person who bothered to help her. You think I’m going to stand aside?”
Luke’s shoulder twisted as Sebastian grabbed it. His hand shot out, shoving Sebastian to the floor.
“Luke!” Kristen strode back to them, fearless.
Eden flinched. Kristen would give the command, have Luke take her.
“Leave them,” Kristen said finally, the demand in her tone catching Eden off guard.
Luke’s eyes stayed on Eden, his face close enough that his angry breaths hit her cheek. “You gave up on Gabriel the moment he Fell. You hate her for doing what she needed to stay healthy without him. Tell me, Eden. Will you turn your back on Az soon? He’s struggling. Have you even noticed, or are you really that wrapped up in yourself?”
Hearing Az’s name come from him was enough to spark Eden’s rage. “Is getting Kristen your revenge for what I did to Libby?” she jeered, knowing the blow had struck true when Luke’s smarmy smile faded. “Yeah, remember Libby, your girlfriend? Looks like you moved on pretty quick there. But since she’s Downstairs I imagine you’re splitting your time between her and Kristen,” she said sweetly.
Kristen moved suddenly to put herself in front of Luke as if she were protecting him. “My utter contempt for you right now aside, you’re wasting your time, Eden. I’m not leaving with you. You have nothing to offer me.”
Sebastian shifted forward. “I’ve offered you my loyalty for years now. Trust me enough to come with me, Kristen.”
Her face changed at Sebastian’s words. “No,” she said, but this time it was a whisper, uncertain. She took a step away from Luke, her eyes flicking back and forth as she hovered between him and Sebastian.
Luke took her hand. “I’m the dark you’ve always craved, Kristen. I need your light.” He drew his thumb down her cheek to her jaw, curled across her chin. “Stay.”
“You can’t possibly be buying this?” Eden asked in disbelief.
Kristen’s stare fixated on Luke.
Sebastian tried to grab her arm, but she pulled away. “You’re better than being with someone who wants you to be dependent on him to be your best. Are you not seeing how he’s manipulating you?” he demanded, his intensity surprising Eden.
“You think I’m manipulating her? That I wouldn’t grant her every whim?” Luke toyed with the rings on Kristen’s hand. “Cherish her?”
Eden laughed bitterly. Inside her chest, her heart hammered, her brain humming with things Madeline had told her—that she would try to press Luke, see if there were some way to get Gabe Bound again.
“It doesn’t matter, Luke.” Work, Eden thought. Please work. “You’ll always know if it were an option, Kristen would have chosen Gabriel.”
Luke froze as her words hit him. He tried to work up his smile but it faltered. And then he turned to Kristen. “Do you want the choice?”
Kristen gave her head a slight shake. “What are you saying, Luke?”
His expression hardened, confidence pulling back his shoulders. “I won’t be your second choice.” Eden held her breath as Luke smiled at her. “They go by the books Upstairs, and Eden’s not on the books. You can’t murder someone who doesn’t exist.”
Kristen raised a hand, clutching her chest in disbelief. “What are you saying?” she demanded.
“If someone were to go Upstairs and point out that little loophole, they'd have to let Gabriel back.”
Eden couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. Gabe would be Bound again, Kristen wouldn’t need Luke. Az would be safe. “And you’ll tell them? The Bound?” Eden managed, her heart racing.
Luke scoffed. “I’m Fallen, Eden. It’s not like they sent me off with a set of day passes.”
Disappointment flooded her. “Then what does it matter? We can’t get Upstairs.”
Luke’s smile widened. “You can’t. No one can but the Bound. Or,” he added slowly, “those who have an open invitation in the form of a pair of pretty wings.”
Eden’s breath choked short. The room tunneled. She tried to shake it off, make sense of what he said. Az. Az could save Gabe?
Kristen leaned into Luke’s arms. She stared at Eden, heat in her glare. “You’d better help Gabriel. You owe me that much.”
Luke smiled at Eden over Kristen’s shoulder before he pulled away and took Kristen’s hand, walking toward the backstage door.
Just before they reached it he turned back.
“Oh and Eden? Az already knows. He’s known the whole time.”
Chapter 31
Sebastian stayed quiet beside her, staring awkwardly out the window of the cab while Eden fought to control her rage. By the time they reached the apartment it was a tightly wound ball inside her. She took the stairs slowly, dreading everyone, knowing what came at the top. Sebastian didn’t follow her up.
She opened the door. Az leapt from the couch when she came in, relief on his face. He covered the ground between them in seconds and caught her in his arms.
The tight squeeze stole her breath.
“Are you all right?” He kissed her neck, his hands gripping tight around her waist. Eden didn’t move. “Where’s Kristen?” he asked, confused. “Where’s Sebastian?”
She wanted to react. To call up the rage she’d felt in the cab, the heartbreak. Nothing was left. Nothing.
“You don’t want to save Gabe,” she said. The words sounded flat and hollow in the empty room. She didn’t know where Jarrod and Sullivan were, didn’t ask.
Az’s fingers stopped just before brushing against her skin. “Eden, what happened at Aerie?”
“All you’d have to do is tell the Bound I wasn’t mortal when he killed me. I’m not on record. That’s all you’d have to do.” She whispered the last bit, the words slow. “Did you know?” She looked up at him, his hand frozen near the side of her face, lips par
ted with denials still shaping.
“Wait, who told you this? Luke?” He stepped away from her. “Eden, it’s a trick. It’s not that easy.”
She followed him. “You can go Upstairs and clear Gabriel’s name. Michael was only trying to get you to help Gabe, wasn’t he?”
Az’s legs hit the back of the couch.
“You could save Gabriel and you’re choosing not to.” Fury found its way back into her. “Deny it.”
He shook his head. “Eden, it’s not—”
“Deny it!” she screamed, a hot tear rushing down her cheek. “You tell me I’m wrong. You tell me you’d never be capable of doing something this awful, this evil! You deny it, Az!”
He slumped against the armrest of the couch. “I can’t.”
“Why?” she yelled. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Az turned from her. His fist slammed into the wall, the clock rattling before it fell, breaking when it hit the floor. “Stop asking! You know what’s wrong with me! The same thing that’s always been wrong with me!”
“Gabe was there for you for years! He sacrificed everything he knew for you. Now he needs you to help him. And you’re trying to tell me you won’t swallow your fucking pride and clear his name! Use the wings!”
He flexed his hand, his knuckles already bruising. He kept his eyes on the floor. “It’s his revenge on us,” he whispered. “Of course he’d tell you I could go.”
He slumped, his voice dead as he explained. “I can’t get in unless I’m Bound, Eden. So I use the wings to get there. And then I take an oath. I give up everything down here. I become one of them again. Shackled to duty. Doing their bidding.” He glanced up. “It’s got nothing to do with pride. They won’t let me back here.”
Too easy, she’d thought, when Luke had told her. And now the terrible twist cut through her.
“I lose the wings, I lose you.” Az took her hand.
“But can’t Michael just—”
“They need a witness, someone who was there, to testify. That’s why Michael wanted me. He needs me.” His face clouded. “If I’m Bound again, they won’t trust me to come back here.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, her voice small.
“Because I was afraid.” His eyes deepened to the bluest blue. He didn’t bother keeping the pain from his voice. “I was afraid you would want me to go anyway.”
“So you kept it from me. You lied.” She swiped her hand across her cheek, barely noticing the black on her fingers when she lowered them. “I used to see the good in you.”
She closed her eyes, couldn’t even look at him.
“Eden, please. Don’t do this.” A soft broken sound escaped him. “I didn’t know what else to do.”
She slid her hand from his. “You could have told the truth. You could have trusted me. You could have kept your promises.”
“I promised you I’d stay,” he said. “Doesn’t that mean anything?”
A sharp stab dug through her chest. She thought at first it was her heart, but then it worsened. She hissed a breath.
“You’re sick again, aren’t you?” He brushed his thumb across the side of her neck. “You said the pain was nothing.”
“It’ll pass. I just need…”
“What’s happening to you?” His eyes were wide and frightened.
“I don’t know.” Everything was falling apart. Even her.
“Eden, I don’t think this is a normal thing,” he whispered.
She couldn’t get enough of a breath to answer him. She doubled over, a scream nearly silenced behind her clenched teeth. Her legs gave out and the cry burst free.
“Eden!” He brushed the tears from her cheeks, his fingers dripping black as ink. “Oh God,” he whispered, staring at her face in horror. She didn’t want to know what he saw.
It’ll stop. Any second. She bore down, waiting for the release, but the pain only intensified. She felt his hands, thought he was trying to figure out where she hurt but then the hands were gone again and she heard the tones of him sending a call on her phone.
“Eden, breathe!”
She couldn’t, ashes clogging her windpipe. She mouthed his name, reaching for him.
“Madeline,” he yelled into the phone. “It’s Eden; something’s wrong. I don’t know—”
He cut off and Eden forced herself to focus.
“Yes, there’s black on her face, all over her hands.” His breath caught in a hitched panic. “Fuck, Madeline, ashes are coming out of her eyes!” He cuffed his sleeve around his fingers, gently wiping her face. “Stay with me,” he murmured as he listened to whatever Madeline said. “You have to kill the Siders, Eden. This is happening because you stopped.”
She shook her head.
“What if she won’t?” he said into the phone. The color drained from Az’s face. He grabbed for Eden’s hand as she finally managed a hacking cough of air. “She won’t send them Downstairs, Madeline.” His eyes met Eden’s. “But she would if her Siders went Upstairs, if Gabe were Bound again.”
Eden gasped hard, trying to pull in enough air to speak, her head shaking wildly.
Az dropped the phone. It clacked against the floor and spun away. She could hear Madeline screaming for him but couldn’t make out the words.
“I can fix this,” Az whispered, staring down in a daze, as if putting a puzzle together. His hands cupped Eden’s face, forcing her to stop thrashing. Certainty shone in his eyes. “I can do this.”
“Az, no!” she blurted. “Wait!” He ripped away from her hold on him and ran for the door.
She screamed as he took off through it. Her eyes clouded over black.
She rubbed them furiously, heard his steps slam down the stairs. She fumbled blindly for the railing. “Az!” she cried.
She froze, waited for him to answer, to come back.
“I love you,” he said. “I always will.” The stairwell fell silent and then Eden heard the twist of the door knob.
The click as it closed.
Chapter 32
Gabe could smell cooking meat. In the distance an orange glow ran the broken horizon line, the flames hidden from view by rolling hills. Barren trees stretched into the dark sky. A low drone hummed through his bones, the far-off sound of uncountable screams carried up his legs through dirt and ash below his feet.
Cages hung, hundreds of them on J-shaped hooks protruding from the ground holding them aloft like oversized aviaries. Each one held a single soaked prisoner.
Droplets streaked down Gabe’s own face, the drizzle slowly soaking him through.
“Raining in Hell,” he mumbled.
A crackling hiss of steam squelched out with each of his steps, the ground breaking apart, exposing the smoldering earth to the moisture. Gabe’s teeth chattered as he tried to focus, to remember.
Her lips are cracked. When she licks them, her tongue is black. Around him, the cages swung wildly, struggling arms and shoulders wrenching through the bars and stretching toward him. A dozen voices begging for bare flesh. Pleading to touch him.
Siders. Touch didn’t work Downstairs as it did on Earth. Here, within a few hours of being passed Touch, the victim disintegrated. Vanished. Luke had caught the Siders one by one and put them here, trying to quarantine the plague their fingertips spread through Downstairs souls.
Her hair, long and streaked with dirt, hides her from him. I can’t kill them, she moans. Gabe kept his eyes down. He couldn’t look at them, the Siders driven mad, delirious. On Earth, Touch wouldn’t work on an angel. Here though, rumors swirled. Other Fallen had gone missing. The souls trapped for eternity in Hell were blinking out of existence. No one came near the Siders. No one but Gabe.
Find her. Gabe walked among the desiccated limbs, out of the Siders’ reach. A cough of dust. Black tears. Any cage that rattled wasn’t the one he searched for.
“Gabriel.” A tremor passed through him at the name. He swiveled to the cage beside him.
She hung there, her eyes wide, s
ightless and soot filled. Muddy tears streaked down her cheeks. She crawled closer, the tips of her fingers crumbling away as she struggled to the bars.
“Gabriel? Is it…” she choked out a cough. Over the moans of the Siders around them, he heard her wheezed inhales.
He reached into the cage, fingers trailing the gentlest touch on her shoulder. “It’s me, Libby.”
She shuddered and collapsed against the bars as if the effort of moving had exhausted her. He glanced around at the other cages, the Siders in them. None of them suffered Libby’s fate.
“You’re so much worse,” he whispered. He brushed her hair back from her face, layers her cheek sloughing off and falling to ash. His eyes darted to the other Siders. They were insane with the buildup of Touch, but none of them were sick, not like Libby. She held out a shaky hand in their direction.
“They don’t spread Touch and it builds in them. I don’t spread death and… If I could just kill one...” She hacked, small grey clots spraying from her lips as she fought to draw a breath. She’d told him before that her power, the same one Eden had, didn’t work. Perhaps there was no soul to send on, but whatever the reason, the Siders Downstairs were immune to her lips. She couldn’t kill them, even if she hadn’t been caged.
Her wet clothes clung to her. Gabe stripped off his coat and fed it through the bars, carefully spreading it over her. He thought of Eden, tied to him because he’d taken her life. She had prided herself on sending the Siders Upstairs, neither of them knowing she infected Heaven with every one. He wondered if the Bound had caught on yet, what they were doing to eradicate Touch. One perk to being Fallen, he thought. Eden’s not infecting Upstairs anymore.
The rain shifted from drizzle to downpour, plinking against the metal. Gabe shuddered, tiny hailstones prickling his skin. All around them the ground groaned and steamed.
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