Wars & Wings

by Kristin D. Van Risseghem

  “Hmm. Let me think and confer with the Council to see if they know of any angel who has enhanced Mutatio abilities.” He writes a few notes onto a pad of paper. “Tell me more about what Zoe said.”

  “She said that she’s being held in some magical room. She figured out how to conjure—”

  Kieran’s always had faith in me. More than I’ve had in myself these past few days.

  “She did? That’s great. It takes a lot of training to do that.”

  “Yes, but that’s about all. Her training started a couple of weeks before she was kidnapped. Granted, she’s progressing fast; it’s not enough. We need to be warrior ready, and she’s not there yet.”

  “She’ll be ready.”

  Michael’s faith in me warms my heart.

  “How? If we can’t find her to train?”

  “Has she noticed anything about time in the room?”

  “Shay said that time was moving differently. What seemed like a day for her was really ten days.”

  “Sounds like a vocivus room.”

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s like a locked box, in this case a place, that some Angels can create to store items to keep safe or from prying eyes. It’s in a special place in the Void. Commonly, there are three Levels, but there is a fourth. Only the one who creates the vocivus room knows where it is and how to enter. There might be ways to track them because like all things, they leave a signature. It’s a matter of finding that signature and homing in on it. We should team up with Bellator Software Services and see if they can write code to find a specific Light from a specific angel.” Michael waves his hand over the sheet of paper, and more writing appears as a list of items to do. “We’ll need a sample, so one of you will have to get inside Aiden’s house and take some items. Be careful because if he is the one who has kidnapped Zoe, his home may be warded.”

  “So, we’re assuming that Aiden is an angel until we find something to say otherwise?”

  “Yes. What about Aiden’s sister?”

  “What about her?”

  Yeah, what about her? She’s a normal human. Or is she? What was their story? Oh, yeah, she took a job at the Mayo Clinic as a nurse. Is that a sham, too?

  “We need to find out about her, and if she’s an angel or something else.”

  “I’ll get the Reperio Team on it.”

  “One last thing.” Kieran stands. “The Council has not agreed to my request to see them. I was planning to go them after this, but ...”

  “I’ll replay everything you’ve told me, and if I get any solid information about Mutatio, vocivus rooms, or anything else that may interest you, I’ll let you know via Pascar.”

  “Thank you.” He turns to leave.

  Michael shakes his head as he adds to his list of tasks.

  Chapter Nine

  Aiden

  SUNDAY, ONE DAY AFTER prom.

  “YOU’RE DOING WELL, Quinn,” I say as I step down into her basement. “Your parents let me in. You’re training is coming along nicely.” I pat her shoulder.

  Quinn still doesn’t have any idea who she is. I haven’t broken that news to her, yet. She does know that she’s different now, though. Most of her training has come easy for her, as it should be. As a Nephilim, she’ll have enhanced human traits: speed, hearing, and most of all, she’ll be able to battle against the Archangels.

  “Thanks, Aiden. You’ve been an excellent teacher.” She beams.

  “Did you have fun at prom last night?”

  “Oh, yeah. Caden and I didn’t have any problems. We were ahead of the mass pile up in the parking lot. I sure hope that Zoe is found, though. It worries me that she’s been kidnapped. In a small town like this where everyone knows everyone’s business, it’s devastating.” Quinn takes a swig of water. “I had no idea what had happened until I saw it on the news this morning. We were talking to Vash and Cali about maybe going to grab a late-night snack after the dance.”

  “I hope Zoe’s found and is okay, too.”

  Quinn is easy to manipulate since she’s so new at being a Nephilim. She hasn’t come into her full, enhanced senses yet. Her change was only completed a few weeks ago. It landed her in the hospital since her parents didn’t know what was wrong.

  The doctors had kept her a week at the Mayo Clinic, running test after test, but unable to diagnose her with anything. Of course, they wouldn’t find anything. There’s nothing wrong with her, medically speaking.

  On my first day of high school again, when I had strutted into PolySci class and noticed the petite blond girl, who stood barely above five feet tall, I knew. Her body gave off a slight glow. It surprised me that the guardian angel hadn’t noticed her. Maybe he did, but he wasn’t hovering about. His focus remained on Zoe. Always her.

  Finders keepers.

  Quinn and I sat together at lunch, and that was the start of our beautiful friendship. I even obtained approval from Zoe. But first, I had to win over Caden and get him to break up with her. Yes, I could have stolen Quinn from right under his nose. I didn’t need that complication. There are other ways to get what I needed from her.

  MONDAY, TWO DAYS AFTER prom.

  I POP BACK INTO THE earth’s realm and set out to find Quinn. With my senses now honed on her, I find she’s at cheer practice. Her teammates are doing a new routine; one I haven’t seen performed yet.

  Yes, I’m one of those attentive boyfriends. Experience has brought me the knowledge that females like that sort of thing. Leaning against a bleacher, I wait for her to be done.

  The basketball team has ended their practice as many of the players shuffle by me, heading to the lockers.

  “Hey, man.” Someone taps me on the shoulder. I turn and find Caden standing next to me. “You waiting for Quinn?” he asks.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m glad that I could still take her to prom, even though you guys are together now. We had fun, just as friends. We’ve known each other all our lives. So we’re cool, right?”

  “Yeah, man. We’re cool.” I nod.

  “Good.” He claps me on the back and saunters away.

  Caden’s a decent kid. He was good to Quinn, but now that he’s out of the picture, I’m able to spend what free time I have to shape and mold her into a weapon I can control. Between my time spying on Zoe, finding out what her guardians are doing, plus running Hell, and preparing for my father’s release, I’m stretched thin.

  I need Quinn to take some of the responsibilities off my plate. But the execution of this plan needs to be precise and cannot be rushed.

  “Hey, babe,” Quinn says as she saddles up to me and plants a kiss on my cheek. “You been waiting long?”

  “No, not at all.”

  “What did Caden want?”

  “Nothing important.”

  “I’m glad he’s okay with you and me dating. I couldn’t bear to back out on my obligation to go to prom with him. And I’m glad that you were okay with it, too. We both had dates to the dance before you and I got together. I think it says a lot about who we are that we don’t back out on our words.”

  I wrap my arm around her waist and shepherd her out the gymnasium’s door, steering her toward the locker room. “I’ll wait out here for you while you change.”

  “Okay. I’ll be quick.” She brushes another kiss against my lips.

  Fifteen minutes goes by and Quinn emerges, hair still damp and in a fresh change of clothes. “What’s the plan for tonight?” she asks.

  “It’s a surprise.”

  “Oh, I love surprises.”

  “I know you do, and this is big.”

  I debated how I was going to secure Quinn’s trust. I can’t very well tell her what I am. She’d run for the hills, and all my hard work in influencing her would be for nothing. And I need her to execute my plan.

  She is the perfect warrior and ruse.

  We’ve been dating for over a month, and I know she’s under my spell. The situation is delicate, and she’ll be able to break it if i
t’s not done correctly. She never received a Heaven’s Mark on her wrist, so maybe I did get her in time.

  I open the door for her as she folds into the Spyder. My car is red, fast, and daring. Just like me. Heavy metal blasts from the custom stereo, and she bops her head to the beat. The limited edition GT cruises along the streets of St. Joseph and speeds onto the freeway, heading for a remote field on the outskirts of the city’s limit.

  We travel hand-in-hand into the newly planted rows of early summer corn. Tiny stalks shoot a couple of inches into the air. Birds begin to quiet down for the night as the bugs come out to play.

  “What are we doing out here?” Quinn asks.

  “Babe, I have to tell you something.” I squeeze her hand. “You know I care for you, right?”

  “Of course, I do. I feel the same way about you. We haven’t known each other very long, but I feel a connection between us.”

  I see excitement in her eyes. She thinks I’m going to ask something big. It’s way too early for a marriage proposal. Silly human. Maybe she thinks that I’m going to ask her to be exclusive with me. I guess that’s a possibility. Oh, hells. Does she think I’m going to tell her that I love her?

  “Remember when I came to visit you at the Mayo and said that you were special?” I ask.

  “Yes?”

  Dusk is upon us. The sky is colored with reds turning to blues and purples. A full moon is rising on the horizon. Stars have yet to make an appearance.

  “It’s more than the common saying,” I continue. “You are more than special. You’re a...” I can’t bring myself to say it. My eyes scan hers. They aren’t afraid, but there is a hint of reservation on her part. She doesn’t know where I’m going with this. “You’re like me.”

  “What do you mean, like you?”

  “I have enhanced abilities. Haven’t you wondered why you are suddenly stronger at cheerleading ever since you were sick? Your body isn’t sore anymore after practice, and your energy level never seems to run out.”

  “Yeah, I kinda have noticed that, but I just thought it’s because I’m fit. I’ve been on the cheer squad since middle school.”

  “It’s more than that. Your sight is now twenty-five, right?”

  “How did you know that?”

  “It’s because mine is, too.” I don’t need to let her know that mine are even better than that.

  “What are we?” Her pupils widen. “It’s something bad, isn’t it? I just know it. My body is telling me I’m not normal.”

  “Maybe you should sit for this.”

  “No, just rip the Band-Aid off and tell me.”

  I hesitate. “You’re a Nephilim.”

  “I’m a what now?” She leans in like she didn’t hear me. “Say again? Because I thought you said that I’m a Nephilim.”

  “I did. Do you know what that is?”

  “A half-angel and half-human. I read YA fantasy books. I know what they are.”

  Surprisingly, she’s taking this better than I expected. I thought she was going to be hysterical, and I was going to explain the whole Nephilim thing to her. Maybe she’s in shock.

  “It’s going to be okay,” I assure her. “I’m here and will help you through it. I’m a lot further along than you, and I know exactly what you’re going through. You won’t be alone in this. We’re in it together.”

  Chapter Ten

  Shay

  PROM NIGHT, THREE HOURS after Zoe has disappeared.

  I LEAVE KIERAN’S HOUSE with absolutely no destination in mind. All I know is that I need to get out and do something. I’m sure it’s Aiden who has Zoe locked up some place unique. He’s a first-class demon A-hole, and if he lays a finger on her, I’m going to end his existence.

  I’ll get my revenge on the torture he handed to me, but even more so for everything he’s doing to Zoe.

  Heaving my duffle bag into the trunk, I slam it shut, patting the hood as my way of apologizing to Angel, my car. I reopen the trunk to take inventory under the secret compartment. Inspiration had hit me after Zoe made me watch a few episodes of Supernatural. The two main characters drive a 1967 Chevy Impala, where the trunk’s floor opens to reveal a whole battery of weapons they need to kill demons. Hammers, spikes, spears, and shotguns line the space.

  Right now, I feel a bit like them. The brothers in the show at least have each other.

  I close the trunk and sit in the driver’s seat. Stomping my foot on the peddle, I peel out of the driveway. Google Maps launches on my cell. My finger presses the screen and it zooms outward. Now, I can see the Midwest region. Nothing speaks to me. I expand until the whole United States comes on the monitor. My breathing slows, and I briefly close my eyes. I shouldn’t be searching on my phone and driving when I’m in this crazed state of mind.

  I slow her down and park. The clock says it’s after one in the morning. Hardly any cars are around in the small town of St. Joseph.

  Taking a better look at the map, I start scrutinizing cities on the west coast: Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, and Los Angeles. I glance out my window, mulling things over in my mind. I return to the map: San Diego, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Salt Lake City.

  Las Vegas, Sin City.

  That’s it. It’s the stomping grounds for the Knights. They flocked back there in the sixties when all the mafia bosses arrived. Gambling, drugs, and a whole ton of money made people do bad things. The Knights blended in so well. It’s how the city got its nickname.

  I can patrol the town until someone tells me something about where Zoe is being held. Taking the car out of park, I head for Las Vegas. If I drive the rest of the night, I’ll be there in about twenty-four hours from now.

  Time to get the heck out of here. At least now I have a plan. Maybe I should text Kieran where I’m going. Naw. He’s meeting with Michael and the Council. Vash? I might need him if a couple of Marqs decides to gang up on me.

  Using voice on command, I ask the phone to create a text to the alpha.

  Me: U up for a road trip?

  I turn the car onto I-94 and head toward the Twin Cities. Party songs blare from the speakers from the Bose stereo. My thoughts go to the passenger seat when Zoe had sat there on our first date. That seemed like forever ago. My fisted hands smash against the steering wheel. The radio dims, letting me know that there is an incoming text on my phone.

  Vash: Where and when?

  Me: Now. In route to your house. Going to LV

  Vash: That wise?

  Me: Yes, I’ll explain more in 20

  Vash: Fine. Kieran?

  Me: No. Angel biz

  Fifteen minutes later, I wind my way down a street that leads to a dead end and stops in front of a massive wrought iron gate. To the left is a guard shack, but it’s dark. Rolling down my window, I pull up to the speaker box and say my name. The gate opens. I continue down the road along the expansive property, following a street lined by gnarly, old oak trees and hills. Off in the distance, I could make out a lake, and every so often a house appears. When the last bend comes into view, the trees part, and there, before my eyes, sits a three-story mansion. Five white pillars line the front of the house, reminding me of the southern plantations in Georgia or the Carolinas. I pull next to a booth by the front door.

  I’d never been to his house before, but Zoe had been, and she told me all about it.

  Glimpsing the time, I feel bad for disturbing Vash’s house so late. He could have told me no. I step up and ring the doorbell and wait. Lights flicker on and off, and I hear footsteps approach. The door swings open, and a tired-looking Vash appears.

  “Sorry, man,” I say. “Were you asleep when I texted?”

  “Yes, but don’t worry about it,” Vash replies. “Come on it. I’m still packing a few things.” He leads me into the foyer.

  Two grand staircases curve up the sides to the second and third floor. In the center of the marbled hall stands the largest water fountain I’ve ever laid eyes on that’s inside someone’s home. My eyes take it all in.


  “I know,” Vash continues. “It’s a bit over the top. But it came in handy a few years ago when tornadoes ripped through the land and decimated most of the other pack houses on the property. Most of the members moved in here. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Need to toss more items into a bag, wake my brother to tell him that he’s in charge while I’m gone, and kiss Cali bye.”

  “Sure. Take your time.”

  “I won’t take long.” Vash turns and starts climbing the staircase, but stops. “Oh, and why don’t we take a plane? It’ll take two hours instead of twenty-four. I know you’re anxious to get a move on.”

  “I’ve loaded my car with weapons—”

  “Don’t worry about security. We’ll take the company jet. I’ll call ahead and have them restock the belly with everything. Plus, whatever’s in your trunk, we’ll add when we get to the hanger.”

  I watch Vash’s retreating form as it disappears on the third floor. He has his own jet. Two hours is better than twenty-four. The sooner we get to Vegas, the faster we’ll have a lead on Zoe’s whereabouts.

  I don’t ask about why Vash is doing this with me. I don’t ask about his good-bye with his mate. I definitely don’t ask about Jackson’s leadership qualities. The ten-minute drive is not even broken with music.

  We arrive at Flying Cloud airfield, and I see the jet already making its way onto the tarmac. No lights are on in the main building, but there are people milling around the hangers.

  “Drive up to the security gate that leads onto the runway,” Vash directs. “We can unload our bags and weapons directly onto the plane.”

  In front of us is a steal gate with an I.D. box. I roll down the window, ready for the code that Vash provides. The gate swings wide, and I proceed to the awaiting jet. The cargo bay has been lowered. We step out of my car. I march up the ramp, so I can inspect what’s already been loaded. Vash has managed to fill the belly with every weapon that’s legal to carry and some that are not. It’s impressive.