by Lizzy Ford
“It’s stupid. But … I want to know if I really am special. If I’m an incarnated archangel,” Kaylee mumbled, in case anyone overheard.
“Then that’s the question he probably answered.”
You are who you believe. You have all you need. It is what you think.
Barachiel, archangel of lightning. She was far too embarrassed to ask if she could be that archangel in particular. Even if she were Barachiel incarnated, of what use was lightning or flowers in her current situation?
“Are all angels vague?” she asked.
“Just Pedro. He knows all the secrets of the universe. He can’t tell them to anyone, though, so he gives hints and riddles,” Shanti said. “I don’t think we should stay here.” She faced the direction they had come.
“I have a phone number,” Kaylee said unhappily. “But it’s for someone who tried to kill me once.”
“Do we have any other choice?”
“Let’s get off the street. I’ll ask the receptionist to use her phone.” Kaylee took Shanti’s arm and hurried her inside the building. This time, when she approached the desk, she didn’t pass through into somewhere else.
A moment later, she dialed Nathan’s friend and ex.
“Maggy,” answered the crisp voice.
Kaylee froze, uncertain which bothered her more, that Maggy was another of Nathan’s exes, or that, at one point, this particular spirit guide had to be talked out of murdering her.
“Hello?” Maggy prodded.
“Hi,” Kaylee managed. “Nathan said I could trust you.”
There was a pause and then a sigh. “Hold on.” Maggy covered the speaker and shouted at someone before Kaylee heard the sound of her boots on wooden steps. “Okay. Where are you?”
“Do you still want to kill me?” Kaylee asked cautiously.
“I want to kill Nathan more.”
“He has that affect on people.” Kaylee glanced out the door. Two men were going car to car down the street. She recognized them: Eddy and Bullet. Quickly, she gave her location to Maggy and hung up.
Grabbing Shanti’s arm, Kaylee went towards the bathrooms located in a shallow hall near a bank of elevators. She paused in front of the women’s restroom before backpedaling and entering the men’s.
“Ew,” Shanti said, nose wrinkling.
“I don’t think they’ll check in here,” Kaylee said and led Shanti to the stall farthest from the door. “I hope Maggy gets here fast. And doesn’t try to murder me.”
Shanti was quiet.
The two of them hid in the stall, Kaylee fidgeting as she waited for the door to open and Eddy to begin dispatching her fingers.
Shanti rested a hand on her arm, and the fearful energy stilled within Kaylee.
“Thanks,” she murmured. “Sorry I’m a mess.” She paused, mind on Pedro’s riddle. “What powers do archangels have?”
“Well, each of the main archangels has his or her power and duty. It’s likely you were incarnated long, long ago. Long enough that you didn’t make it into mainstream religious doctrine, which recognizes between three and seven archangels,” Shanti said. “They can heal, fight, send and receive messages, lead armies, and do a whole lot of things. Whatever needs to be done to fight evil and protect humankind and angelkind.”
“That sounds nice,” Kaylee murmured. Having an ability would give her life purpose, one greater than anything her parents thought she’d ever have. “Maybe it’s something really simple like closing the gates of Hell if they open.”
Shanti was quiet.
Kaylee glanced at her.
Shanti appeared surprised. “Was that part of your question?” she asked.
“I don’t think so,” Kaylee said.
“But it could be the one reason why you are connected to Shadowman and your stone has been passed down since Creation. Your function may be to undo whatever he does.”
“It doesn’t sound as glorious as healing people or fighting evil.”
“But at the right time and place, you can be the most important person who ever existed.”
Kaylee smiled. Shanti’s sincerity reminded her of Amira, who had been sweet after their initial meeting. The two gatekeepers believed in her more than anyone else she’d ever met. Except maybe Eddy.
“Hopefully it doesn’t come to that,” Kaylee murmured. “I thought archangels were all men.”
“In their true form, angels and archangels don’t have a gender.”
The bathroom door opened.
Kaylee tensed, and both of them held their breaths. She clenched her hands. It was not the time to wonder how badly having her fingers chopped off would hurt.
Deliberate steps entered the bathroom and closed the door. Shanti inched to the door of the stall, her guide stick in one hand. She lowered her stance, ready to fight off anyone who tried to open the door.
“Kaylee?”
Kaylee released her breath. “We’re here, Maggy.”
Shanti straightened and opened the door.
The willowy brunette, as beautiful as Zyra, eyed them both.
Where does he find these gorgeous women? Kaylee asked herself. She was nothing like either of them. She was shorter for one, compact rather than graceful, with not an ounce of violence or ability to defend herself. Zyra and Maggy were strong, tough. Kaylee felt as if she was going to break every few minutes.
“This is …” Maggy’s critical gaze was on Shanti.
“One of the gatekeepers,” Kaylee replied. “Did you see Eddy?”
Maggy’s eyebrows went up. “They’re moving down the street checking cars. We need to leave now, before they start looking in buildings.” She went to the door and held it open. “Nice call, by the way. Most men wouldn’t think to check the men’s restroom.”
Eddy was crazy enough to, though Kaylee kept this to herself. She slid her hand around Shanti’s forearm and followed Maggy out into the reception area.
“Are you alone?” she asked a little anxiously.
“Unfortunately. You and Nathan put me in a tough position,” Maggy replied. “I guess I should be used to it by now. Nothing is ever simple when it comes to him.”
By the edge in her tone, she wasn’t talking strictly about working with Nathan.
Kaylee didn’t blame her at all for the frustration.
They reached the entrance before Maggy paused.
“In case I have to distract your fans,” she started dryly, “I’m parked in a black sedan around the corner. The engine is running. If I’m not with you, hop in and drive. Here’s the location we’re heading to.” She handed Kaylee a post-it note.
“We stand a better chance if I drive,” Shanti whispered.
Kaylee smiled.
“All right. Let’s go.” Maggy strode out of the building and to the sidewalk. Her eyes went to the left, down the street, as she assessed Eddy’s position. She motioned Kaylee and Shanti towards the right.
Kaylee went. Shanti tapped her way down the street while Maggy followed at a distance. When they rounded the corner, Kaylee spotted the black car with tinted windows as promised. She opened the door for Shanti before sliding into the backseat. Relief trickled through her. Maggy shifted the car into gear and pulled away from the curb.
“How are you feeling, Kaylee?” she asked, glancing at Kaylee through the rearview mirror.
“After your botched plan to murder me?” Kaylee retorted. “Better, thanks. Nothing like owing your life to a Satanist.”
“You were out long enough it should have worked. Someone shot Nathan before he could revive you.”
“Really?” Kaylee leaned forward in interest. “He didn’t just kill me and abandon me?”
“This is Nathan we’re talking about,” Maggy said with a shake of her head. “He’d never do that. His duty comes above everything else in his life. Always. That son of a bitch.”
Shanti stifled a laugh. Maggy frowned at her.
Kaylee listened. She had believed Nathan to be devoted, to handle each case seriously. A
fter being left on a mountain to die, she hadn’t known what to think of him. Hearing the truth soothed the part of her that freaked out whenever she thought of him being her soul mate. But it couldn’t completely erase the unease and fear she experienced watching him double tap three injured people to ensure they never got up. Sure, they were Satanists, but why not disable them and walk away?
Nathan may not have meant to kill her and place her at the mercy of his enemies, but he had nonetheless. He was lethal, and there was no way to explain his brutality or how he had decided the best course of action was to murder his soul mate.
Not that I believe in soul mates, she thought.
“What were you doing? Visiting Pedro?” Maggy asked.
“Something like that,” Kaylee replied.
“He’s amazing!” Shanti gushed.
“That’s not the word I’d use,” Maggy muttered. “It’s safe to assume he didn’t really help you.”
“No,” Kaylee agreed, her thoughts on Shanti’s explanation. Without the adrenaline and fear messing with her head, Kaylee began to think Pedro had said a lot more than she initially thought.
She was what she believed herself to be – an archangel old enough to be lost to the world’s consciousness.
She had what she needed, the power to stop Shadowman, even if she didn’t yet understand what that ability was. Could it be as simple as closing a door only she could close?
Nothing had been simple about anything she’d been through.
As for his final claim … she was at a loss to explain it. It is what you think.
What question in her subconscious had Pedro picked up on?
Kaylee couldn’t recall her exact thoughts from that exact moment, though she could think of half a dozen questions that could be answered with the vague response. Perhaps she wouldn’t know what it referred to until later.
It still didn’t explain why Pedro hadn’t been more direct. He had to have been concerned about the unfolding events.
Maggy drove them to 395 and exited onto 495, the Beltway surrounding DC. She headed towards the Northern Virginia side of the metro area and exited onto route 66, which led due west of DC.
Kaylee looked behind them, expecting to see Eddy in hot pursuit.
“We’re clear,” Maggy said. “This isn’t my first time escaping his people.”
“Are we going to your base?” Shanti asked.
“No. They don’t know I have you both. This is a favor to Nathan. Anyone else would want you dead, Kaylee.”
“It didn’t work the first time,” Kaylee reminded her.
“Permanent death might.”
“Is that what 3G still wants? They’ve gone through a lot of effort to try to find me.”
“If I were in 3G, I could tell you.”
Kaylee sat back. Shadowman shifted within her, punctuating Maggy’s words in a way that left Kaylee feeling sick. He didn’t trust Maggy. The instinct was much like the warning about the 3G members who almost killed her and the three Satanists in the locker with the trap door.
He was trying to warn her. But against what? Maggy? Kaylee didn’t think Nathan would mislead her. If he were going to betray her again, he would have turned her over to Zyra after discovering her in the cellar.
“But if you kill her, she can’t close the gateways to Hell,” Shanti said. “What if someone opens a portal, and Kaylee isn’t there to close it?”
“Assuming that’s what I’m supposed to do,” Kaylee said quickly.
“Interesting. I thought you were just Shadowman’s host. Is it possible for you to close a gate?” Maggy asked.
“Yes,” Shanti said.
“Maybe,” Kaylee answered simultaneously.
“So neither of you knows for sure,” Maggy surmised.
“No,” Kaylee said.
“It’s a lot to risk on an unknown.”
“We just need faith,” Shanti said.
“And a plan,” Maggy added.
“I’d settle for some decent food,” Kaylee said.
“That I can do.”
Maggy drove them to the drive thru of a fast food restaurant before continuing eastward for several hours, until they crossed the West Virginia state line. Trees and mountains greeted Kaylee in every direction, and she began to relax knowing she’d managed to throw Eddy off her trail and would be relatively safe for the time being.
Maggy pulled off the highway and drove on a state route for another hour before turning onto a dirt road leading up a small hill, where a double a-frame house with a blue roof sat at the top of the driveway.
“This is a safe house,” she explained as she parked the car. “I’ve got places to be and can’t be gone too long without the others becoming suspicious. It’s stocked with food and other supplies, enough to last you for a few weeks, if it comes to it.”
Shanti had frozen. Kaylee glanced toward her then back.
The gatekeeper was staring out the window, stiff, an expression of disbelief on her face.
“You okay?” Maggy asked, leaning forward to see her features.
“Yeah.” Shanti shook her head. “Sorry. Sometime the trees confuse me. They give off energy, too.”
“Is it safe?” Kaylee asked, concerned. In the short time they’d been together, Shanti hadn’t expressed this level of worry. Not when facing Eddy, not when kidnapped, not when they stopped in mid-traffic during the DC rush hour.
“Yes,” Shanti replied. “Thank you, Maggy.” Shanti opened her door and left the car.
“This is great, Maggy,” Kaylee said, eyes on Shanti.
“Here’s a disposable phone. Use it only if you’re in danger. My number is in there.” Maggy handed her a cell. “You shouldn’t need anything else. I’ll come back in a few days.”
Kaylee nodded and smiled, grateful to one of Nathan’s exes. She got out of the car and closed both hers and Shanti’s doors.
Maggy backed up, her car’s tires crunching in the gravel, and disappeared down the hill.
Shanti had made it to the front door. Kaylee followed her.
“What’s wrong?” she asked as they stepped into the kitchen. Dark shadows filled it. She turned on the light.
The comfortable, single-story cabin had rustic décor with a spacious kitchen and a wood stove in the living area.
“We shouldn’t be here,” Shanti replied and faced her.
Kaylee shivered at her expression. “Why not?”
“Because one of the gateways is close.” She held out her palm, on top of which was balanced a red-orange stone. It glowed.
“Maggy couldn’t have known that,” Kaylee said uncomfortably.
“It can’t be a coincidence.”
“But if the gatekeepers alone know where the portals are, she would have to have one of you in custody.” Kaylee’s thoughts went to Amira.
“And we wouldn’t reveal the location willingly,” Shanti’s whisper was haunted. “I just told her you could close the portals. What if whoever she’s working with has another reason to murder you?”
Kaylee looked around, suddenly feeling as if the shadows were watching her. Shadowman had been warning her about Maggy, and she hadn’t listened.
“We’re not safe here. I’m so sorry,” Shanti breathed.
“Don’t be,” Kaylee replied. “I’ve been screwed since this began. Let’s figure out what to do next.”
“We can leave.”
“There’s nothing between here and the main highway. We didn’t pass one house or gas station or anything. We have no vehicle either. She gave me a cell. But … I don’t have anyone to call.” Admitting the truth sounded far worse out loud than it did in her head.
“What about the guide Nathan?”
“He’s unreachable right now. Undercover in 3G.” Fear slid through Kaylee. Maggy had dropped them off in the middle of nowhere, because she knew it was the location of a portal.
“Kaylee, I think she’s in 3G.”
“She can’t be,” Kaylee said. “Why would you sa
y that?”
“I can tell when someone lies, and she was lying most of the time we were with her,” Shanti answered.
“Nathan wouldn’t send me away from 3G only to tell me to call them,” Kaylee said.
“Maybe he doesn’t know.”
Kaylee didn’t want to wrap her head around the idea she couldn’t trust someone else. The heavy fatigue was drifting over her, clouding her ability to think. She sat down heavily at the kitchen table.
“We’re in trouble,” Shanti said.
“If we are, then Nathan is, too,” Kaylee said softly.
“He’s not just a guide, is he?”
Kaylee flushed. “No.”
“Your aura goes crazy when you mention him,” Shanti said, amused.
“So do I.” Kaylee looked around the cabin. She plucked the phone from her pocket and checked the contacts. Only Maggy’s was present. “Can you talk to the other gatekeepers with the stones?”
“Not that I know of.”
Shit. They were in a winless situation. “I guess we pack up some food and start walking.” Silently, she wondered how far she would make it when her companion was blind.
Shanti explored the house while Kaylee gathered what food and water she thought they should take with them. She fished two cotton grocery bags out from one drawer and loaded them up.
“I found another gun,” Shanti said proudly. She held up a handgun and box of shells.
Kaylee rose and crossed to her. “I never thought I’d shoot anyone before Nathan.”
“Is that why you can’t call him?” Shanti asked with a laugh. “You left that part out of your story!”
“It was a bad day,” Kaylee mumbled. “I thought he’d left me for dead on the mountain until Maggy said otherwise.”
Shanti cocked her head to the side the way she did when she was trying to figure something out. “He’s a boyfriend?”
“Um, I think you guys call them soul mates or something.”
“An OTL?” Shanti asked and grinned.
“No idea.”
“Wow. So he killed you and you shot him and now he’s working for 3G … that’s a really messed up romance.”
Kaylee laughed. “I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a romance.”
“But it is. Or will be. You’re bound by a soul agreement. He’s yours. You can’t fight it, and neither can he,” Shanti said matter-of-factly.