The Siders Box Set

by Leah Clifford

  Libby swiped a hand around under the coat. “Take it off,” she murmured.

  She’s delirious, he thought. “Libby, you’re shivering. The coat will keep you warm.”

  “No,” she said. Her arm flopped forward. Hail pelted against it, chipping away pieces of her skin. She writhed, a weak cry of pain breaking from her. Ashy grey rivulets ran from her palms. She was falling apart, crumbling like charcoal.

  “I said,” she whispered, “take it off. Please.” From under the thick wool, her eyes shone black and leaking. “Please, Gabriel.”

  He couldn’t bear to look, turned from her. She heard his movement and struggled under the coat.

  “Don’t leave me like this,” she pleaded with the last of her strength. Deep inside him a fire ignited, burning like the flames that still glowed brightly past the hills. “Please help me.”

  He wondered how long it would be before she broke apart on her own, fell to ash and scattered through the bars. As if in answer, she rasped a choked sob. Not long now.

  His stomach turned at the thought of ending her pain instead of drawing it out, clenched hard enough that he went down on one knee. When he looked up, Libby’s lips moved silently, between the bars of her prison, shaping a single word again and again.

  Please.

  Gabe reached through the bars and tugged the coat off her. Drops slammed against her, melted her away layer by layer. Libby moaned once more. The Siders around him screamed, rattling the locked doors of their cages.

  Sudden pain ripped through his veins like kerosene. He fell to the spongy ground, a convulsion yanking his head back, his body seizing.

  Light burned white hot against his eyelids.

  “A Fallen showing mercy?” a voice demanded, sounded smug and satisfied in a way that made Gabe’s skin crawl. “Impossible.”

  “He should never have been one of them,” another answered.

  Gabe curled into a ball, dimly aware that the hail had stopped. No, he thought, not stopped. Under him wasn’t smoldering earth, but white tile. It radiated heat, slowly warming him. He flattened every part of himself against the ground, basking.

  “He’s Bound again. That’s all that matters.” This voice, Gabe recognized.

  He forced his eyes open.

  Az didn’t smile. “Find her. She needs you. Something’s wrong.” His voice cracked with emotion, his eyes piercing. “Help her, Gabriel?”

  Behind Az, a door opened. Shadowed figures filed in. The hooded cloaks they wore were stark white, their faces blank of features. Empty canvases save for a slit of a mouth.

  “Azazel,” one of them hissed. Az glanced behind him. When he turned back to Gabriel, fear yellowed his eyes.

  “Gabe…” He sounded so broken, so absolutely shattered. “Remind me about her?”

  Gabe sat up, realizing for the first time where he was. What it meant. “Az,” he whispered. “What have you done?”

  Those who stood around Az gripped his wrists. He staggered backwards, a dozen sets of hands drawing him out the door.

  Chapter 33

  Kristen sat on the edge of the empty stage, swinging her legs. The club had almost cleared out. Luke was at the bar, signing a few last autographs. She watched him chatting amicably, the flirty smile he wore for the girls swooning over him. She didn’t feel any jealousy. The looks he gave them were not the ones he’d given her, his eyes flicking her way through the show, the desire in his gaze searing her.

  She flushed at the memory, smiling as she dropped her head, playing with her rings. And tonight...

  “Kristen.”

  She looked up, toward Luke, but he had his back to her, an arm slung onto the mirrored pillar he leaned against.

  “Kristen.”

  She snapped toward stage left, saw the curtain move, the shadows shift. She hauled her legs back over the edge of the stage and took a step toward the voice.

  “Who’s there?”

  The curtain rustled again, a hand curled around the material.

  He moved into the light.

  “Gabriel!” Her shoulders heaved and her hand clamped over her mouth. Her eyes flashed to Luke, but he hadn’t heard.

  “Hi, Sweetheart.” Gabe held out his arms.

  She couldn’t help herself—her feet rushed toward him. He caught her in his arms, rocked them both into the darkness backstage, out of sight. Then he set her down and took her in.

  “Kristen, I’m so sorry.”

  She stepped back.

  “You left me all alone.” Her voice had a bite to it, a cruelness that he wouldn’t see as an act if she kept her face in the shadows. “You tossed away our friendship so Eden would be safe a few days sooner. Days, Gabriel.”

  She lowered her voice, couldn’t keep the bitterness from it. “Don’t worry yourself though. I managed without you.”

  Gabe froze, confusion on his features before he snapped from his stupor. “I understand. You played him brilliantly.”

  Her pause lasted for only a moment before she realized she no longer cared what he thought. She hoped he made out her smile in the darkness. “I didn’t play him.”

  A slow clap startled her. Luke stood, center stage. A pair of spotlights flared to life, one highlighting him, the other, Gabriel and herself. They shaded their eyes from the sudden glare.

  “Bravo. You’re quite the actor, Gabriel.” Luke’s voice echoed eerily through the silent club. “But the role of the hero’s already been cast. You failed her. And I won her heart. Leave.”

  Gabriel stepped out from behind the curtain.

  “She’s not one of your toys, Lucifer. You can’t use her for your amusement. I won’t allow it.”

  Luke laughed.

  “He’s not using me.” Kristen moved closer to Luke. “He’s been there for me. When you abandoned me it was Luke who came to me. Who kept me from losing myself. Only Luke. This isn’t the first time, either. He’s proven himself.”

  Gabe’s face grew grim. “He’s not who you think he is.”

  “You’re pathetic.” Her voice raised an octave. “You wouldn’t even be Bound again if it wasn’t for Luke!”

  She waited for the shock to hit him.

  She heard Luke approaching her, drawing closer. “You don’t know him like I do, Gabriel,” she said fiercely.

  “You’re a plague, Kristen.”

  She fought back an angry laugh. “How poetic.”

  Gabe shook his head. “No, the Siders. The Siders are a plague, an infection.”

  Kristen glanced at Luke, unsure why his eyes burned Gabriel with silent fury.

  “Someone’s been busy,” Luke mused.

  “I don’t understand,” she said, watching Gabriel’s agitation compound. He reached for her again but she moved her hand away. “What are you talking about?”

  “The Siders that were sent on by Eden or Libby are still Siders. They’re spreading Touch, but Down There it doesn’t feed off feelings. It’s doing something to the souls, Kristen. Disintegrating them. They disappear. Because I made Eden what she is, she’s tied to me. When she kills a Sider, where they go in their afterlife is determined by my status. Do you think Luke would rather have her culling numbers Upstairs or Down?” Pity shown in Gabriel’s eyes. “He used you. He earned your favor, turned you against Eden and Az. He made you a pawn Kristen, and he made it seem like saving me was a gift to you. A sacrifice. But it was what he wanted all along.”

  “That’s not true,” she said. “Why are you doing this to me?” Earned your favor. The words stuck in her head. Then Luke, the night he’d cashed in what she owed. I want your favor. Your company.

  She turned slowly to Luke. No, it was impossible. There was no way she would have been trapped in his snare so easily, played so perfectly. “You helped Gabriel for me. Because you love me.”

  His jet-black curls, still damp with sweat, blocked his eyes. “I want you. Covet you. More than you will ever know.” He reached out to her. “Let that be enough.”

  She stared at his ha
nd but didn’t take it. She lifted her eyes to his, recognizing the ferocity in them.

  She made the slightest movement toward Gabe, but didn’t look away from Luke. “You used me.”

  “And you used me,” he snarled. “I let you, didn’t I? I earned your love.” In a rush, he covered the steps between them. His hands whipped up, stopped short of touching her though she cried out anyway. Luke’s lips brushed gently against her temple. “I can give you the world, Kristen.” He ignored Gabriel’s scoff. “This is everything you wanted.”

  She couldn’t look at him, couldn’t face the truth in what he said. “It was all a game.”

  “Don’t you dare do this to me! I gave you this choice and you’re using it against me?” His fingers curled, the calloused tips barely scratching her cheeks as he tightened them to fists. “You chose me!”

  She lost herself, for one last moment, in his eyes. And then Kristen stepped back.

  “I changed my mind.”

  He moved achingly slow, his chin sliding up her jawline, his lips to her ear. He’s going to tear me apart, she realized. He’s going to torture the sanity out of me.

  “Then walk away,” he said, his voice dangerous but controlled. She didn’t move, sure if she did he would strike. Instead, it was Luke who pulled away.

  “Make your choice!” His words thundered through Aerie, echoing. “But be aware that there are consequences, Kristen.”

  She jumped as Luke pivoted sharply. He walked from the stage, taking the stairs down to the backstage door. The spotlight that had been shining on him shut off with a loud pop. The other followed.

  “Are you okay?” Gabe called out, finding her in the near darkness.

  “I don’t know,” she whispered. Her words broke the stillness, but barely.

  Even as Gabriel helped her down and out of the club, her eyes stayed locked on the door Luke had disappeared behind.

  Chapter 34

  Eden swiped the tissue across her eyes, the skin stinging and raw. When she swallowed, she tasted blood and ash, her throat ragged. Her phone vibrated across the table.

  Nothing, the text read. Jarrod and Sullivan were out there together, searching, in case Az hadn’t gone through with it.

  Eden pressed send on her phone, dialing through to Az.

  “Please.” She squeezed the phone against her ear, the screen hot from constant use. Beneath her, the floor was dusted over with thin fragile flakes.

  She hung up, hit redial, black ashes scabbing from her fingertips.

  At a frantic pounding on the door to the apartment, Eden dropped the phone and ran, only halfway there when it burst open. Her heart leapt into her throat before she saw Madeline.

  “Madeline! Az is—”

  “Tell me you didn’t let him go!” Madeline shrieked. Her eyes were wide, desperate. “He stayed right? He’s here?”

  She pushed past Eden instead of waiting for an answer, opening random doors. She grabbed Eden’s shoulders. “Why the fuck couldn’t you have killed Vaughn like you were supposed to? It would have bought us time! If Gabe’s Bound again I’ll destroy you.”

  Eden yanked away, stumbling. “You knew what was wrong with me? You knew we could save Gabriel too, didn’t you?”

  Madeline grabbed her by the throat and tossed her to the floor. Eden cried out in pain, crumpling. “Of course I did!” Madeline paced the floor, wiping her hands clean from where she’d touched Eden. “Don’t look at me like that,” she sneered. “I tried to help you. It’s not my fault you’re all moral and stupid.”

  “I suppose I’m more collateral damage, right, Madeline? Like Kristen?”

  Madeline threw back her head and laughed. “Kristen probably got the best deal out of any of us. You got totally screwed.” She sighed, settling herself down before she nudged Eden with her foot. “Get up. Come talk to me.”

  Madeline headed into the kitchen without waiting for Eden. She heard the fridge open, the snap of a soda can opening. Eden got to her feet and limped into the kitchen.

  “You’re dying.” Madeline’s eyes skimmed over her. “Christ, it’s a miracle you’re still here. I mean, one serious injury? Your body tries to use that Touch to heal and…” She raised her fist, splayed out the fingers. “Poof. Ashes to ironic ashes.”

  “That would have been great to know.” Eden sat down at the table. “Especially when you were setting me up to get ambushed by Vaughn.”

  “Jarrod’s a tough cookie. I delayed you enough for him to kick Vaughn’s ass and give you an easy target. And how did you reward all my perfect strategizing?” She lifted the can, flicking her hand and sloshing the liquid inside. “Strolled right on by him, didn’t you? He wasn’t even conscious!”

  “I won’t send Siders to Luke,” Eden said.

  Madeline slammed the can to the table. “You’re dead in days if you don’t kill a Sider.”

  “I’m the only one of us like this, how would you have any clue what’s happening to me?”

  Madeline sipped her soda. “Because Eden, it’s how Luke is killing Libby.”

  The pieces weren’t coming together in Eden’s mind. “I sent her Downstairs.”

  “Exactly. And Luke realized all the Siders she had sent Downstairs were still spreading Touch. Only the Touch infects them. They’re disappearing. No one knows how, or where they go. And what’s Hell with no one to torture? He freaked. Locked up every Sider he could find, including Libby. That’s when she got sick.”

  “How do you know this?” Eden demanded.

  “Gabe. He’s seen her. She’s wasting away while all the others build up Touch and go mad. Libby’s dying, Eden. For real, this time. But she can’t kill the Siders, while you’re just being a fucking martyr.” Madeline set her can down on the counter. “Az knew how to save Gabe, but I thought the chance of him using the wings was miniscule. Turns out, you tell the boy his girlfriend’s going Cinderella, and he tunes out the important stuff.”

  Sorrow bubbled into her chest, clouding her eyes. She waited to see if the pain would flare back. “He wanted to save me. Gabe, too.”

  “Az makes a terrible hero.” Madeline snorted, the sound dying in her throat at the black tracks on Eden’s cheeks. “You’re tied to Gabriel. If he’s Bound, your Siders will be infecting Upstairs. I imagine they won’t find that idea too heartwarming. And the thing is the Bound, well…” Her calculated breath made the wait even worse. “Now they know how to kill you.”

  Chapter 35

  Snow crunched under Jarrod’s feet. For hours they’d been canvassing Manhattan, though Jarrod knew it was only aimless wandering.

  They’d ended up in Central Park, taking one path, then another, Sullivan’s hand finding his as they walked. The woods around them were silent save for the snapping of frozen branches and soft patter of snow falling from the trees.

  “What if we can’t find him?” Sullivan asked.

  Jarrod shrugged.

  From the corner of his eye, he saw her studying him. “You don’t think we’re going to, do you?”

  He shook his head. “No. I think Az is gone.”

  “So what are we doing in the park?”

  He gave Sullivan a small smile. “You like to walk, and it’s snowing. I figured we could both use some beautiful things.”

  She stopped, kissing him soft and slow. Her lips lingered, and he deepened the kiss, raised his hands to cup her face. Even through his gloves he could feel the heat radiating from her skin though they’d been outside in the snow for hours. Her cheeks were mottled, splotched fiery red and white, her eyes glassy. Her fever was back and raging. “We should go back. You need to rest.”

  “I’m fine,” she said, kissing him again. “It’s only a fever.”

  He moved to turn them back around. Suddenly, she broke away. He thought she’d tripped, but when he looked over, he saw the arm wrapped around her neck.

  “What a lovely night for a lover’s stroll,” Luke said.

  Jarrod froze. Sullivan clawed at the arm around her neck.
Luke didn’t seem to feel it.

  “She’s so pretty, Jarrod!” Luke ran his fingertips down Sullivan’s cheek as he slammed a boot heel into the ground. The frozen puddle beneath him shattered. Wrapping Sullivan’s hair around his hand, Luke reached down to grab an icy shard. “Has Eden told you about my style?” he asked with a smile. “How about Az? Did he ever tell you the stories of his past lovers? How I sliced off bits of them.”

  Sullivan gave a sharp cry.

  Her voice jolted Jarrod into action.

  “Let her go.” He took a step forward, searching for anything that would pass for a weapon.

  “Now where’s the fun in that?” Luke raised the ice to her forehead and drew it across her hairline. Sullivan screamed. “Shall I carve off her face for you? A keepsake?”

  A hard lump filled Jarrod’s throat. He swallowed. “I’ll do anything. Name it. Let her go.”

  “Anything?” Luke skimmed the knifelike shard of ice lower, past her temple, slicing slightly deeper.

  She whimpered, blood running down her face.

  “Here’s the problem, Jarrod,” he said. “We all saw what happened on the roof. I had your hand, if you’ll recall, ready to snip off your fingers. But I hesitated and things got messy.” He looked down at Sullivan. “I learn from my mistakes.”

  The edge of the ice slid across her neck with a soft slish. Sullivan’s eyes went wide. A split second passed, one fairy tale moment before the blood came. She parted her lips, a thick bubble of red rising from her. Her head rocked back a fraction of an inch, opening the split across her throat.

  Luke dropped her and tossed the already melting ice.

  “No!” Jarrod leapt to catch her in his arms before she hit the snow. “No, no,” he moaned, ripping off his coat, trying to press it against the wound.

  “No more hesitations,” Luke said as he walked away, brushing his hands together. “Send Gabriel and Eden my fucking regards.”

  Sullivan choked. For a horrible second Jarrod thought she was trying to say his name but it was only the blood. So much blood. Running off her, down his legs, seeping into the snow, soaking his gloves.