The Fallen (Angelic Redemption)

by Angela Horn

  “Why did Ivy leave?” Sophie asked.

  “Short answer is guilt,” Connor said. “Long answer is that she only stayed for Roman. Once he took off looking for Lila, she had no reason to stay with us.”

  “She didn’t believe him about Lila either?”

  “How could she? How could any of us believe Lila was alive? Ivy saw the hellhounds destroy you. When we went looking for you, those hellhounds almost killed us too. The only reason they didn’t was that Roman was… Well he was Roman at his best. He was unstoppable until he found Lila’s ring. Once he really knew she was gone, he changed.”

  Connor paused, eyeing Logan. “Roman hunted at first with this incredible zeal. Like he thought vengeance for Lila’s death would make the pain easier. He eventually just withdrew from us and hunting. Ethan was a mess too, but not like Roman who seemed broken. When he started talking about having dreams about Lila being alive and hunting in Tennessee, we didn’t believe him. To be honest, he seemed kinda nuts.”

  “That’s when Roman left?” Sophie said.

  A frowning Logan nodded. “And Ivy left a week later. We hoped she went looking for Roman, but I guess she just needed to find her own way. She was lost without her pack. While she found some connection with Roman and Ethan because they were the mates of her friends, it was never enough. Ivy needed something we couldn’t give her.”

  “It’s good to know she’s alive though,” Connor said. “All these years, I knew Roman was alive. With Ivy on her own though, I wasn’t sure.”

  Logan sighed, glancing back at the house. “A pack is like a mate, I guess. When you belong to one, it’s addictive. I know that without Roman, our pack felt wrong somehow. It’s good to have him back. Lila too, of course.”

  Aiming at the target, Sophie fired. “Lila and Roman make an odd pair. He’s so calm and she’s so not calm.”

  “Yeah, Roman’s freaky calm,” Logan said. “He spent ninety percent of their marriage chasing after Lila who never saw a problem that couldn’t be solved by killing it. Their relationship worked, I guess. Worked a hell of a lot better than Ethan chasing after Anya who always seemed to hate him.”

  Sophie frowned at Logan. The brothers seemed to feel some level of irritation and resentment toward Lila and Anya, maybe even Ivy. Though Sophie didn’t know Anya and Ivy, they were her packmates. It angered her to have them criticized. Maybe Logan sensed this because he felt the need to explain.

  “Anya never liked the idea of mates. She thought they were no more than distractions, so she kinda tortured Ethan. They were not a good couple, but Lila and Roman worked because he understood Lila was a firecracker. She reacted to every problem with so much aggression, he couldn’t interfere or he’d get knocked out of the way.”

  “I don’t know if Lila can stop herself from being that way,” Sophie said a bit defensively while aiming her weapon. “It’s why she’ll be back in battle soon.”

  “Yeah, Roman mentioned something about that,” Logan said, glancing at Connor.

  Noticing their dark gazes, Sophie set down the gun. “What?”

  “Our boy and your girl ain’t getting along.”

  Sophie frowned, her nose crinkling as she considered Logan’s statement.

  “How? They seem the same to me.”

  “Maybe they’re the same as they were a few days ago, but they’re not the same as they were seven years ago.”

  “People change.”

  “We’re not people. Lila might be half dead, but she’s the same hunter I met eight years ago.”

  “So it’s Roman?”

  Connor nodded, glancing at the house nervously.

  “He’s stressed,” Sophie suggested. “Maybe once things settle down, he’ll be the guy you knew?”

  “Yeah, but things never settle down, not with Lila around.” Logan frowned, seeming uncomfortable about continuing, but unwilling to let the topic die. “God gave Lila missions at twice the rate of a normal hunter. Even when Micah was calling the shots, Lila and you girls were always off on secondary missions. It drove Micah and Roman crazy, but Lila eats it up. She’s a perfect weapon, always sharp and deadly.”

  “Besides after the Reaper, it’ll be something else,” Connor added as he watched the house. “We already know we need to get your old pack back together. God wouldn’t be recruiting them now, if He didn’t have something in mind. No, things won’t ever settle down, so Roman’s changes might be permanent.”

  Sophie studied the boys then smiled. “You’re just weirded out because it’s been so long since Roman’s been around. Maybe he’s fine and you’re just seeing things that aren’t there? He seems totally into Lila and she loves him. Maybe you two ought to stop worrying and just give the guy a break?”

  “Maybe,” Connor said with a shrug. “Maybe these years on his own made him change?”

  Smiling, Logan was clearly relieved Roman’s changes might go away. “Yeah, he’ll get back into a groove and we’ll feel like real jerks for complaining.”

  Sophie watched the brothers convince themselves Roman was the same hunter who once led them. They soon left her to work alone while hoping to get in face time with Roman. Finding their puppy dog affection for Roman sweet, Sophie expected to discover a lovefest upon returning to the house. She was wrong.

  Lila and Roman sat far from each other in the large family room with the brothers and Gus nearby. At first glance, Sophie assumed someone had died. Gus reassured her everything was fine, but he didn’t give much of a smile to cement that lie though.

  Sitting on the couch next to a grumpy Lila, Sophie tried to figure out why everyone was so miserable. The only one with any excuse was Lila whose pale skin and glassy eyes gave her a sickly appearance.

  “Have you talked to Karen yet?” Sophie asked Roman when no one spoke.

  Watching Lila, Roman shook his head. “What do you know about her, Gus?”

  “She showed up here a week ago and said her pack was taken out by some rogue hunter. I didn’t know it was this Reaper until Sophie told me.”

  “Where was her pack located when he attacked?”

  “Texas.”

  Lila glanced at Sophie then stood up. “Let’s go talk to Karen.”

  “Alone?” Roman said, frowning.

  Lila glared at him. Maybe for too long because all of the males lowered their gazes.

  “Come on, Sophie.”

  “Maybe you should take one of the brothers with you?” Roman suggested. “Just in case.”

  Ignoring him, Lila pulled Sophie down a hall towards the room where Karen had hidden herself for the past week. After passing a dozen doors in the huge house, Sophie tugged Lila to a stop.

  “What’s happening? I swear no one ever tells me anything.”

  Lila sighed, shoving her hair away from her eyes. “Roman’s in love with his dead wife. Unfortunately for him, I’m not dead. He’s just having trouble coming to terms with that. Can we go now?”

  “I know he loves you. I saw him when you died.”

  “Oh, yeah, he can’t love me enough when I’m dead. Once I’m alive, he needs his space.”

  For a moment, Sophie thought Lila might cry. Instead she yanked at her hair again, forever trying to keep the unruly mess out of her increasingly moist eyes.

  “Roman doesn’t have to love me. None of this is about him. God gave us this mission and we’re getting info from Karen whether she’s feeling helpful or not.”

  “I tried to get her to talk, but she doesn’t really say anything. She just talks around the answers. I know she’s lying.”

  “What did you tell her about the Reaper?”

  “Only that we’re going to kill him.”

  “Nothing about the vision or what Sawyer said?”

  “Nothing.”

  Lila nodded then gave Sophie a little smile.

  “If this Karen gives us any trouble, I’ll hold her down and you can knock her around until she spills the beans. Sound like a plan?”

  “You know it, boss.�
��

  “Boss?” Lila grumbled.

  “Logan said I used to call you that.”

  Considering this concept, Lila shrugged. “Boss works for me.”

  As Lila reached for the doorknob again, Sophie stopped her.

  “Are you ready to get rough? No offense, but you look pretty chewed up and spit out.”

  “Hey, I’m running at like fifty percent, but that’s more than enough to do damage to a coward who leaves her pack to die.”

  Sophie nodded, unwilling to argue with Lila who clearly wanted to hit someone at that point. Knocking on Karen’s door, the women only waited a few seconds before the coward answered with her eyes wide and mouth shut tight.

  “It’s time for you to tell us about the Reaper,” Lila said.

  “Okay,” Karen whispered. “What do you want to know?”

  “Start at the beginning,” Lila said, sitting in a chair and crossing her arms tightly.

  Karen stared out of the window and began to tell her story.

  “I had joined up with the pack in Arkansas and we were tracking a group of villains into Texas. It wasn’t clear what the villains were up to, but there was a large group of them and that usually means trouble. We had just set up shop in a small house in a pretty dingy part of Houston when the Reaper attacked. Our leader, Roy, wasn’t a newbie or slow to draw, but he was no match for the Reaper. This rogue was like nothing I’ve ever seen. He just tore through the house like a madman.”

  “What were you doing while this guy killed your pack?” Sophie asked when Lila said nothing.

  “I tried to fight him off, but it was like the bullets glided around him, never touching him. When it looked hopeless, Roy told me to make a run for it. He wanted me to warn other hunters about the Reaper.”

  Lila remained silent, her gaze unfocused as if her mind was elsewhere. When Lila didn’t speak up, Sophie moved closer to Karen.

  “What’s this Reaper like?”

  “I told you, he’s unstoppable.”

  “No, describe his appearance. That way, we’ll know what to look for when we hunt him down.”

  Staring outside, Karen shook her head. “You can’t stop him. He’s working with the devil. He’s too powerful to be stopped now.”

  “Is he tall?”

  “What?”

  “You did see him, right? Was he tall? Was he white, black, brown? Details, Karen, that’s all I’m asking for.”

  “What does it matter? You won’t find him. If he finds you, it’ll be too late.”

  “This is ridiculous,” Sophie said, glancing at Lila. “She’s lying. Villains probably attacked and she got scared and ran for it. She’s using the Reaper to hide her cowardice.”

  “I’m not lying,” Karen whined.

  “You’re a gutless liar, that’s what you are. If you ran to warn other hunters, then why didn’t you tell Gus about the Reaper when you got here? Why wait until I brought up the Reaper first?”

  “I was scared.”

  “No, I think you know him. I actually think you’re protecting him.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  Sophie glanced at a seemingly indifferent Lila before turning back to Karen.

  “Maybe he’s your mate? Maybe that’s the setup? You get in good with a pack and let him in, so he can slaughter everyone.”

  “I’m not rogue.”

  Sophie moved closer to Karen who looked ready to run.

  “You’re either a coward or a rogue. I can’t see how it’s not one of the two.”

  “Look, it’s like I told you. Joaquin went crazy. He tore through the hunters. We couldn’t stop him. I couldn’t stop him. I got scared. Yeah, I ran, but I wanted to warn others. Then I realized if anyone went looking for him, they’d end up dead too. I didn’t know what to do.”

  “Hey, Karen,” Lila said suddenly, “at what point did this lunatic who showed up unannounced at your safe house decide to share his name with you?”

  Karen ran her hands through her hair and fidgeted a moment, again looking ready to run. Sophie almost hoped the coward made a move for the door. Karen instead went the honest route.

  “Okay, I knew him and that’s how I know he went crazy. He lost his family and went nuts and he started killing hunters. He tried to kill me back then, but I ran. I’ve kept running because I knew if he found me, he’d kill me. I moved around a lot, trying to stay ahead of him, to keep off his radar. He didn’t just want to kill me though. Joaquin wants to destroy all hunters. He hates what we are, but mostly he hates God.”

  “Tell us how you met him,” Sophie said.

  Karen nodded, staring out of the window. “God sent me to Mexico three years ago to help get Joaquin, his wife, and their adopted kid back into the US. Joaquin had a demon gunning for him. As if demons and villains weren’t bad enough, a drug cartel was chasing them too. I tried to get them out of Mexico, but we had too many obstacles against us. Joaquin and Heidi were new to hunting too.

  “The villains ambushed us, killing Heidi and the kid. Joaquin exploded with rage and came after me. Instead of blaming the demon or the villains, he just wanted to punish God. He started hunting our kind. With every kill, he’s gotten stronger. I really don’t think anyone can stop him now.”

  Lila glanced at Sophie. “God says we can.”

  “You said he attacked last in Texas. Do you think he followed you here?”

  “No,” Karen said, shaking her head wildly. “I know Roy fought him off for long enough to give me a head start. I was pretty sure I got away clean, but now I’m totally sure. If Joaquin knew I was here, if he knew we were all here in one place, he’d attack. He’d make his move and we’d all be dead now.”

  Lila smiled at Sophie who knew her leader had an idea.

  “This Reaper uses his ability to sense other hunters to track and kill them, right? As I see it, if he’s somewhere in Texas and we show up, especially with Roman’s vibes, it’ll be only a matter of time before the Reaper catches our scent.”

  “That’s your plan?” Karen said in disbelief. “To just sit around until he finds and kills you? Leave me out then.”

  “Like you’d be much help anyway,” Lila muttered.

  “No, wait,” Sophie said, grabbing Lila’s hand. “Joaquin has it out for her. If he’s really good, he won’t mess up. If he wants her bad enough, he’ll walk into a trap though. We should use her as bait.”

  “No way am I going.”

  Sophie eyed Karen, her temper boiling at the hunter’s cowardice.

  “You can come willingly or I can conk you on the head and tie you up. Either way you’re coming, but why make it so adversarial so soon?”

  Lila grinned at Sophie. “You’re right. She doesn’t have to be conscious to be bait for the Reaper.”

  “No, wait,” Karen cried out when Sophie moved towards her.

  “Shut up, Karen,” Sophie yelled. “What other choice do you have, but to help us finish this? You can keep running, but eventually he’ll catch you. This way at least you have a chance to live.”

  Turning towards the window, Karen considered her options.

  “Fine. I’ll help you kill Joaquin.”

  Sophie looked at Lila. “I was hoping we would get to smack her around.”

  Grinning, Lila pulled Sophie from the room, leaving Karen to sulk. They headed to the family room where the men waited. Lila entered and made an announcement.

  “We’re leaving for Texas tomorrow. Anyone wanting to come along ought to be ready to leave at sunrise,” Lila said, walking through the room without pausing on her way to the kitchen.

  “Tomorrow?” Logan said, turning to Roman. “I don’t think we’ll be ready by tomorrow.”

  Roman stood up to follow Lila into the kitchen, but she turned and glared at him.

  “I’m leaving tomorrow with Karen and Sophie. If you boys don’t want to come along, then so be it.”

  While the men grumbled in response to her announcement, Lila stuck her head in the refrigerator and pr
etended to look for food. Once they stopped grumbling, the men turned their attentions to Sophie.

  “Tomorrow is too soon,” Connor said.

  Sophie knew they wanted her to be the nice one and rein in the queen of mean in the kitchen. She somehow doubted this was something she would ever do in her old life and it certainly wasn’t something she would do now.

  “We need to stop the Reaper, so we’re leaving tomorrow,” Sophie said coolly. “I’ll be bummed if you guys can’t come along, but you weren’t even in Lila’s vision. It should be fine.”

  Roman stepped forward, frowning at Sophie even if his mind was clearly on his angry wife in the kitchen.

  “Visions don’t work like that. They’re not clear instructions of what will happen. They’re more like glimpses of info to help you find your way.”

  “Whatever,” Sophie said, frowning back at him. “We’re leaving tomorrow.”

  Pulling her aside, Roman sighed. “You know she isn’t ready.”

  “Maybe, but I’m not going to let you use me to manipulate Lila. If you want her to wait, you need to convince her.”

  Roman stepped back from Sophie. “What did she tell you?”

  “That you don’t want her. That you want your dead wife.”

  Flinching, Roman scowled at Lila in the kitchen. “Do you know how that sounds?”

  Sophie didn’t want to argue with Roman. She wished to forget how Roman suffered days earlier. She wished he and Lila were happy together. She wished everyone would just settle down and get along. Yet Roman was daring her to choose between him and Lila and that wasn’t a difficult choice.

  “You make Lila feel sad and weak. Maybe it would be best if you stayed behind and let us handle the Reaper on our own?”

  Roman’s blue eyes flashed to Lila who fiddled with a bag of licorice. Roman then returned his attention to Sophie.

  “I know you’re loyal to Lila and that’s good, but dividing us into two groups is what your pack did years ago. That didn’t end well.”

  “So what that we died?” Sophie said, her voice louder than she expected. “You always harp on that like it was a huge mistake, but did you ever think that maybe all of it was supposed to happen?”