by Amy Braun
I stayed there for a moment, not wanting to keep things this way, but not getting another choice. We had to figure out what to do next. Then I could get her to forgive me. Hopefully. I turned back to the kitchen island and took the last chair next to Warrick. He gave me an understanding smile that I didn’t return.
My sister dropped a mountain of food in front of me, and was gone before I could thank her. I pretended it didn’t bother me and grabbed the pulled pork sandwich. I took a bite and focused on the barbecued bliss. The pork was tender, the bread was warm, and the coleslaw was tangy. I immediately knew that Dro had made it. She tried to cook when she was cranky or upset. I kept eating, but it felt like I was just going through the motions and fuelling my body.
“So you guys are the other demon slayers, huh?” I said, not caring how snarky I sounded.
“Yeah,” snapped the woman across from me. “You’re welcome for saving your life, by the way.”
Warrick cleared his throat. “Constance, this is Jackson,” the big, black man waved to me. He smiled a nice, sincere smile.
“That’s Elle,” Warrick continued, pointing to the scowling blonde woman. His finger went to the man on my right. “And that’s her father, Carver.”
Carver stared at me. I stared back.
“Carver’s the one who recruited me,” Warrick said, getting my attention. “He’s the leader of the slayers. He’s kept it secret for years.”
“Something we had every intention to continue doing,” Carver said. His voice was even deeper than Warrick’s, which made his indictment sound even harsher.
The green-eyed demon slayer glared at Carver, but held his tongue. I showed less restraint.
“We’ll make sure to stay quiet the next time Lucifer and his band of psychotics show up and start torturing people.”
Carver shot me a look that could have cut glass. I stared unflinchingly.
“You’ve been unconscious for two days, so you have no idea what your actions caused Bullhead City.”
“Do share.”
His blue eyes were piercing. “It was destroyed.”
I didn’t have anything smart to say to that. The words sank in slowly. I thought about the sign before we had entered. Population 39,540. Jesus Christ.
Maybe it had been less than that when Lucifer finally arrived, but how many more people had died once we escaped? If Warrick was right and the King of Hell couldn’t find us, did he really take it out on a city of innocent people?
Once glance at Warrick told me all I needed to know.
“When John told us where you were coming from, we tuned in the radio to see what was happening,” said Jackson, pushing himself up from the kitchen island. He seemed a little more sensitive. “It took a few hours, but by then the news vans were there.”
Jackson walked over to the coffee table and picked up the remote for the TV hanging in the top corner of the room just above where Max and Dro were sitting. She was picking at her food with one hand, and holding her boyfriend’s with the other. Max was pressed against her arm, whispering gently and gesturing to her food.
The TV flickered to life to a news station that was running a live story. The screen was split between a middle-aged man in a newsroom, and a pretty brunette reporter standing in front of a warzone. I couldn’t even see buildings. It was just a wall of flame.
“Alan, I’m standing in front of the remains of Bullhead City, where an unknown explosion has completely devastated the area, despite it being under military protection.”
“Do we know what caused the explosion yet, Shannon?”
“I’m afraid not. Firefighters are still trying to put out the blaze with water bombers, but so far the attempts have been wasted. I’m standing three hundred feet from the city’s border, and even from here I can feel the fire on my back...”
I curled my fingers into fists. I knew firsthand what Lucifer’s fire felt like. I remembered how it blistered and cracked my skin, the way the smoke tasted as it scorched my throat and burned my lungs, how my blood simmered until I thought it would melt in my veins–
I jumped when something touched my knuckles. It was a hand. Warrick’s hand. I glanced at his concerned green eyes and gave him a nod to let him know I was fine. He didn’t seem convinced, but still took his hand back. I focused on the reporters when they started talking again.
“Do you think this could be a terrorist attack, Shannon?”
“Well, government officials are looking into all possibilities at this time,” said the brunette reporter, “but no terrorist groups have come forward with demands. A lot of people are thinking this is either connected to the strange, supernatural attacks that have been occurring in all the southern states, or to the unusual group that appeared outside of Bullhead City shortly after it was attacked.”
The footage cut to a dozen men in white trench coats stood in front of the burning city with their backs to the camera. Whoever was holding the camera was using the crappy zoom on their phone, but I could still make out the faces of the angels when they turned around.
I spotted Rorikel and Gabriel. In the center of the group was the tallest, toughest looking angel. I’d never seen him before, but even in the camera-phone video, he looked incredible. Not as heart wrenchingly beautiful as Lucifer, but very, very close. Golden hair curled down to his broad shoulders. His face was perfectly sculpted and strong. I couldn’t tell what color his eyes were, but they burned like the fire behind him. He wore a white metal chest plate similar to the ones the ancient Spartans used to wear. On the middle of the plate was a gold sigil that I recognized, because I had it tattooed on my chest.
The sigil of archangel Michael.
I wasn’t even listening to what the reporters were saying anymore. All I could look at was Michael. I knew it was him. My head snapped to Sephiel. His eyes were on mine, and he nodded sadly.
Damn it. God fucking damn it.
Jackson shut off the TV and looked at me. I didn’t have any answers for him. I wasn’t even sure this wasn’t another fucked up dream. My appetite was completely gone, and I’d barely eaten half the sandwich.
“We know that those men were angels, like your friend over here,” Carver said, gesturing to Sephiel and keeping that accusing tone in his voice. “We also know that Lucifer was the one who destroyed Bullhead City. Warrick has told us that he’s been hunting you and your sister, but he never said why. She must be important, because I know she isn’t human.”
I narrowed my eyes at Warrick, who opened his mouth to speak.
“Don’t try blaming John, Ms. Ramirez,” Carver said. “The moment we found you, I saw your sister healing you with magic.” He turned his intimidating eyes on Dro. “She’s been very stubborn and has refused to answer any questions, let alone say more than three words. So I’m going to ask you. What is she, and why does she matter to Lucifer?”
“What she is isn’t important,” I said, amazed at how steady my voice was. “Lucifer is.”
“Well, Lucifer is looking for her,” Elle said sarcastically. “So why don’t you tell us what her secret is?”
I glared at her. “Lucifer’s a fucking sadist who wants to gather up anything supernatural for his army. Happy?”
Elle’s lips curled back. “You’re a fucking liar.”
I balled my fists. “I’ve had a really shitty week, bitch. Don’t push me.”
“Uh, whoa, okay, calm down ladies,” Jackson said. “This isn’t the time for a cat-fight.”
It wouldn’t be a fight, I thought to myself.
“Listen, Constance, we can’t help you if you don’t give us something.”
I looked at Jackson. He seemed straightforward and nice. He must have been the one demon slayer that Warrick said he’d trusted. Not that it encouraged me.
“Lucifer wants something more than my sister,” I admitted. “He wants to get into Heaven.”
That confused the demon slayers enough to forget about Dro.
“Why would he want that?” Jackson as
ked.
“Because he believes it is time for the damned to be granted salvation,” Sephiel said, making us look at him. “Hell has become overrun with the sinful, and Lucifer wishes to lead their souls to Heaven and increase his power.”
“But you angels are supposed to stop them,” Elle pointed out. “That’s what you do, protect humanity and stuff.”
Sephiel was shaking his head. “Perhaps you remember a few months ago when these supernatural events first began occurring in Texas. That was when both the Gates of Heaven and Hell were opened. Heaven has long waited for the opportune moment to cleanse Hell of damned souls. They believe humans are destined for sin, and they wish to restructure Hell.”
“But, that would upset the balance of the universe, right?” Jackson said. “And they would have to cross paths at some point.”
Sephiel nodded this time. “Yes, Jackson Everhart. They would confront each other the moment war appealed to them. I fear that such a battle would be devastating to mortals.” He looked at us seriously. “My hypothesis is that none of you would survive.”
Silence was a heavy cloud in the room after that. Ugh. I hate when he sounds so right about everything.
“We need to find and close the Gate of Heaven,” I said to get us back on track. “If we do that, then we can guarantee that Lucifer won’t take over Heaven, and it will take the angels off our tail.”
“The angels are trying to kill you, too?” Jackson said. He looked at Warrick. “Damn, Ricky, what the hell did you get yourself into?”
“Believe me, Jack. I ask myself that every time I have a chance to think.”
He gave me a teasing smile. I couldn’t even roll my eyes at him.
“You’re an angel,” Elle said to Sephiel. “Shouldn’t you know where it is?”
“I am a soldier of the Heavenly Host,” he answered simply. “But I fear my memory has been cleared of the Gate’s location so that it may be protected.”
“How convenient,” she muttered.
That bitch was really getting on my nerves. “Look, you want to stop the demons? Closing the Heaven Gate is how we start to stop the demons. If you’d listened to Warrick in the first place, this might not have happened.”
“Warrick withheld information from us,” Carver said sharply. “He was helping an unnatural creature and–”
“Don’t call her a creature,” I warned.
My threat would have worked better if he’d actually been intimidated by me. “Look me in the eye and tell me that all of this would have happened if there weren’t supernatural creatures in the world. If angels and demons had stayed in their territory.”
I tried to think of an argument, but I didn’t have one. The son of a bitch was right. If angels and demons had left well enough alone, the world wouldn’t be falling apart. Bullhead City would still be standing. Nearly forty thousand people would still be alive. Sephiel would be with Everiel. Warrick might still have his sister. Manny would be alive to spend time with Max. I wouldn’t have turned into a criminal. My parents wouldn’t have been murdered.
Dro would never have existed.
There were a lot of things I wished I could change, but that wasn’t one of them. Maybe it was because I had been beside her my whole life, but I just couldn’t imagine a day without my little sister. I wouldn’t be half as strong as I was today. Dro wouldn’t be around to lift people up and take care of them.
I wouldn’t truly understand what hope meant.
“Wake up, Carver,” I said bluntly. “This is the way the world is. It’s full of demons and angels and shitty situations, and that isn’t going to change. But don’t you dare blame it on my little sister.”
A muscle twitched in Carver’s jaw. He narrowed his eyes. “You said Lucifer is hunting her, but you’re purposefully blind to what she really is. Look at what he did to Bullhead City when he couldn’t get her. How much suffering will you let her cause before you accept that she’s a monster?”
My hand was on the knife by my plate before I could think about what I was doing. Warrick grabbed my wrist and trapped my hand to the table. I shot him a look that could have killed. I was ready to shout and curse and beat the shit out of Carver.
I wasn’t ready for what my sister did.
“Enough,” she commanded.
The entire room turned to look at her. Max had moved a couple inches away from her. Dro’s blazing eyes were everywhere at once. For the first time, I could feel the power radiating off of her. It was heavy and all encompassing, like Lucifer’s. When I was possessed, the demon controlling me had thought that Dro was one of the most powerful creatures in the universe.
I was starting to think he was right.
Her jaw was set, eyes burning with passion. This was how Dro looked when she faced off with Gabriel and his angels, when she destroyed the demon Knight. She looked this way when she spoke to Lucifer.
Strong. Confident. Impressive. Dangerous.
Deadly.
“This isn’t high school,” she snapped. “We don’t have time to be petty. I’m grateful that you sheltered us and let me heal my sister, Mr. Carver, but I am not going to sit here and let you judge me based on something I couldn’t control. I want Lucifer destroyed more than any of you. So instead of spitting venom, why don’t we focus on something we can actually do?”
No one interrupted her. Dro took a deep breath.
“Max can’t see where the Heaven Gate is, and Sephiel can’t remember. I won’t risk looking in case Lucifer senses me. The best option we have right now is to look at locations that have a high supernatural frequency. Max can use his gift when we go there using Sephiel’s teleporting magic. That will keep us hidden from both the angels and the demons for a little while. Unless someone has another idea.”
Nobody did.
“All right. Then we should get a map and get started.”
“Um, we might have something better than a map,” Jackson started.
“Jackson,” Carver warned.
“Sorry, sir, but she’s right. We don’t have a lot of options, and he might know.”
I looked between Carver and Jackson cautiously. “Who might know?” I asked.
Carver didn’t want to answer. Warrick turned to face him directly.
“Carver, we don’t have time for secrets regarding the Heaven Gate. We need to close it if we’re going to start helping people.”
The leader of the slayers stared at Warrick for a long time. I wondered what it must have been like to train and work under this guy. It must have been about as fun as walking on broken glass.
After another minute, Carver pushed himself away from the kitchen island. He got out of his chair and started walking away. Elle pouted, then followed her father. Next was Jackson, after he clapped Warrick on the shoulder. The rest of my group followed. Warrick and Sephiel left the room. I tried to walk with Dro, but she clutched Max’s hand and kept her eyes down. I sighed heavily and followed them out of the kitchen.
Carver and his gang turned down another grey hallway, entering a code into the keypad next to a huge steel door. There was an angry buzz before the door could be pulled open. We all filed through the hallway that held four locked doors. It reminded me of a solitary ward in a prison.
Carver stopped at the last door on the right, turning as if he was giving us a tour.
“We picked him up after the Bullhead City Burning, as the media’s now calling it,” he said. “He hasn’t said a word to us, but maybe you can get him to give up something useful.”
Carver punched in another code by the door. It buzzed open, and we looked inside.
The room was nearly pitch black except for a dull yellow glow from the tube lights in the ceiling. There was nothing in the room except a steel chair and a man bound to it. His head hung to his chest. Dirt and blood covered his white clothes and jacket. He heard us come inside, and raised his head.
His tanned skin was broken and bruised, his sandy blond hair was mussed and wild. Hazel eyes blazed with a
nger.
I didn’t even know it was possible to capture an angel, but I never thought the slayers would be able to capture Gabriel.
Chapter 11
“Brother Gabriel?” Sephiel said, clearly as surprised as we were.
The archangel smiled playfully. “Brother Sephiel. It is good to see you again.”
Gabriel looked like he’d been thrown down a rocky hill. His white trench coat and clothes were covered in brown and grey dust. His skin was just as dirty. His left eye was closing over, there were two yellow and purple bruises forming on his right jaw and cheek. Blood dripped from his broken nose, split lip, and the cut on his left eyebrow.
I’d seen beatings before. I’d given and taken them. But this shocked me. An archangel had been captured and tortured. Something sacred and holy had been damaged. It made me sick, but I wasn’t as vocal as the rest of my group.
“What the fuck is this, Carver?!”
“I demand that he be released immediately.”
“You guys are fucking lunatics!”
“He needs to be healed.”
I stared at Gabriel, who watched the whole scene with an amused expression. I wondered if he was in pain, and why he hadn’t healed himself. My eyes went down to the cuffs on his wrists, which were covered in strange symbols I couldn’t read. His chair stood inside a spray-painted circle on the floor around his feet. The same symbols on the cuffs were on the floor. It didn’t take me long to understand what the slayers did.
They had created a trap.
I did the same thing once when I was trying to get information from a demon. We never really focused on angels in the beginning. I didn’t know they could be captured and bound, let alone trapped.
“When we found out that angels were starting to run around, we knew we needed to get one for information,” Carver explained once everyone stopped shouting. “They’re hard to find and put up one hell of a fight. But this one got overwhelmed by some demons,” he pointed to Gabriel. “As soon as we had him, we bound him with anti-seraph spells. The cuffs prevent him from doing any sort of sorcery. He can’t hurt anyone.”