Angel Warriors

by Stephani Hecht

  He left the room and made his way down the hallway, stumbling several times because some asshole had made the floor wobbly. He started to make his way to the bar on stopped dead when he saw that his brother Mael was sitting on one of the stools, nursing a very macho soda. Cam groaned to himself. He had forgotten that Mael had insisted on coming with him tonight.

  Mael was the third oldest Lehor brother but he was by far the biggest and meanest looking. Not that either of the attributes had helped him a lick tonight. He had pulled the short stick and was put on Cam duty. Cam didn’t feel one bit sorry for him. He wouldn’t be here at if it weren’t for all the brothers meddling. They had decided that Cam would be taking a babysitter with him whenever he went to the bars at night. So for the last week, Cam had to put up with one of them tailing him wherever he went. The last thing Cam needed was for his archangel brother to see him in this condition. He leaned against the wall, trying hard to ignore the fact that there was some sticky substance on it, and weighed his options. He could go up to the bar and get the blood that he desperately needed, but then Mael would know for sure that he was blood drunk. The last thing he needed was to give his brothers more ammunition against him. So he decided to go with plan B, hide in the shadows and hope that Mael got sick of waiting and left.

  Since he had nothing better to do with his time, Cam slowly took in the bar. What a freaking dive. The tables all had rough wooden tops that looked like they had never seen a wet cloth while the filthy floors were covered in dirt, grim and god knows what else. The entire joint reeked of demon and garbage.

  Several demons were sitting around the bar talking in their freaky demon talk. About a dozen rogue angels were there as well, each of them casting nervous glances in Mael’s direction. There were a handful of archangels as well. They were the lowest of the low among their ranks. Most other archangels would never trust them enough to turn their backs on any one of them. They were treacherous leeches, every single one of them, and his brothers knew that he was mingling with them on a daily basis. No wonder they are looking at me like I’m some loser. I’ve hit rock bottom, hard and fast.

  Mael jumped and almost grabbed his sword when a small succubus came up from behind and playfully tugged at his long ponytail. Cam recognized her immediately, she was Lilith’s sister. She gave Mael a wide smile showing off her fangs.

  “Mind if I take a seat?” She nodded to the stool next to him.

  Mael gave an indifferent hug. “Just promise you won’t bite.”

  Her laughter was soft and light. “I’ll be a good, little demoness. I just figured since we’re both waiting for our siblings to finish humping like bunnies we might as well keep each other company.”

  “Please, don’t hold back, tell me what you really think,” he said sarcastically.

  “If you want, pretty foo-foo, then you’ll have to find one of your female angels.” The bartender set a glass of angel’s blood in front of her.

  Cam felt a little guilty about eavesdropping on his brother’s conversation, but not enough to show himself. He noticed that Mael was giving the succubus a disgusted glare as she gulped down the angel’s blood.

  “Don’t look at me like that,” the dark haired female said to him. “I didn’t ask for this any more than your brother did. I was only twelve when my parents took me to Hell.”

  “I’m sorry.” Mael shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and he got an uneasy look on his face. “How much longer do you think they’ll be?”

  “Who knows?” The female rolled her cat eyes. “The last time I checked, he was with, not only my sister, but two other females.

  Cam wasn’t about to give himself away by correcting her. He had been with three females, but Lillith hadn’t been one of them. In fact, he hadn’t seen her since she left the back room earlier. Now where had that little demon taken off to?

  Mael choked on his Coke. “You guys take turns with him?”

  Cam smirked to himself. See I’m not you’re dorky baby brother anymore. He turned his attention back to the bar, anxious to see what other secrets the succubus was going to spill.

  “Your brother, Cam, is very popular.” She drew out the word “very” for effect. “Not only does he do amazing things with his hands but his blood is unlike any other’s.”

  “What do you mean?” Mael asked sharply. “Not the hands thing, that was T.M.I., but what’s so different about his blood?”

  “It is so full of life and energy that it makes you high.” She sighed wistfully. “It’s like the Red Bull of angel blood.”

  “Sorry, sweetheart,” he said blandly. “But Cammie’s going home as soon as he comes out.”

  “Well seeing how your brother is already taken, I guess I’ll have to settle for you.” She got up and tugged on his hand.

  Yes, go with the nice little succubus, Cam thought to himself. That way I can get my damn blood and get back to my fun orgy.

  When Mael shook his head, refusing, Cam almost growled in frustration. “Thanks, but no thanks.” He snapped as he jerked his hand away.

  Her eyes flashed with anger. “Well aren’t you so high and mighty. We’ll see how arrogant you are when your brother is back where he belongs.”

  She spun around and tried to walk away. Mael reached out and snagged one of her wings and dragged her back to him. He twisted the wing in his hand trying to make her more cooperative with pain. That plan backfired when she gave him a seductive smile.

  “Oh, pain. Pain is good, archangel. It turns me on. Just ask your little brother.”

  He pulled out a dagger and spun it in his hand before he slammed it through her wing and pinned it into the wood table. She let out a demon cry of pain. Several patrons looked their way before turning away. It was best to mind one’s own business at neutral bars. He grabbed her wrist and twisted her body awkwardly until she faced him.

  “What are you talking about when you say that Cam will be back where he belongs?”

  “Lilith wants to take him back to Hell with her.” She panted from the pain. “The other day while Cam was screwing her, he made the mistake of calling her the wrong name.

  “Who’s Lilith?”

  “That’s my sister’s name.” She bared her fangs at him in anger. “Us filthy whores do have names you know.”

  “So is she jealous over another succubus? Did he make a mistake and forget what demon slut he was with.”

  “No worse, he called her by an angel name. Does the name Amadeaha mean anything to you?“Cam cringed. He had hoped that Lilith hadn’t heard him when he made that little slip. It seemed that she had caught it, and it had pissed her off.

  “What does your sister have planned?” Mael continued to grill the demoness. When she hesitated in answering him, he twisted the dagger in her wing.

  “She’s set up a trap for him, and she’s going to take him home with her tonight.” She yelped out. “She’s going to drain his blood so he’ll be too weak to fight back.”

  “She’s going to be able to drink that much of his blood?”

  “No, she has the other succubi back there right now to help her. She knows that your brother has no qualms about taking more than one of us at a time.” She gave him a malicious smile. “You see, your brother is no better than us. He’s a whore just like me. That’s why he has a pair of fangs and eyes like a succubus. He’s one of us and that just kills you doesn’t it, archangel?“Cam recognized the dangerous glint in Mael’s eyes. The demon saw it too, but too late. He took the dagger out of Lilith’s sister’s wing and buried it deep in her chest. She screamed right before she flashed back to Hell. Cam smiled at his brother’s actions. Mael really was one bad ass. The bartender, Mangus, walked up to Mael.

  “I heard what she said,” the demon rumbled. “I’ve already had some of my staff go lock the back door so they can’t sneak him out that way.”

  “Thank you, you know for a demon, you’re not half bad.”

  “Yeah, well for archangels you and your brother are not half bad. Just don
’t let anyone know that I’m a big softie.”

  Cam curled his lip. He didn’t need their help. He could handle anything those damn demons threw his way. He would show them that too. Pushing himself from the dirty wall, he sent out a mental fuck you, to a group of demons sitting at a nearby table. Then he headed for the door, even though walking was becoming even more difficult for him and the room was spinning even more.

  Cam thought hid his condition well. He marched down the center of the bar, with his long, black leather trench coat flaring behind him, acting like he could rip apart anything that came in his way. The entire time he was saying the same chant that all drunks say in their heads when they’re are trying to hide their condition, Maintain, maintain, maintain.

  Cam stopped once he was outside and waited for the demons to join him. They did not disappoint. Soon they came spilling out of the bar and formed a tight circle around them. Cam was only slightly annoyed to see that Mael was following them. Maybe once his brother saw that he could fight on his own, he would leave him alone.

  Cam looked at the demons before curling his lip at them. “Good work boys. I didn’t think you would have the guts to fight me.”

  Moving so fast that nobody could see him Cam flipped over the closest demon until he was behind it. The demon tried to scamper away, its glowing red eyes wide with fear, but the archangel kept it firmly in his grasp. Cam ripped into the demon’s throat and drank deeply from the demon before he finally let it slide to the ground. As soon as the monster hit the street, it vanished back to Hell.

  The other four demons started to shake with fear. However, they were not ready to retreat yet. One pulled out a gun and shot Cam square in the chest. The angel staggered back a few steps before he straightened up and gave the shooter a disgusted look.

  “You just shot me,” Cam stated the obvious. “With a bullet dipped in demon’s blood. Hey guess what dumb ass? It’s not going to work. I’ve drank about ten gallons of the stuff already tonight.”

  Cam tried hard to ignore the fact that his words were coming out slurred now. He knew that the gunshot had done some damage because he could feel the warm blood from the wound soaking into his shirt. He swayed on his feet before shaking his head slightly to clear away the fog. Mael shot him a worried look so Cam shot him the bird in retaliation and giggled. Since when do I freaking giggle?

  Mael swung his longsword sideways at the shooter. The demon’s head came cleanly off its body and rolled on the ground. Cam glanced down and smiled at it before he looked up in alarm.

  “Quick, Dael muck down,” Cam yelled out as he raised his hand.

  Mael quickly translated his brother’s muddled language and hit the dirt. Cam released a ball of fire hitting the demon that had been about ready to strike Mael with its sword. The demon was blasted across the street before it slammed into a building. The remaining two demons finally had the good sense to flash themselves out of there. Cam looked over at the bar just in time to see Lilith walk back inside, her eyes flashing with anger. Her little plan hadn’t gone so well after all. So the bitch was trying to set me up. How rude.

  As soon as they were alone, Cam sank to his knees laughing hysterically. He couldn’t help it, the dumfounded look on his brother’s face was suddenly the funniest thing he had ever seen. You’re not maintaining very well. Mael went over and grabbed him by the collar hauling him to his feet. Cam tried to stand up, but found out that his legs weren’t working very well anymore.

  “Are you drunk?” Mael asked, disgusted.

  “Blood drunk,” Cam slurred out. “No alkie haulie for angels. Lucky for me, demon’s blood is better than whiskey if I get enough of it.”

  “Dumb ass,” Mael muttered, his mind was racing so fast that he was sending out the thoughts to Cam without meaning too. Great, now I’m stuck figuring out what to do with my injured, idiot, drunk brother.

  I can’t very well take him back into the bar. While most of the demons tend to leave him alone out of fear, with him being injured it would be a whole different ballgame. Even with Douma and Forcas destroyed, there still was a huge bounty on Cam’s head.

  Taking him back to the house was out of the question too. Ana was there and if there is one thing that I fear, it wasn’t evil demons, it’s the wrath of Ana. I can’t even try to sneak Cam back into the house now that Ana was a physic.

  Finally, Mael spotted an empty car. He dragged Cam over there and touched the lock opening it up. Once he opened the door, he threw Cam in none too gently. Cam thunked his head on the way in and there was no mistaking the satisfied grin on Mael’s face when he mumbled, “Ouch.” Mael got into the passenger side and looked over at Cam. “You’ve really got to stop pulling this shit. It’s time to end this pity party.”

  “Sorry I just lost control tonight,” Cam curled up into a ball and pretended to sleep.

  Mael jerked him up roughly. “That’s bull, and we both know it. While you were occupied with the enemy, I had a little talk with the bartender. He told me that you’re in there almost every night and that the routine is always the same.”

  “Fine, so what? It’s the only way I can sleep at night. Every time I close my freaking eyes everything comes back in a flash.” Cam started to do that babbling thing that drunks do. “I see the ones that we left behind in Hell. I should have figured out a way to get them out. Crap, Nathaniel’s mate is down there, and I bit her. I took my own brother’s female, threw her down on the ground, and fed off of her. What kind of monster does that make me? I barely stopped myself before I really hurt her.”

  “You were able to control yourself in the end,” Mael reminded him.

  “Sure, now I just buy blood every night that probably came from either her or some other poor angel that’s is in chains,” Cam slurred his words even worse. “I’m no idiot. They have to get that blood from someplace. I can try to fool myself all I want, but there are no willing donors giving out blood anymore than there are cows giving up burger patties.”

  “Speaking of blood, you need some, Cam. Not only do we have to dilute all the demon’s blood you sucked down, we have to replace all the fluids that you gave to those demons whores.” Mael pulled up the sleeve on his shirt and put his wrist by Cam’s mouth. The younger archangel weakly pushed it away.

  “No thanks,” he could only talk in a whisper; he was getting so weak. “It skeeves me out when I have to drink from family.”

  Mael pulled out one of his daggers and made a deep slash into his own wrist. Cam still tried to fight him at first, but the smell of the blood was too enticing. Cam grabbed his arm and as soon as he started to drink, things went black for a moment.

  When Cam came too, his mind was less muddled. He noticed that Mael was holding his injured arm to his chest and that there was too much damn blood coming from it.

  “Let me see you arm,” he commanded.

  Mael shook his head. “It’s okay.”

  “Let me see it, now.”

  Mael sighed and showed him and Cam let out a curse. There were several deep bite marks surrounding the original cut. Cam hated himself at that moment. He had attacked his own brother. Mael gave him a half smile.

  “It’s no big deal.”

  Cam grabbed a scarf that was in the backseat and wrapped it around his brother’s injury. “It is a big deal. I almost gnawed your arm off.”

  “Please, even with fangs your puny ass couldn’t take me on.” They both laughed softly at his joke.

  “You want to know a secret?” Cam asked, his voice clearing up. “Even though we destroyed Douma and Forcas their super demon is still coming for us.”

  “Why would you say that?

  “It’s been calling to me.” Cam shuddered. “Not just at night either. It comes during the day too. It wants me to completely turn and join up with it. It says that if I don’t, it will not only destroy me but you guys too.”

  “Are you sure it’s for real?”

  “Oh yeah.” Cam nodded his head. “I can feel the evil from it. It’s
unlike anything I’ve ever felt, and I met some real gems when I was in Hell. Don’t worry though. I told It to piss off. I’m not going to turn. Not only do I have you guys to think about but I took vows, and I would never break them.”

  “I know that, little brother. We all do.” Mael put his hand on Cam’s shoulder.

  “What the hell?” Cam was looking over at the bar.

  Mael followed his gaze. “Is that Michael?”

  “It sure is.” Cam slipped off his sunglasses so he could see better. He had found out that his new demon eyes gave him great night vision. “What the hell is the chief doing with an illegal arms dealer? A demon one at that?”

  “Oops. Oh crap. Duck, Abdiel!” Ramiel shouted.

  Abdiel brought his head down just in time for the football to sail overhead and into Nathaniel’s hands.

  “Sorry.” Ramiel’s smile begged to differ. “I didn’t expect you guys to poof in right in the middle of us.”

  “Why are you all crashing here? Don’t you have homes of your own?’ Abdiel asked with an aggravated tone that he really didn’t feel. During the week that he and Gabi had been gone he had actually started to miss everybody.

  “Surprise,” Rachael yelled from the kitchen. “Ana’s called a family meeting. Consider it your welcome home party.”

  Abdiel had to laugh. Even though she was right and it was just family, the entire house was full to capacity. A few months ago he had been alone in the world and now he had more brothers and sisters than he knew what to do with. Not that he was complaining.

  “Hey Barakiel,” Gabi called. “You changed your hair back.”

  The young angel looked up and smiled at her. “Yeah, my new archangel Uriel likes it better this way.”

  Gabi went and sat across from him at the table. “I’ve known Uriel for years. Is he being good to you? Because if he’s not, I’ll have a talk with him.”

  “No, he’s really cool. In fact, he didn’t even order me to change my hair. He just asked nicely. It’s my healer that’s driving me batty.”

  Cam gave a snide chuckle at that one. Barakiel rolled his eyes at his brother. Now that the youngest Lehor was blond again Abdiel was taken aback by how much he looked like Cam. Well, Cam, before he got a new pair of choppers and about fifty pounds of lean muscle mass.