“Sounds nasty,” I said. “I think I’d rather be killed by a vampire.”
“Many angels would agree with you.”
“If a vampire has to drain an angel to kill it, and angel fire is good up until the angel dies, why don’t they use it on the vampire that’s killing them?”
Danny sighed. “If only it were that easy. The angel fire consumes the angel as well.”
It didn’t make sense to me. Why wouldn’t you get it over and done with as quickly as possible?
“Well, that’d be better than being drained of your blood, wouldn’t it? It’s the same end result, only quicker.”
“Being consumed by angel fire is a very painful way to die, so I’m told. A kiss on the neck by a vampire is preferable.”
Who would have thought angels would baulk at a bit of pain!
Danny leaned against me. No, it was more like he was collapsing against me.
“Danny, I think we have to go now.”
“Just a little longer. I need to gauge the numbers on both sides and which of the archangels’ armies are here.”
I couldn’t tell the difference, for the most part, between the good guys and the bad guys. Among those who looked like ordinary men and women, caught up in an immortal battle, the werewolves were the only ones who stood out.
The smell of burning fur and flesh assailed my nostrils. I wondered if the wolves I’d saved were here fighting, and how they fared.
I found I could monitor a number of battles at once, purely by accident. It was a new skill I’d acquired. Maybe it was the angel in me, maybe the vampire, but it was like picture-in-picture inside my head. If I didn’t concentrate on any one battle, I could see, and take in, the action of up to four battles.
Angel fire flashed and a tree to the right of us was engulfed in red flame.
“Shit, Danny, that was a bit close!” I hissed.
I turned my head to look at Danny. His head was resting on my shoulder, his eyes rolled back, the whites showing. Our cover was blown.
“Damn,” I muttered, and throwing Danny’s arm over my shoulder to make sure I didn’t lose him, took us home.
I carried him to the bedroom and laid him on the bed. His body was cold and he was shivering. Cold perspiration formed on his brow. His clothes were sticking to his body and they felt damp. I had to strip him off and get him under the covers, where it would be warmer.
I know immortals don’t get sick, I told myself, but it seems like the right thing to do.
Danny didn’t stop shivering. In fact it got worse. I had no way of creating more blankets from thin air so what was I to do? I went into his room — the room he hardly spent any time in anymore — and grabbed the blankets from his bed. He looked so small — so fragile — under the pile of blankets.
I headed to the bathroom and returned with a bowl of warm water and a cloth to clean his face. I mopped his brow forever, or so it seemed, while he shivered and thrashed around wildly in a state of delirium. He talked in a language I couldn’t understand, calling the name Amy over and over again.
I didn’t like seeing Danny like this, even though it made a nice change that I was looking after him instead of the other way around. Is this how he feels — helpless — when something happens to me?
After an eternity, when the worst of his fevered ranting was over, I put aside the cloth and — is that the fifteenth or sixteenth? — bowl of warm water. I rested my arms and head on the side of the bed, near Danny’s shoulder, trying to stay awake.
“Helena,” a voice called. I thought I was dreaming. “Helena.”
A hand shook my shoulder and I realised Danny was awake.
“Hey, there,” I said. “You had me pretty worried for a while. I haven’t the foggiest idea how to look after a spent angel.”
“You must be rubbing off on me,” he replied, “overextending myself like that. It was reckless and foolish. I apologise.”
“For what, caring? You wanted to know how the fight was going. You were concerned for your fellow angels, though after what they’ve done to us — to you — I don’t understand why,” I grumbled.
“You make us sound heartless. Most of us, well, we just follow orders.”
“Even if you think they’re wrong?”
“More so then. We have to have faith that our superiors act in the best interests of all.”
“Blind faith? Are you kidding me? Surely you know in your heart if an order is right or wrong?”
“I have never had cause to question my superior’s judgement. Now, if I were under the command of another, that may be different.”
I sighed. His devotion to Michael had not wavered. However, it was encouraging that he admitted that he might question the actions and motives of the other archangels.
“Did you find out what you needed to know?” I asked. “Was it worth it?”
“Perhaps with your recollection of the events I will have a more complete picture.”
“You’re still weak,” I replied. “I’ll tell you what I saw later, when you’re better. You can have my memories as well.”
Danny propped himself up on three pillows. It was a bit of a struggle. He was still weak, and the blankets weighed him down.
“Where did you get these?” he asked, fingering the top layer of blankets.
“From your room. You were so cold and wouldn’t stop shivering. It was the only other room that had blankets. I did what I had to.”
He nodded. “And I thank you for that, but I would appreciate it if you didn’t go into that room again. It’s no longer used.”
That was true. Most of Danny’s time in bed was spent in my room now, and even that was mainly limited to moments of intimacy. He didn’t waste time resting or sleeping. He was an efficient biological machine that required little, if any, ongoing maintenance.
“Tell me what you saw,” he said, the topic of the blankets and his bedroom all but forgotten.
“After you pointed out the wolves a strange thing happened, though I admit I’m getting used to the weird and unusual now. It shouldn’t have been such a surprise.”
I thought back to how I’d let my eyes lose focus, waiting for Danny to say he was ready to leave. How I’d suddenly found myself watching four different battles at the same time. At first I’d likened it to picture-in-picture, but looking back at it, that assessment wasn’t correct. It was more like four television screens linked together, with each on a different channel.
“I let my focus drift and found I could watch four different areas, all within my field of vision, separately, and know exactly what was happening in each. I should have tried stretching it — expanding the field —to see if I could increase the range.”
Danny scratched his head and sighed. A clear sign he didn’t understand. “I’m not following you.”
“How else can I explain it?” I looked around the room for some inspiration and looking through the window, watching the rising sun touch the tops of the trees, I found it. “Look at the window. See how it contains four smaller panes?” Danny nodded. “Pretend that in the top left pane you can see the city, in the top right pane you can see the forest, in the bottom left pane you can see the ocean and in the bottom right pane you can see, oh I don’t know, Mount Etna for argument’s sake. I’m exaggerating a bit here, I know. It’s just to give you a better idea of how it works. All very different scenes, but you can still see them in the one larger window. Does that make sense?”
“Yes, it does. Like standing between two open doorways and being able to see what’s in each room. That’s what you mean, isn’t it?”
“Very much so, but in this case my doorways were up to a kilometre apart.”
“Tell me what you saw, starting with the top left window.”
“To the south of the corridor, where the trees are denser. There were lots of fires blazing. Mostly angel fire that missed its mark I think. I did see a group of eight vampires huddled together, like footballers when they’re discussing strategy. Although
it seemed to me they were huddled over something and not discussing a plan of attack or retreat. About a hundred metres to the left of that group, three vampires had captured an angel — it had to be an angel, they had no reason to kill one of their own — and another was feeding off it. Drake must have a number of suicide vampires ready to die for the greater glory. I certainly wouldn’t volunteer!”
“The angel they were killing, do you remember what he looked like?”
“I remember what each and every one — angel, vampire and werewolf — looked like, but I’m hopeless at describing them. You’ll need to wait until you can look into my head for that.”
“What about the next window?”
It seemed the window analogy was going to stick.
“Some of the thickest and most vicious fighting was taking place there, in what used to be the centre of the corridor, at the border. Probably a dozen trees had been blasted to ash. It was still smouldering when the wolves came rushing from behind. They can be very quiet when they want to, can’t they? They had surprise on their side, and with so many other scents in the air a number of angels didn’t realise there was a threat until it was too late. At least four angels fell to fifteen wolves.
“The vampires started closing ranks, knowing the wolves had joined the foray, and the angels — there were about twenty of them — didn’t have anywhere to go. When one vamp was consumed by angel fire two more stepped up to take its place. Eventually the numbers were too overwhelming. There were a hell of a lot of suicide vamps, either placing themselves in front of the angels to be consumed by angel fire, or killing them. Between the wolves, now numbering thirty-six, and the suicide vamps, it was only a matter of time before the angels were overpowered, unless reinforcements arrived. I brought us home before the outcome was decided.”
Danny looked upset at the news. “And the other two windows?”
“One showed a large number of vampires retreating. I think they were headed towards their underground base. I imagine it was a party escorting and protecting the clan heads.
“The final window was a smaller battle, but it was the most interesting from a strategic point of view. The vamps there were very smart — ducking, dodging, diving and weaving in and out of the trees. When they had two angels in their sights, just as the angels were about to release their angel fire, they leapt into the trees and the angels destroyed each other. There were six vampires working like this and between them they managed to destroy fourteen angels without any casualties to their own numbers. The other angels wised up after a while, and when they decided to work together, rather than as lone hunters, the vamps had already disappeared.”
“I haven’t seen them use that tactic for a few thousand years,” Danny mused out loud. “Seems they’re recycling old tricks in the hope the angels will have forgotten or won’t realise what they’re doing until it’s too late.”
“Seems to me it worked,” I replied.
“The angels will need to be on their guard. Vampires can be very cunning, and over the aeons they have had many tactics that were successful for a time.”
“What did you see?” I asked. “What was it you were looking for?”
“I wanted to know which armies had been sent. I recognised many of the angels that were battling with the vampires and werewolves. They were all from the army of Amrael’s superior. None of the armies of the other archangels have joined him yet.”
I fidgeted with my hair, twirling it around my fingers.
“Something is troubling you,” Danny said.
I shrugged my shoulders and kept silent.
Danny held my hand to stop me from twirling my hair. “Whatever it is, you can tell me.”
“When you were out of it — really delirious — you were speaking in a language I couldn’t understand. Every now and then you said a name.” I stopped, waiting for him to give some indication he might know whose name I was referring to.
“What name?”
I sighed and looked at a spot on the floor. “Amy.”
“Ah,” he said.
When he wouldn’t volunteer any more information, and I was going half crazy with curiosity, fear and jealousy, I blurted out, “Who is she?”
I could see him stiffen slightly, cringing at my question. Was I reopening an old wound that had never quite healed? Did I tread where even angels fear to go? Maybe he was having trouble gathering his thoughts and deciding how to tell me what I wanted to know.
“Amy was a demon I killed a long time ago. I haven’t thought of her in aeons.”
“She must have left quite an impression,” I whispered, “to make you call out her name so often.”
He nodded and said, quite simply, “Yes.”
No matter how hard I pressed Danny he would not discuss Amy further. Eventually I let the matter slide. I had no doubt there would come a time I’d find out, when he was ready to talk about it. Maybe where some things were concerned angels and mortals weren’t too dissimilar.
24. Angels’ Wrath
I looked out of the window. In the distance I could see a cloud of thick black smoke rising up from somewhere within the forest.
“Danny,” I said. “There’s a huge fire.”
We headed outside for a better look. The breeze carried with it the smell of burning flesh, fur and trees.
“A turning point has been reached, I think. We need to take a look.”
He held out his hand and I smacked it away. I folded my arms across my chest and gave him the most serious look I could muster. I didn’t think it was as good as his don’t mess with me face, but it was going to get my message across.
“No,” I said firmly. “You were out of it for three days. Not one day. Not two days. Three. I say you’re not strong enough.”
He held out his hand again.
“I need to know what’s going on. One minute is all I’m asking for.” He let his hand drop. “If you won’t go with me I’ll go alone, and place my life in fate’s hand.”
I rolled my eyes. “Are all angels so pig-headed?”
He laughed and stroked my cheek tenderly. “Actually, I think that’s another trait I’ve picked up from you.”
He had me there. I could be pig-headed. There was no denying that. More often than not my stubbornness got me into trouble.
I waved a finger in front of his face. “Fine. One minute and not a second more. I’ll be counting while I’m watching, don’t doubt that for a moment. If you protest when I say it’s time to leave, I’m going to give you such a hiding you won’t be able to sit down for a week!”
I kind of liked the thought of sparring with Danny and kicking his arse. I’d need to try that one day, seeing as he’d sent away my other sparring partners. It would be more fun with him — fighting against someone who was quick and smart, funny and unpredictable, and… the list went on.
The expression on Danny’s face when he heard my decision was one of a little boy who’d been told Santa Claus was real! It was the best gift in the world.
“Where do you want to go?” I asked.
Danny produced a map and pointed to an area less than a hundred metres away from the corridor, on the border — a small rocky outcrop large enough for no more than three people. The reason he’d chosen it was clear — anyone there would be an easy target for attack, so it was unlikely any of the warring parties would be there.
“You’ll need to do whatever it is you do as soon as I take hold of your hand. There won’t be any second chances if we’re spotted before I can get us out of there.”
I held out my hand this time, and Danny clasped it. The ground we arrived on was uneven and it took us a few seconds to gain our balance. We crouched down, hands still held and I let my focus drift, all the while counting in my head — one thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three…
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and ended up refocusing to concentrate on the area that had captured my attention. A dozen vamps and four wolves chained to trees, b
eing tortured by a number of angels! Was I imagining things? I rubbed my eyes and looked again. No, they were still there… and still being tortured.
The angels were cutting off body parts, driving white-hot pokers into eyes and ears, rubbing what looked like salt into gaping wounds, pulling the chains tighter and tighter to pull limbs from sockets and in a couple of cases castrated them.
Danny was totally focused on what was happening.
“They’re trying to get the enemy to tell them where we are. They still think we’re in league with them, and that they’re protecting us.”
“I can hear them for myself, Danny,” I reminded him.
I felt his hand slackening and tightened my grip. Another twenty-five seconds, no more.
“Some of the others are here now,” he said.
“What others?” I asked.
“The armies of Phanuel, Sariel and Raguel. This is not good news.”
I heard a buzzing in the air, similar to the noise powerlines sometimes make.
“They’re about to broadcast a message. We need to wait.”
He squeezed my hand tighter, trying to reassure me that he was okay, that he could hold out. Danny’s saying the archangels’ names out loud seemed to act as some sort of cue for them, like they knew we’d be watching, or not far away.
“This is a message for the traitor, the abomination, and those who would harbour them. Your time has come. If they do not surrender or are not offered up for surrender within the hour this place will be burned to the ground and all will be destroyed. No mercy will be shown.”
The buzzing stopped, the broadcast ended. I returned us to the cottage and Danny lay on the couch, exhausted by his ordeal, though in truth we were gone for less than a minute. He was shivering again. Admittedly it wasn’t as bad as the last time, and he remained conscious. I headed to the bedroom and returned with a blanket, which I draped over him. He held the blanket open and encouraged me to lie on the couch with him.
“Your body will keep me warmer than the blanket,” he said weakly.
I lay next to him with my arms wrapped around him and the blanket covering both of us.
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