by Missy Jane
She walked out of the room.
…
Watching Elle step into Mike’s arms for the journey to Zerach’s house was one of the most painful experiences of Cam’s life. His brother had merely blinked at her request then agreed to carry her. Cam had almost insisted on driving if she didn’t want to fly in his arms. But in the end, there was no argument, because time was of the essence. He remained by Mike’s side all the way, glancing at Elle every few minutes. She kept her eyes shut tight and her arms stiffly around Mike’s shoulders.
As soon as they landed in Zerach’s backyard Mike released Elle, and she took a quick step away. A spurt of satisfaction filled Cam at how uncomfortable they both looked, but such petty feelings were beneath him. Still…she could have let him carry her.
Mike said, “They’re expecting us.” He opened the back door and ushered Elle in.
Cam followed, the sensation of strong wards slithering against his skin. He shut and locked the door behind him, but the wards would prove better than metal locks at keeping demons out. Both of his brothers and their wives were in the kitchen, the scent of freshly baked cookies scenting the air.
“Hey, girly. What’s shakin’?” Asta said as she approached Elle with open arms.
They hugged, and Cam was glad to see a smile on Elle’s face.
“Hey. Looks like I’m hanging out here for a while.”
Isadora approached with her arms open, too. “Wonderful. We could use more women in the house.”
Both Zerach and Rafe groaned, eliciting laughs from the women.
“This does not mean you get to take over the TV tonight,” Rafe said. “There’s a game on.”
Asta rolled her eyes. “As if you really care. We all know you’d rather watch cartoons than sports.”
Cam laughed and hugged each of his brothers. “All quiet here?”
“Yes,” Zerach said. “We’ve been taking turns patrolling the perimeter. But so far, yes. It’s been quiet.”
“The calm before the storm?” Rafe asked.
Cam frowned at him then glanced at the women. They were deep in conversation and not paying any attention to the men. Still, he motioned with his chin for his brothers to follow him into the living room. Three of them lounged on the large sectional while Mike stood at one end with his arms crossed.
Mike looked between Zerach and Rafe. “We’ve found one more mass grave. So far, all of the bodies have been badly burned, almost as if the cremation process had started and then stopped halfway. Each body looks exactly the same, leading us to believe it is specific for the sacrifices to open the portals.”
“So what stopped them from opening completely?” Zerach asked.
“We’re still not absolutely certain. Though we’ve found hundreds of bodies, it might not have been enough. So far, the number of those living who may have also been marked for sacrifice sits at forty-eight. All of them are pure like Isadora and Eleanor. And all of them were in some way touched by the demon Armoros during their childhood.”
Cam fought the urge to go back to Elle and keep her in his arms where she would be safe.
Mike continued, “This cult is one of a few that haven’t been dispersed yet. Cam and I will fly into the compound as soon as the sun sets. The plan is to read the children and see if any of them can be saved.”
“And the adults?” Zerach asked.
Mike frowned. “We’ll have to read them, too, and pass judgment on the spot. Those that can be wiped and saved will be, but if any of them are murderers they will be taken to the local authorities.”
“You’ll plant the information needed?” Rafe asked.
“Yes. Sel is already working with the women in Van Horn to figure it out.”
“The hardest part will be the teenagers,” Cam added. “Many of them will have divided loyalties between the adults and their own consciences.”
“You’re sure one of us shouldn’t go along to help with that?” asked a feminine voice from the doorway.
They all turned to find Elle watching them with a steaming mug in her hand.
“Absolutely not,” Cam said.
Her face betrayed nothing as she looked to Mike for an answer.
One corner of Mike’s mouth twitched as if he fought a smile. “Though a feminine touch might be needed, Eleanor, I won’t risk your safety.”
“But what if it could mean the difference between life or death for the younger ones? You guys are more than a little intimidating. I might be able to talk one of them down more quickly.”
“We’re not killers by choice, Elle,” Cam replied. “Only in self-defense and only if all other options have been exhausted.”
Zerach motioned her forward with one hand, and she approached the back of the sectional. He took her free hand in his. “We have the power to overrule the human mind to a point. Though we can’t obstruct free will as a rule, if someone’s actions will impede on another’s free will, then we can intervene.”
Her brow wrinkled in thought. “So, if I tried to punch you in the face for no reason, you could stop me with a thought?”
“That’s a very simplistic example, but yes.”
“It would take more than you punching Zerach for us to try to control you though,” Rafe said. “So, feel free.”
He motioned to Zerach’s face with a curled fist, and Elle laughed. “No, thanks.”
Zerach just shook his head.
“In all seriousness,” Mike said, “there’s nothing for you to worry about. This isn’t the first cult we’ve infiltrated, and we’ve never killed an innocent human before. I certainly don’t plan to start now. We will disband this cult, since it’s proven they actually worship Armoros. That will weaken the demon and keep it in its place.”
She nodded, but the smile she flashed was weak and fleeting. Cam watched her walk back into the kitchen, where Isadora was trying to talk Asta into baking a pie.
“Whatever Armoros plans to do with her must be stopped,” Mike said. “Watchers all over the country are holding vigil over their charges who were once under the demon’s control. Individually, it doesn’t seem as if the demon can do much besides scare them. But if every one of the bright ones were sacrificed in the same ceremony, all hell would break loose. Literally.”
Cam’s heart nearly beat out of his chest. “An actual rip in the ether?”
“Yes.”
Rafe rubbed his chin. “I read about it being tried once before in Europe, but their people are much more spread out. The Watchers caught on quickly and it was stopped, but it was two high-level demons there, not one.”
“Armoros is an overachiever,” Zerach said.
Mike nodded. “This seems to have been in the works for some time. I only hope cutting off a few of its resources will weaken its efforts enough to abort its activities.”
“We’ll do what we can,” Rafe said.
“And the Source will help at Its own will,” Zerach replied.
They all bowed their heads for a moment at that proclamation.
Cam stood and clapped his hands together. “The sun is about an hour from setting. I’m going to have a moment with Elle.”
No one said anything until he was walking through the open doorway into the kitchen.
“Elle?” Rafe asked. His brothers laughed quietly.
…
Elle stood in an upstairs guest room looking through a window at the garden below. Zerach had bought this house specifically because Isadora loved the garden. Anytime one of them mentioned the maze, they shared a secret smile. A pang of envy hit Elle as she considered how Zerach looked at Isadora, as if she was his reason for breathing. The love on his face was unmistakable, and he didn’t seem to mind that he’d given up his wings for her. Of course, Elle hadn’t known about the wings before, but when she thought back on their brief encounters she knew it to be true—he had nothing but pure love for Isadora.
Rafe and Asta were much the same. Though they argued regularly, it was always tinged with a playfulness she h
ad never shared with a man. Rafe would do anything for his wife. Why couldn’t Cam see how much happiness could be had with a human woman?
Warmth against her back signaled Cam’s appearance as he wrapped his arms around her waist. She allowed it, though she knew she shouldn’t. He had no clue she had overheard his conversation with Mike and his declaration that he would never fall for her. She was still angry at him, but what if something terrible happened tonight and he was injured? Could angels be injured? Or killed? A shiver raced down her spine at the thought. She’d hate herself if she let him leave with so much anger still between them.
“Cold?” he asked.
“No. Worried.” She turned her head enough to see his face. “Can you be killed?”
He shook his head. “Not while in angelic form. My armor was made by the Source of All Creation. It’s impenetrable by any blade, even my own.”
“What about your head? You don’t wear a helmet. Do you?”
He grinned. “No, but I’m very careful.”
She scowled and tried to pull away from him. “I’m not kidding, Cam.”
He held on tight. “Neither am I. Don’t worry about me. I’ve been alive for thousands of years.”
That only made her feel worse. “I know. But guns weren’t around when you were created.”
“Nothing made of human hands can hurt me, I swear it.”
The conviction in his eyes convinced her, and she relaxed against him. “Good.”
He leaned his chin on her shoulder and hugged her to his chest. “I like that you worry about me, even though you don’t have to.”
“It’s…it’s what friends do,” she said quietly.
He stiffened. “That’s what we are? Friends?”
Annoyance gave an edge to her voice. “Yes, of course. You’re not my boss anymore.”
“But I am your lover.”
She tried to push away again. “Stop.”
After a moment’s hesitation, he finally let go. She paced away from the window and stopped at the edge of the bed. The lace-fringed pillows offended her for some reason, and she wanted to tear every one off the bed. Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to let them fall in front of him.
“Lovers are all we’ll ever be, and that’s not enough. So we aren’t that anymore.” She faced him again. “But we can be friends. We can be friends who care about each other and worry about each other. Right?”
His jaw remained tight, as if he was clenching his teeth, but he nodded once. “Yes. I will always care and worry about you. No matter what.”
She gave a weak smile, which was all she could muster. “Thank you.” Then, because she couldn’t seem to stop herself, she closed the distance and hugged him. “Take care of yourself tonight, okay? I won’t be able to sleep until I know you’re back safely.”
His touch lingered a moment, but he loosened his hold when she dropped her arms. Then he let go and stepped away. “I’ll be careful. You should try to sleep, though, because we probably won’t be back until tomorrow morning.”
“Okay.”
He seemed to hesitate, then leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. “Bye, Eleanor.”
He left the room too fast to see the first of her tears slide down her face.
Chapter Nine
They reached the compound just before nine o’clock under the cover of complete darkness. A new moon hid them from anyone brave enough to stand out in the lonely, open country. Being in the middle of nowhere, the compound didn’t even have an outer wall or surrounding fence. It was nothing more than a collection of rough, shed-type structures and broken-down RVs. A large tent sat in the center, its three white peaks reaching for the sky like the worshippers at their most devout. It was the obvious hub of activity for this group and hopefully where all of them were currently gathered. The angels were sure to find a circus inside, though Cam doubted it would be any fun. He followed Mike from building to building until they had confirmed all stood empty. Their only other option was the tent.
Mike reached out telepathically. The women said everyone gathers there to share meals and worship at least three times a day, but sometimes more if the leaders think it’s needed.
Cam nodded and placed a hand on the side of the tent. Pure evil is radiating from the place. You’d think it stood right over the fissure with this amount of tension in the air.
They both glanced out into the darkness, where their angelic sight picked up the disturbed air currents over the fissure in the ground. No human would see it for what it was: an opening into hell. If this were a populated area, there would be a very real danger someone could fall in on accident. These people hadn’t even put up signs or stuck pickets in the ground. The edge was lined with blood and small, dead animals, most likely sacrifices to the demon Armoros. They had to be stopped now, before anyone decided to sacrifice something larger in the hopes of opening a portal for Armoros to come through. Like a human child.
The angels used their powers to dim their presence so human eyes wouldn’t detect them. Demons within the tent would sense them immediately but have a hard time pinpointing their location.
The main entrance was a large, open flap on one side of the tent, and they strolled inside—into chaos.
Five small children were seated in a circle in the center of the tent, facing each other and holding hands. Their fear hit Cam like a sledgehammer, but he ignored it to take in the rest of the scene. About fifty adults of various ages sat around in groups of two and three. Some were crying, some were cursing, and others were staring off into the distance with drug-addled blank gazes. The teenagers and young adults seemed to be in charge. About thirty thirteen- to twenty-year-olds walked around with weapons in their hands. A few had handguns, and one had a sawed-off shotgun, while the others held knives and large sticks and walked through the huddled bodies, yelling, kicking, and cursing at them.
The woman in charge stood on a small raised platform that was no more than a few wooden pallets stacked on top of each other. She watched the proceedings with a slight grin on her young face—a mid-level demon. As she suddenly started searching the room, her grin melted into a frown. She had felt them enter but couldn’t see them.
Mike led the way. Nathaniel is on his way to get the children. Search their memories to seek out their parents, and if they’re here, guide them out of the tent. I’m going for the demon.
Cam didn’t bother replying as he thought his armor and sword into existence and Mike did the same. They remained invisible and stepped between the children and the demon. Nathaniel alerted them to his presence a second before he boldly strode through the flap, fully visible but dressed as a human.
A belligerent teenage voice called out, “Who the fuck are you?”
Nathaniel smirked at the young man, who was trying to bump chests with the angel, and shoved him out of his way. He didn’t even break stride as he approached the group of children. He squatted down to speak to them quietly, as the teenage boy’s friends helped him to his feet and readied their weapons.
Nathaniel smiled at the children. “All together now. Yes?”
“Yes, sir,” they said in unison.
Nathaniel used the force of his presence to clear a path out of the tent. Anyone trying to stop them encountered an invisible wall forcing them back as the children ran through. Mike and Cam dropped their invisibility, and Mike charged the demon while Cam turned to the adults. There was no need to scan for the parents. A few had jumped up as soon as their children ran out of the tent.
Cam grabbed the nearest man and shoved him toward the opening. “Go to your children and keep them away from the pit!”
He scanned the mind of each adult who ran for the entrance to verify they were the parents and had good intentions toward their children. A lone woman stopped and looked back at the teenagers who were bullying the other adults to one side of the tent.
“Ryan!” she called out. “Come!”
A boy of maybe sixteen stopped poking a man with his
bat and looked at her. Fear shone from his eyes, but he shook his head and turned away from her. She took another step toward him, but he hit the man’s shoulder hard with the bat.
“No!” she cried. She reached out her hands as if she could physically stop him from such a distance.
Cam grabbed her arm. “We’ll try to stop him. Go to your younger child.”
Wide eyes blinked up at him a second before she nodded and ran out the door.
The demon was prepared for battle, pulling a sword from beneath the cape it wore over its long, white dress. It fought against Mike with sure moves but was no match for the angel’s strength and centuries of experience.
Cam raised his hands and stepped toward the humans, noting seven different guns pointing directly at him. A couple of the youngest ones seemed unsure, but the oldest stood rock solid in their conviction to keep him from the adults.
A gun was cocked. “That’s far enough, mister. Who the fuck are you, and what do you want?”
Cam scanned the young man. Billy had turned twenty the week before and was the self-appointed leader of this group. They had wrestled control of the cult from the adults about two years before by adding drugs to their food and drink. Now Billy was trying hard to impress the demon woman because he wanted to bed her. Every lie out of the demon’s mouth had fallen on his eager ears like sacraments. He would die for the demon and didn’t give a damn about who they worshipped.
A quick scan of the others proved most of the men had the same mind-set and even one of the women. Ryan and three others were the only doubters, but they were trying hard to be a part of the group.
Cam dropped his hands and allowed them to see him fully, chasing all of the shadows away from his form. His armor gleamed as his white wings unfurled. Half of the group dropped their weapons.
“I am a son of God.” He pointed to the demon Mike continued to fight. “That is the demon in your midst.”
The ones who had dropped their weapons ran for the opening to the tent, including Ryan, which Cam was happy to see. But Billy and his fiercest supporters stood their ground. Billy grabbed a woman at his feet and yanked her to stand beside him. She leaned on him heavily, but his gun at her temple didn’t waver.