Damien agreed with him. “We seem to keep saying that.” He removed his own ripped shirt more gently, not wanting to wake Isobel. He didn’t bother thinking about another one yet. He had little doubt his wings would come out again before the night was over.
They drove in silence for several hours as the night stretched out in front of them. The road, making its way through the middle of nowhere, was empty save for them.
Isobel jolted awake in his arms as something heavy hit the roof of the car. A second later the back window smashed in and a smoky, clawed hand reached into the backseat. Damien lunged forward as the claws grabbed her hair. He clamped his hand on the demon’s wrist with a crushing grip.
The demon roared and continued to try and pull Isobel from the car. Lucian threw on the brakes sending the vehicle fishtailing down the highway to a stop. The demon was flung forward, its arm ripped off in Damien’s hand. It tumbled over the front of the car and immediately leapt back up. More demons swarmed out of the night.
Lucian burst out of the car, his light spreading over the road. Lesser demons shrank away but the larger, stronger demons charged him.
Damien pushed Isobel down onto the floorboard. ”Stay in here,” he ordered and then left the car as more demons swarmed from the night. The sting of their claws ripped through his skin as he wrestled the first down.
Isobel lay on the floorboard and wrestled with her desire to help until a demon crawled in through the shattered back window. She embraced her power before it could reach her and raised a circle. It only took a second to find the right symbol and banish it.
She scrambled from the car as two more started in from the window. The scene outside the car was one from a nightmare. The two angels couldn’t banish the demons fast enough, and both were taking wounds. Isobel whirled around as more crawled into the light bathing the road.
Isobel pulled in more power until it raced like fire through her veins. Ignoring the pain she raised a massive circle trapping nearly fifty demons within. The power rushing through her had drained away any fear. Her senses heightened, every blade of grass was easily visible, and even the smallest rustle in the trees reached her.
Focusing her strength she fixed her eyes on the circle of light as symbols began flashing simultaneously under each demon held captive by her power. When all the appropriate symbols were attached to each demon she spoke loud and clear, “I banish thee. I banish thee back to the pit from which you came. I banish thee from this plane. I banish thee from the world of the living. I banish thee.”
The screeches of the combined demons being banished all at once filled the night and echoed off the trees around them, though most humans would never hear it. Somewhere in the distance dogs barked in response.
A demon jumped at her from behind. Isobel heard it coming and stepped out of the way. Pain tore down her arm as the demon raked its claws along her skin when it grabbed for her and missed. The ache of the lacerations couldn’t compare to the burning in her blood. Her body felt flushed and overheated and still she pulled in more power. Another circle went up, this time around an even larger number.
Almost a hundred symbols began to flash at the same time as the demons battered against the wall of golden-white energy that held them. When the symbols settled she again banished them all at once. This time Isobel threw so much power into it, instead of melting away, they all burst into showers of sparks that drifted on the breeze and faded.
“Isobel, no!” Damien’s shout carried through the night to her.
She swayed as the temperature of her skin heated more. Damien was there before she could blink, taking her face in his hands. His massive black wings filled the night behind him, and his rich blue eyes were frantic as he stared into her face. “Meae deliciae, what have you done!” His palms felt cold against her skin.
Lucian appeared next to him. “She’s burning up, Damien. It’s gone too far.”
“No.” He shot Lucian a glare before turning back to her. Though his eyes were wild with panic his voice was calm. He gazed at her and captured her attention. “Isobel, you need to back it down.”
Though the power burned like a wildfire in her body, cold seeped through her. Isobel shivered as she stared into his eyes and her teeth chattered when she tried to speak. “I c-c-can’t c-c-control it.”
Damien smoothed her hair back from either side of her face as anguish closed around his heart. “Yes, you can, meae deliciae.” He tried to keep the terror out of his voice. Her eyes blazed with the light, only a small sliver of green was left near the pupils.
Shivers wracked Isobel so hard she thought her insides were coming apart as she tried to grapple with the runaway power. Every time she pulled it down a notch it slipped through again. The agony in her veins grew to unbearable levels and she cried out, “Damien, help me!”
A vice tightened around Damien’s chest at her plea. “Listen to me, Isobel. Can you control any of it?”
Deep shivers shook her body as she nodded. Isobel’s legs trembled and gave out. She collapsed into him. Damien’s arms caught her and he took them both down until she sat on the empty road, and he knelt in front of her with his knees braced apart. The pain in his chest grew as alarm filled him.
Her head fell back as her eyelids fluttered down. Damien grabbed her face in his hands again, desperation raising the volume of his voice. “Isobel!” Her eyes opened slowly as if it took great effort. “You will not die on me! Not this time. Gather the power you can and back it down.”
Isobel couldn’t open her mouth; her jaw was clenched shut by the icy tremors that tightened their grip even as she burned. She managed a small nod and tried to do as he said. Instead of working to gather it all up and keep any from escaping, she grabbed what she could and forced it back, reining it in and pushing it down.
The blistering heat inside her faded a fraction. Isobel struggled to pull more down and then more. With the last of her strength, she finally caught hold of the last shreds of power that still raged through her body. It took everything she had to pull it back and wrestle it down.
Damien pulled her into his arms as she went limp. Heat radiated off her skin and her body still trembled uncontrollably, but she was alive. He held her close, one arm around her back and the other hand buried in the hair at the base of her neck.
Lucian started to reach for his shoulder and hesitated. “Is she…”
“She lives.” Damien’s voice was rough with emotion. Weakness washed through him and he eased himself down to sit on the road.
“Damien, what are you doing? We need to get her in the car, now.” Lucian frowned.
Damien nodded. “In just a moment.”
Lucian gripped his shoulder, pulled him slightly away from Isobel, and swore. “Stay. I’ll grab something to bandage that.”
“No.” Damien stopped him. “Heal Isobel’s arm first. It’s bleeding too much.”
Lucian nodded and grabbed her arm. It didn’t take long for the wound to pull together and disappear. Damien fought against the hazy shadows that crept around the edge of his mind. The rips in his skin, though bleeding heavily, wouldn’t kill him. Made by a powerful mid-level demon, they would just take longer to heal.
Isobel swam in and out of darkness. When she slipped to the pavement, it jarred her semi-awake. Damien sat slightly hunched, his arms lying at his sides. Four long, deep gashes were torn across his torso from one shoulder to the opposite hip. Blood soaked the front of him and the waistband of his jeans.
Isobel struggled to find the strength to speak. Finally, she was able to whisper his name. “Damien?”
He didn’t answer. Oh God; he couldn’t be dead. She fought to raise her voice. “Damien? Please answer.”
Tears stung her eyes and rolled down the side of her face and into her hair as she lay, too weak to even move her fingers. Darkness clawed around the edges of her mind and she tried to push it away. Pulling in a deep breath Isobel released it with all the strength she had. “Lucian!” It came out more of a h
oarse cry than the shout she had intended.
Sapped of everything her body had to give, her vision dimmed. Just before it grew dark, Lucian came into view. He laid a hand on her forehead. “I’m here Isobel, and I’ve got him. Don’t worry, he won’t die.”
Darkness closed over her.
Damien woke knowing the cloth wrapped around his torso was no longer needed. The wounds had healed. Late morning light filled the car. He lay across the backseat with Isobel wedged in front of him, her head cradled against his shoulder and their legs tangled together.
The plastic sheet secured over the back window rattled in the wind. The inside of the car felt like a morgue. “Do you think you could turn down the air conditioning? It’s freezing, and Isobel’s skin is cold.”
Lucian looked back at them briefly before returning his attention to the road. “It’s about time. I’ve checked her throughout the night, and her skin was still too hot. The air’s been on max the entire time. I was starting to worry she wasn’t going to make it.”
Damien trailed his fingers over her chilled skin. “She’s too cold now. But that is good. Thank you for tending to her, Lucien.” His eyes roamed over her face, and he offered his thanks to the Higher Powers. He didn’t think he could bear the pain of losing her again.
The air cut down to almost nothing. “You’re welcome. And I am glad to see you awake, my friend.”
Damien didn’t want to disturb Isobel so he didn’t move. “Anything else happen?”
“Nothing I couldn’t handle.” Lucian glanced at him again and then his eyes fell on Isobel’s face. “Not too many are willing to risk themselves anymore. I think what Isobel did put the fear of the Higher Powers into the demons.”
“She certainly put fear into me,” Damien said. “I have never seen anyone banish that many demons at once. I never would have believed someone could survive that much power.”
“She almost didn’t. As helpful as it was, it isn’t something I would care for her to repeat,” Lucian said, his tone grim.
“I have every intention of keeping her from it if I can.” Damien looked down at Isobel’s face. “Unfortunately, we don’t get to control the actions of our channels. They will do whatever they think is best—even when it places them in direct danger—if they feel it will serve something greater than themselves.”
Lucian nodded and Damien heard him whisper, “La Pucelle.”
Another hour passed before Isobel stirred. She shifted against the rock hard body of Damien. The heat that soaked into her from him felt wonderful. He was alive!
Isobel tried to move closer to him, and a moan escaped her lips from the effort. Every muscle and joint in her body ached, and she felt incredibly weak.
“Meae deliciae?” Damien’s tender voice in her ear sent warmth through her chilled body as she felt him shift.
Isobel opened her eyes and found Damien propped up on his elbow next to her. There was barely enough room for them both on the seat. Damien drew the backs of his fingers across her cheek and into her hair as his eyes searched hers. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you wake.”
She tried to move her hand to his face, but the muscles in her back went into a spasm, tearing a gasp from her as her arm dropped limply. Her throat and mouth felt like she had spent the night trying to eat sand. Isobel swallowed repeatedly until she could bring the words to her lips. “I hurt.”
He ran his fingers through her hair again. “I know, meae deliciae. It’s a side effect of holding too much power. It will go away in a few hours.”
Isobel licked her dry lips and whispered, “Drink. Please.”
Damien nodded. He helped her up beside him. Isobel gritted her teeth against the pain.
“Lucian,” Damien glanced into the front seat, “she needs a drink.”
Lucian’s eyes flicked up to the rearview mirror. “It’s good to see you awake, Isobel. If you scare me like that again…” He shook his head and handed a soda over the back of the seat. “It isn’t very cold, but it’s wet.”
Isobel took the soda in a shaky hand and sipped it. The warm fizz burned her throat; she drank it anyway.
Lucian took the next exit and parked at a fast food restaurant. Isobel shifted away from Damien so he could pull a shirt on. Lucian shoved his arms through a shirt and yanked it over his head as well.
Isobel leaned her head back. “I need to go inside; I’m not sure I can make it by myself.”
“I will take you. Lucian can order food while you do what you need to do.” Damien pulled another shirt from one of the bags and handed it to her. “You should change. A lot of my blood got on you; we don’t want the workers here to think you spent the night killing someone.”
Isobel glanced down. The entire front of her shirt was encrusted with dried blood. Moving carefully, she eased off the soiled shirt and pulled on the clean one. Dried blood flaked off her arm. She would wash it once she was in the bathroom. Luckily, it was past breakfast and before lunch. There would be few people inside.
Damien helped her from the car. Heat and humidity swamped her. Isobel’s shaky legs and aching joints weren’t sure they wanted to participate in the activity of walking, but her bladder insisted on it. Isobel leaned heavily on Damien for support and they made their slow way across the lot. Once inside, Lucian left them and headed to the counter.
Isobel used the bathroom and took a minute to splash cool water on her face after washing her hands and arms. The smell of hamburgers and French fries made her mouth water. When did she last eat?
When she opened the door, Damien was standing outside. “Were you there the entire time?”
“After what happened last time, you really have to ask?”
Isobel smiled. “Thank you, Damien.”
He raised an eyebrow. “For what?”
“For everything. For being you. For always being there.” Tears stung her eyes as her love for him washed over her; love she saw reflected back in his eyes.
He cupped the back of her neck with his fingers, brushing his thumb across her cheek. He touched his lips lightly to hers as he whispered, “Semper tecum.”
“What?” Isobel stared at him, her heart fluttered at his gentle touch.
“Always by your side,” he repeated.
“Hey, are you two lovebirds hungry or do you plan to stand there making eyes at each other all day?” Lucian said, walking up to them with three large bags.
Isobel leaned against Damien and raised an eyebrow. “Feeding an army?”
Lucian lowered his voice. “You have two angels on your hands that need to replenish their energy. We will eat a lot. Unlike you who will probably eat like a bird. Which, by the way, is a ridiculous analogy since birds spend practically all day, every day, doing little else other than eating.”
Isobel shook her head and laughed as they left the restaurant. She settled into the backseat with a sigh of relief. Her muscles trembled from weakness. Damien handed her a chicken sandwich, an order of fries, and a cold soda while Lucian guided the car back onto the highway. She tore into the food with a ravenous appetite.
Lucian glanced at her several times in the rearview mirror. “So much for picking at your food,” he said when she dug into the bag for one of the many hamburgers.
“I am starving.” Isobel unwrapped the burger and took a big bite.
Damien chuckled. “The amount of power you held used up a lot of energy.” His eyes grew serious. “Although I would be forever thankful if you never did that again.”
Isobel shook her head and swallowed the bite. “I had no choice, there were too many.”
“It wouldn’t have helped any if you had died.”
“It wouldn’t have helped any if you two had died either.” Her eyes raked over the shirt that covered his chest. “I thought you were dead.”
“Isobel, demons can’t kill me. Not in their natural form. They can inflict some nasty injuries but nothing I can’t heal from.” He shot her a frustrated look. “That is why I told you to stay in
the car. They could only come at you one or two at a time. Lucian and I would have worked our way through the rest of them.”
Damien watched a small frown cross her face as she said, “It was hard to see you that way. With the demons all over you…there was so much blood.”
He shook his head. Hard to see him that way? She’d nearly died in his arms.
They finished the food in silence while the car ate up the last of the distance between them and the house.
The light of the setting sun cut through the trees on the highway as they drew closer to their destination. Isobel estimated they’d arrive in about an hour and decided to catch some more sleep. Damien suddenly tensed next to her. Isobel’s eyes flew open. Lucian uttered an oath and slowed the car. He yanked it across the lanes and took an exit. Her hands grabbed onto the back of the seat as he gunned the engine, ignored the stop sign at the bottom of the ramp and cranked the wheel, sending the car sliding sideways across the two-lane road.
Isobel’s heart leapt into her throat. “What’s happening?”
“Demons,” Lucian growled. “All over the sides of the highway. Hundreds of them.”
She turned to look back, but could see nothing through the opaque plastic. They blew past the posted forty-five mile speed limit. Damien fastened the seat belt around her while the car careened down the empty two-lane road.
Lucian swore again and jerked the wheel. Smoky figures hurdled from the overgrown ditch onto the cracked pavement. The front fender clipped one of the demons, sending a shudder through the car. Lucian wove through them as fast as he could until so many filled the road he had to slam on the brakes. Two demons pounced on the rear fender with enough force to send the speeding car sideways.
Damien’s arms locked around Isobel as the car flipped. The side air bag exploded beside her. Isobel screamed. The world disintegrated into shattering glass and screeching metal. The car rolled one last time and came to a rest on its side.
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