by Kim Faulks
“Come on,” he screamed, as he held the body of the archangel around the chest with one arm and wrenched the chains with his other hand.
The night hag circled as movement came from behind me.
“Unseelie,” Alma growled.
The glint of something caught my eye as it sailed through the air. I lunged forward and grasped the handle of the blade.
Heat raced tearing agony along my arm as my palm connected with the thick leather binding on the blade’s hilt.
But it was still a weapon…still more deadly than anything else in the unseelie world.
And as that shadow behind me raced for the open cell door, I turned and charged, colliding with the infernal piece of shit. There was no time for fighting, not that Absolon could swing a damn sword.
No, his words were his weapons…and he had many twisted, soulless puppets to dance for him. I gripped the cruel sonofabitch by the throat, lifted him until his feet danced above the floor, and then swung him around, to slam his spine against my chest.
There was a pathetic cry, half fear, half surprise, as I lifted the iron blade to his throat.
“Kill them!” Absolon screamed into the dark. “Kill them all!”
“One fucking step,” I snarled. “One fucking step and I’ll carve him until no one will recognize him.”
Movement stilled in the cell. The night hag screeched, sending the piercing sound bouncing against the walls. Blood red eyes blazed as the bodoach stepped forward.
I wanted to see him then…wanted to see what became of a savage barbarian. The thing stumbled forward on skinny legs, its head almost touched the ceiling, shoulders curled, hands outstretched, twigs for fingers.
Jay wanted power…he wanted fame. He wanted to live forever in a world where everyone knew his name.
And so he did…dragged through the veil, this unseelie world looked into his heart and found no goodness. And so it made him a creature…one forever bound by the one man who seduced him—a man who demanded more than any mortal was willing to give.
He demanded eternity…until the bodoach’s final death.
“I will kill him,” I promised.
Pain lashed my hand. Even a hint of the iron underneath the thick leather strapping was enough to unleash the kind of agony that drove a man to his knees.
“He’s bluffing,” Absolon growled.
I wrenched the blade closer, the tip hovering close to his eye. Just one tiny brush, one whisper of iron against his perfect unseelie skin.
A cry tore free, tortured and foul. The Prince jerked in my arms, hissed and whimpered, before I yanked the blade away. “One fucking move,” I warned.
Chains snapped taut, until, with a guttural cry from Rival, the metal screamed, twisting and tearing.
A snap and one chain ripped from the wall. Gabriel slumped into the hellhound’s arms and his knees buckled.
“I’ve got you, buddy,” the hellhound growled. “I’ve got you.”
“Redemption?” Lorn murmured…
My neck cracked as I swung my gaze toward her. But she stared into nothing…and whispered again, “Redemption.”
“She’s been calling you for a while, warrior,” Absolon sneered, and then gave a chuckle. “It’s a wonder you haven’t heard her screaming your name. They always say you see the one you both hate and love the most when your mind is broken by the night hag. I wonder, which one is it for her…love, or hate?”
I brought the blade closer. My heart hammering, mind screaming, begging me to do what was right. End it now. End it right here and this can all be over.
No more running.
No more hiding.
“Redemption?” Lorn whimpered my name. “Redemption, I need you.”
My hand trembled. In my mind, I was clenching the hilt and slicing…driving it through his neck.
But a war would be unleashed…one unlike anything I’d ever seen. The Queen would come out of hiding for retribution.
And if it was just my head she’d take, that would be fine.
“Redemption,” Lorn murmured.
Alma hushed and muttered, brushing her hair from her face and then tested the chains. “Lorn, I need you to listen to me…there’s things you don’t know…things you need to know.”
The old woman’s words slipped away, buried under one simple thought.
The Queen wouldn’t just come for me. I glanced around the cell. She’d come for them all, and there was nothing I could do that would stop that.
“He’s finally thinking,” Absolon sneered. “Look at that, a beast with a brain.”
The chains around Gabriel’s feet cracked and the archangel gave a whimper.
“I got you, buddy,” Rival growled.
Gabriel lifted his head and stared into the dark. “Help her…help Lorn.”
I could do nothing but hold the bastard captive as Rival eased the archangel to the floor and then rushed to Lorn’s side.
“It’s okay,” he growled. “I’m here now.”
“Rival,” Lorn cried out and raised her head from the floor.
The hellhound gave a tortured growl and reached for the steel shackles around her wrists. “I’ve got you, baby. I’m right here.”
“Your pants,” she croaked “I like them.”
“Jesus...” he snarled. “You really are in a bad way, aren’t you?”
He yanked the chains, and then changed his grip, heaving until the soft silver light glistened against the muscles of his back.
He yanked again, and then again, driving his feet into the cell floor before the chains finally snapped and gave way.
The hellhound’s cry was savage as his feet slipped. The chains fell from his grasp before he reached for her. “Lorn,” he whimpered. “God’s sake, Lorn.”
My heart ripped from my chest to crawl inside my mouth as he leaned in and kissed her.
“Well…well…well,” Absolon sniggered. “What do we have here?”
“Shut it,” I growled, and tightened my hold. “Not one fucking word.”
“W-we need to go,” Alma whispered.
“I can walk,” Lorn spoke, and stared into Rival’s eyes. “Help Gabriel. I can do it.”
Rival eased backwards and then rose.
I shoved forward. “I know a faster way out of here.”
“They’ll never let you through,” Absolon growled. “They’ll kill you before you reach the veil.”
“I’ll take that chance.” I took a step, dragging the Prince backwards as I made for the cell door.
Rival rushed to the broken angel, gripping him under the shoulders. “This is gonna hurt me, buddy, way more than it’s gonna hurt you.”
Gabriel lifted his head, blue eyes sparkling as Rival heaved, dragging the archangel to his feet before he crouched and heaved Gabriel over his shoulders.
The tips of broken wings slid from his body to drag along the floor.
“Tell anyone I did this,” Rival grunted, and shifted the weight. “and I’ll be the fucking laughing stock of Hell…for all eternity.”
There was a grunt of laughter, and then a whimper, as Gabriel’s hoarse words filled the air. “I’d cross my heart, but my fingers don’t seem to be working.”
“That’s because they’re all broken, buddy,” Rival answered. “But we’re gonna fix that…yeah, we’re gonna fix that right up. So you just hold on, and let me do the work.”
Darkness shifted as the bodoach stepped close. Alma clawed for a hold, dragging Lorn up from the floor. My heart stuttered as Lorn fell to her knees.
Her shirt was torn open, breasts exposed, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to save her.
Drop my hand with the knife, and the Prince was gone.
Loosen my hold around his throat, and the same thing.
“I’m good,” Lorn murmured, not once clutching her shirt tight. She lifted her head, dark eyes glinting like an eclipse. “I’m good, just get us out of here.”
She pushed up from the floor, then stumbled, unti
l Alma reached for her arm and slid it around her shoulders.
“Alma,” Lorn murmured.
“I’m here, kid,” the old woman snarled.
There was a bite to her words, a cold, bitter bite, and I knew it was all a front. She was the tower of strength. She was the eye of the storm, and everyone and everything revolved around her—even me. I glanced at her body as her jacket gaped. Her pale shirt was darkened, soaked all the way through.
Alma lifted her head, and that hard gaze cut me where I stood. “Get moving, Redemption.”
I took a shuddering breath and wrenched the Prince with me. Rival pushed ahead, stepping through the cell door first, followed by Lorn and Alma.
“You’ll never get away with this,” Absolon growled and stumbled as I moved. “Even if you get through the veil, they’ll hunt you down like the dog you are.”
My steps stuttered as the rest of them moved, spearing their way along the tunnel in the dark.
“I’ll take that chance,” I answered and moved faster. “Door to the left. It’s a slip-way.”
There was a creak of hinges and then a grunt as Rival heaved the archangel through the door.
Red eyes followed as the bodoach and the night hag closed in.
Memories stabbed me, blinding me one after the other until I clenched my grip around the Prince’s throat, dragging a moan from his lips.
The assault eased then, just before I stepped through the doorway and Lorn shoved the door closed.
“I’ll go first,” I growled. “There’ll be guards.”
I dragged the bastard with me as Alma shuffled to the other side of the room and reached for the door.
“Ready,” I muttered, and stepped through as she yanked the handle and the door swung wide.
All heads turned toward us…even in the dark, I stopped counting at thirty as the unseelie guards glared at me, dark eyes glinting with hate, and took a step.
“Careful,” I murmured as their gazes shifted to their Prince in my grasp. “Don’t want me to accidentally trip and hurt the Prince now, do we?”
White teeth shone in the dark as one by one they snarled. The others moved in behind me. I took a step, turning to guide the way. “Through that door, that’ll lead us to the veil.”
“Will it be at the same place, the cannery?” Rival turned toward me in the dark.
I gave the only answer I could. “I don’t know, but I guess we’re about to find out.”
Alma stumbled to her knees halfway across the room, and this time the old woman didn’t get up.
“Alma?” Lorn stopped and turned. “What is it?”
The old woman shook her head. “Nothing…get going, it’s nothing.” But the tremble in her voice spoke the truth.
“Stop.” Lorn lurched toward her and dropped to her knees. She searched the old woman’s face, her body, pulling aside her jacket and froze. “Jesus…Jesus…”
“It’s noth—” Alma swayed and fell forward, face smashing into the floor.
“Alma…Alma!” Lorn screamed, and gently slapped the old woman’s cheek.
But there was no raising her…no snarl slipped from her lips as the old woman gave one gentle hiss and stilled.
“Alma…Alma…Alma!” Lorn gripped her jacket and yanked, wrenching the old woman’s head from the floor to cradle it against her thigh.
“We have to go,” grunted Rival. “Lorn, we have to go.”
Tears glistened on Lorn's cheeks in the dark. It was the second time in my life I'd ever seen her cry...but there was no time for sorrow, only pain, as she gave a nod and then shoved to her feet.
She could barely stand herself, but she gripped the old woman under her arms and heaved. Alma's boots skidded against the cold, stony floor, her body limp and quiet now, as Lorn hauled her across her shoulders.
She’s more like her grandmother than she'd ever admit, but I saw it now. I saw it like a blinding light. If we made it through this, Lorn would be okay.
She'd be okay because she had family...and purpose.
Glaring yellow pants slipped through the doorway before Lorn staggered under the weight and followed. They moved in close behind us as I stepped through the door and shoved it closed before I turned.
And we were back at the same place as before, standing on the edge of a field with the towering unseelie forest in the background.
I glanced at the door as it closed…no handle… no lock. No way to get back through.
“I’m going through,” Rival snarled and took a step into the swirling silver mist.
Lorn followed, slipping away as, out of the corner of my eye, the bodoach and the night hag came for me…
I don’t love you, Lorn…I never have.
Leave. I don’t want to see you ever again…
The memories made me stumble.
Claws came for my eyes. Red eyes followed. I wrenched my hand up to protect my face and the Prince gave a roar and lunged free, but they were still coming, as I stumbled toward the swirling mist.
And with a savage howl of rage, the bodoach charged, shoulders down…I was hit hard and stumbled backwards, right through the veil and into the mortal world.
Red bathed my world, red and black and orange as I hit the ground and rolled. But the beast was on top of me, stabbing with spindly fingers.
They cut like a knife, puncturing flesh, before a hand reached down, grasped the bodoach by the neck, and hauled him free.
I sucked in a breath, slapping my hands against my belly. My fingers came away wet…but it was Lorn I turned to…Lorn I needed to see as I glanced around the derelict warehouse, and froze.
Lucifer was ablaze, burning like an inferno as he gripped the bodoach by the throat and turned his head. “Lorn, are you okay, daughter?”
She knelt on the ground, arms wrapped around her dead grandmother’s body. A shudder coursed through her body before she lifted her gaze. There was a hunger under her tears. The kind of savagery you never wanted to see in the woman you loved.
But I understood her…she was the daughter of the Lord of Hell. “Kill him,” she snarled. “Make him pay,”
There was a nod as the Dark Lord turned back to the unseelie beast, and smiled.
A chill swept through me at the sight. I understood now…understood all too well why he should be feared…as Lucifer unleashed a wave of power that shook the walls and floor. His power swept through me like a forest fire should.
But there was no pain…there was no agony. Flames filled the room around him, dancing over those he loved…and those, like me, he owed gratitude.
“You killed the only woman I ever loved and tried to take away my daughter.”
The bodoach dropped to the floor at Lucifer’s feet.
Flesh replaced the crusted stick-like skin as Lucifer’s power turned the beast back into the man.
Lorn gasped at the sight and uttered his name. “Jay.” She punched the floor and drove her body to stand.
And the beast turned man howled with agony as he writhed on the ground.
“You left behind your boot marks in my mother’s back when you beat her…you left behind the marks from your fists. You stole from me…stole my mother…stole my brother or sister.”
She was so much like her father, in that moment it was hard to tell them apart. Bricks tumbled from the warehouse walls. Outside sirens screamed…not one…or two…but tens…so many their wails melted into one.
I knew this was only the tip of their power…only a restrained version of what Lorn could become. And the thought terrified me.
She lashed out with her boot, driving it into the bodoach’s stomach, again…and again. “You took my future…my father’s future…my mother’s future.”
She stopped and turned her head until she stared at the crumbled body on the floor. “And now you take again.”
“Enough?” Lucifer murmured, but it wasn’t to the cowering piece of shit on the floor.
“Yes, get rid of him. I don’t want to ever see his face again.�
�
“Your wish is my command,” Lucifer murmured, and lifted a hand.
Flames broke out on the bodoach’s face. Fear gripped me as Alma’s words tore free…without the bodoach, we have nothing…it’s your word against his.
Fear swept through me at the same time as fire swallowed the beast. His arms flailed, screams turned to gurgling whimpers and then silence.
There was barely a fight, barely anything at all as the inferno blazed, leaving nothing but the stench of burning flesh and black soot behind.
“We needed him.” Fear turned to panic. My words were razors through my chest as I stared at the remnants of the man. “I was going to turn him against Absolon and take him to the Queen.”
“She’d never have believed you, even if you could have gotten him to talk,” Lucifer answered.
I shook my head. “You don’t know that.”
“Oh, but I do. No parent will take the word of a liar over their child. Not until they’re forced to acknowledge the truth.”
“And how the hell do we do that?” I growled, clutching my stomach as I stumbled forward.
“How the hell, indeed,” the Lord of Hell whispered, and held out his hand for Lorn.
“Now let’s get you to the hospital daughter. This time, there’s no leaving your side.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Lorn
The monitors beeped in unison. I trembled and clutched the cup of coffee, sipping cold remnants over the edge. In my mind, I was in the journal, staring at the bruised body of my mom. But in reality, I stood between two rooms…
Through the glass windows, Titus lay there silent, with a tube shoved down his throat. Drug-induced coma they told me. To protect his brain from smoke inhalation. I closed my eyes and felt my world sway as the savage cries from the room next door filled the hallway.
Gabriel refused to be away from Titus…no matter how much pain he was in. Blinding flashes of light tore free, followed by the screams of the doctor and the nurse.
“We’re trying to help you!” The male doctor shouted. “Just let us take a look!”
The brilliance from the room sparked and dulled…as Gabriel frantically fought. “Don’t touch them. Please, don’t touch them.”