A Fire in the Heart

by L. J. LaBarthe

  Truly, he was accustomed to it. But being accustomed to it did not always make it easy to bear.

  “What do you need me to do?” Ahijah asked.

  Samael smiled. “Thank you,” he said. “I was visiting with the families of those poor souls who I guided to Heaven after their….” His expression had become grim as he trailed off.

  “The hell on earth they went through in that facility?” Ahijah suggested.

  “Yes. That place…. Ahijah, I have never seen anything like it. It was beyond terrible. I feel that it perhaps even surpassed the tortures in Hell.”

  Ahijah shook his head. He’d heard from Remiel, of course, what it had been like, but hearing such an assessment from Samael was chilling.

  “That doesn’t sound promising,” he said. “How have the families reacted so far?”

  “Mostly with disbelief. Anger. Sorrow. Hurt. As you would expect. They have all asked me to bring their loved ones back to them, alive and whole, but that is not possible, and they do not like that truth.”

  “No, I guess they wouldn’t. Damn.” Ahijah pursed his lips, thinking. “Have you visited all of them yet, or just a few of them?”

  “Only a few. Four families thus far. I am hesitant to visit the family of the little girl called Jessica-Mae. She touched Liam and Declan and the Venatores deeply, and she touched me as well.”

  “Then let’s go and see them first. I’ll come with you, and you let me do the talking.”

  Samael smiled at that. “All right. I will fill you in on the details.”

  “The quick way,” Ahijah said. “Use your power, share the information straight to my brain.”

  Samael nodded. “All right. You may wish to sit, though, it is… disturbing.”

  Ahijah nodded as well. He stepped back and sat down on the couch, and Samael sat beside him.

  “I’m ready,” Ahijah said. “I’ll close my eyes, though. I always feel vertigo when one of you does this.”

  “Of course.” Samael waited, and when Ahijah had closed his eyes and taken a deep breath, he felt the weight of Samael’s hands on him, one on top of his head, the other on his shoulder.

  And then he felt the touch of Samael’s mind, warm and gentle, comforting and strong. Ahijah leaned into Samael’s touch, his own mind reaching eagerly for Samael’s. A moment later, the goodness, the sweetness of that psychic touch was gone, replaced with information, and as Ahijah absorbed it, he gasped, horrified and stricken by turns.

  Samael had been right: this was truly the worst thing he had ever seen.

  When it was done, Ahijah leaned back against the couch and took slow, deep breaths. “Holy hell,” he said, his voice hoarse. “That…. Sammy, that place, what those people did… the suffering!”

  “I know.” Samael’s expression was sad.

  “They have to pay,” Ahijah said.

  “I agree.”

  “Then let’s get to work. I’ll have a drink first, though, if that’s all right.”

  “Of course.” Samael stood up. “Refresh yourself as you need, and then we will visit Jessica-Mae’s family together.”

  Ahijah nodded and got to his feet. He felt a little shaky after the glut of information and horror that had just filled his mind. How could humans do this to other humans? And not just humans, but to demons and shifters and dryads and all the other monsters and animals? It was too awful to contemplate, and Ahijah knew he’d be having nightmares for quite a long time. He decided not to fill in his mother about the details—she’d endured enough in her long life. But he would tell his brother, oh yes. For, between them, Ahijah was sure that he and Hiwa could come up with a suitable punishment for the perpetrators of these crimes beyond what any human court could devise.

  Hiwa would agree with Ahijah that punishment should always fit the crime. Especially a crime such as this, not just against humanity but against all life. As he went into the kitchen to get himself a glass of water, Ahijah pulled his cell phone from the pocket of his jeans and quickly sent a text message to his brother. A few minutes—and glasses of cold, clean water—later, and Ahijah felt much better. Hiwa would come home in a few days, and they would talk. Now, Ahijah felt able to speak to the bereaved families.

  6

  IT WAS just after midnight, and Gabriel was sitting in the comfortable waiting room in Raphael’s clinic, an arm around Michael as Michael lay curled up beside him. Gabriel wasn’t really thinking—his mind touched Heaven and then moved on to touch the rest of creation. He knew Michael’s thoughts were awhirl with worry and guilt, and he knew there was absolutely nothing he could do to alleviate Michael’s distress.

  So he was startled out of his reverie by loud shouts and angels and humans rushing down the corridor, lights coming on, and the raucous noise of cell phones ringing. He sat up straight, using his free hand to smooth back his hair, and as Michael stirred beside him, Gabriel watched, confused, as Raphael dashed into the living room.

  The usually calm and unflappable Raphael was more than well and truly flapped—his eyes were wide, and there was a flush to his dark cheeks. He waved his arms at Gabriel and Michael, even as he palmed on the overhead light and said, “You two need to come, right now.”

  “What’s going on?” Gabriel asked, even as Michael sat up, looking blearily between him and Raphael.

  “Is there trouble?” Michael asked.

  “No, no. Just… come.” Raphael spun on his heel and rushed out.

  Gabriel felt his eyebrows shooting up toward his hairline, but he stood and offered Michael his hand. Michael got to his feet, clutching Gabriel’s hand in his own and bit his lip.

  “I wonder what’s got into him,” Gabriel said. “I ain’t seen him so excited since… fuck. Forever.”

  “Language. And yes, I am curious as well. I hope very much that it is not another tragedy.”

  “He said it wasn’t trouble,” Gabriel said, although that didn’t really rule out all kinds of bad things.

  Michael just sighed, and Gabriel gently squeezed his hand, leading him out of the waiting room and into the corridor. They walked along, following the rush of humans and angels, the nurses who dashed past them, and then they heard music.

  “Israfel?” Gabriel guessed.

  “I imagine so,” Michael said.

  They pushed past the throng of people who had gathered outside of Danny’s room and went in, to join Raphael, Tabbris, Israfel, and Lily. Lily’s eyes were wide, and tears were streaming down her cheeks, but she was smiling, a smile so broad that it seemed to split her pale face. Tabbris was standing, leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, an expression of smug satisfaction on his face, and Israfel was playing, his fingers dancing up and down the fret board of his old acoustic guitar.

  Raphael was looking at monitors, muttering to himself, then looking at Danny, and Gabriel followed his gaze. He gasped as he took in the sight—Danny was not just conscious, he was sitting up in the hospital bed, looking around in confusion.

  “God be praised!” Michael gasped.

  Gabriel nodded. He was speechless.

  “Israfel be praised,” Tabbris drawled. “It was his mojo and music that did this, Archangel Donkey-face.”

  Gabriel could see that Michael was so thrilled at the sight of Danny awake that he didn’t register Tabbris’s insulting name-calling at all. “Israfel,” Michael said, moving to the bed, “you are to be commended.”

  Israfel grinned at him and finished his song with a flourish. “Thanks, Mike! I’m really pleased this worked. I wasn’t sure, but you know, there’s loads of music in existence, so it was just a matter of finding the right songs to reach Danny, and here we are.”

  Danny looked around the room. Then, with what Gabriel thought was the grossest of understatements, he said, “I guess I was unconscious for a bit, huh?”

  “Oh, Danny,” Lily said, and she leapt onto the bed, hugging him tight. He smiled fondly and held her close, rubbing her back with one large hand as she clung to him.


  “This is wonderful,” Raphael said. “And a miracle.” He looked at Israfel, love and admiration evident on his face. “You are amazing, Iss.”

  Israfel gave Raphael one of his bright, sunny smiles. “Thanks, Raph.” He turned and said to Tabbris, “And thanks, Tabbry. You hung out with us.”

  Tabbris waved that off. “I was curious. And then with the Archdemons in and out of here, I was even more curious. Now I’m hungry, so I’m going to go get a burger. Iss, I love your cooking, but I want greasy food with loads of salt and fat and carbohydrates, the kind of food that makes your arteries harden just by looking at them. No lectures, Raph. Later.” With that, he vanished.

  “I confess I am relieved he is gone,” Michael said.

  “He’s my best friend,” Israfel said.

  “I know. Yet he is rude and uncouth and often speaks of unseemly things. His presence is troubling.”

  Israfel pouted, and Gabriel stepped forward, changing the subject before Israfel could say anything. “So, Raph, how’s the vitals look?”

  “Good. Very good. How do you feel, Danny?” Raphael asked.

  Danny gently pulled back from Lily, and she settled against his side, resting her head on his shoulder. She was clearly intending not to move for some time, and Gabriel didn’t blame her.

  “I feel okay. A bit thirsty and a lot hungry, but apart from that, all right.” Danny looked around. “So how long was I out?”

  Raphael took a deep breath. “Nearly a month. It’s been three weeks since you were evacuated from the mountain town of Yaak.”

  Danny’s eyes became as round as saucers. “That long?”

  “Yes.”

  “Holy crap. How’s the pack? I mean, I can see Lil’s okay, and I’m so glad she’s here, but the rest of our pack?”

  “They are all well,” Michael said. “They are embarking on a mission of intelligence gathering in the morning.”

  “I guess it’s too early for me to be able to go with them, huh?” Danny asked.

  “Damn right,” Raphael said. “You’ll be here for another two weeks, young man. I want to make completely sure you’re well and have you spend some time with a physical therapist.”

  Danny sighed. “Okay.”

  “Cheer up,” Israfel said. “I’ll be here, and I can cook. You said you were hungry, right? What would you like to eat?”

  Danny looked at him, an expression of great respect on his face. “You woke me up, Iss. You reached me and got rid of the coma. I know that’s magic and angels do a lot of that, but you’re the one who did this for me. You’ve done so much. ‘Thank you’ seems a poor and inadequate thing to give you, but it’s all I have. So, thank you.”

  Israfel smiled a shy little smile. “Aw, that’s okay. Music’s my gift. I’m just glad you’re awake and okay. And I love to cook, so I’ll cook!”

  Danny laughed. “Okay, if you insist. If it’s okay, I’d love a steak.”

  Israfel looked at Raphael, who nodded. “That’s all right, but eat slowly, young man.”

  Danny nodded. “Yes, boss.”

  “Right, so steak for two Venatores and… mashed potato, too? Gravy?”

  “That sounds awesome,” Danny said.

  “And some salad,” Raphael said. “He needs his greens.”

  “Right, salad too.” Israfel got to his feet. “I’ll go take care of that. Do you want any, Raph? Gabe? Mike?”

  Raphael smiled at him. “I certainly won’t say no to eating one of your meals, dear heart.”

  Gabriel shot Michael a sidelong glance. “I’m going to say not for us, not this time. Mike and I need to take care of a few things, so we’ll pass right now, but we’ll definitely take a rain check, yeah?”

  “Yes, Gabriel is right,” Michael said. “Thank you for the offer, Israfel.”

  “No worries.” Israfel skipped out of the room, closing the door behind him.

  “So I’m really okay?” Danny asked.

  “You are indeed.” Raphael nodded. “We’ll review as we go, but I think that after the next two weeks are up, you should be ready to return to active duty. Lily, you, of course, can return whenever you wish.”

  She shook her head. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said. “Jelly will understand.”

  “Okay.” Raphael dug into the pocket of his lab coat and pulled out his cell phone. “Here. Give her a call. I’m sure she’d be grateful to hear the news.”

  Lily took the phone and nodded. “Thanks, Raph,” she said. Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears. “You’ve been so awesome. Thank you. You, and Iss, Tabbry, Mike, Gabe, Adry, Ondrass, Markus, Lix Tetrax, Melcherisa, and all the staff here… just amazing. I’m so grateful.”

  “Now that Danny is awake, I am certain that everything will be well,” Michael said.

  Gabriel nodded. “Aye, I agree. All right, shall we go take care of business, Mishka?”

  “As you say,” Michael said. “Our private office, if you would be so kind, please.”

  Gabriel knew what Michael meant with that reference—their home on Belle Coeur. “Right. Keep in touch, Raph.”

  “I will. Safe travels,” Raphael said.

  Gabriel put his hand on Michael’s shoulder and moved them straight from the clinic and into the study in their home on the island.

  As soon as the world solidified, Gabriel suddenly found himself with an armful of Michael as his lover clung to him and sobbed, great, gut-wrenching sobs, burying his face in Gabriel’s chest. Gabriel hummed, even as he wrapped his arms and wings around his lover and held him, waiting for the storm of emotion to pass. He wasn’t surprised that Michael had erupted in such a fashion; he’d been holding in how he felt for quite a while, and the dam had to burst sooner or later. So Gabriel held him and Michael sobbed.

  It took a little while for the storm of tears to pass, and then Michael pulled back, sniffed, and pulled a handkerchief to him with his power, wiping his eyes and nose. “Thank you,” he said.

  “Nothin’ to thank me for. Want a glass of water?” Gabriel asked.

  “If it is no trouble.”

  “Not even a little.” Gabriel pulled a glass of cold water to him with his own power and handed it to Michael.

  “Thank you.” Michael drank the water down, and then he moved to sit in the leather armchair.

  “How do you feel?” Gabriel asked, leaning against the desk.

  “In truth, I feel wrung out,” Michael said with a wan smile.

  “I ain’t surprised,” Gabriel said. “That was a lot of emotion you’ve been keeping bottled up.”

  “As you say. I feared, Gabriel. I feared greatly that he would never wake up and that he would waste away, with Lily following him. In truth, the fears grew so much that I became convinced that this was a certainty.”

  “Oh, Mishka,” Gabriel said softly, but Michael continued as if he hadn’t spoken at all.

  “I was preparing what to tell each of their families. What to tell Angelique, Riley, and Baxter. In truth, I dreaded telling them more than the families. There has not been a broken pack in some decades, and in peacetime, it is unheard of. Yet I was beginning to think in such unhappy terms.”

  Gabriel moved to him, dropping to his knees on the carpet beside Michael’s chair. He rested one hand on Michael’s knee and the other around his shoulders. “But he’s awake now, so you don’t have to think about those things anymore. There’s a good result, so you should feel a little happier. Not that I’m telling you how to think or feel,” he added hastily. “Not even a bit. I just don’t want you to believe there ain’t something to be grateful for.”

  Michael gave him a small smile. “I know, Gabriel. And I am grateful, very grateful. At this moment, if Israfel wished to ask a boon of me, there is nothing I would not give him, were it in my power to do so. He has brought back not just Danny but Lily as well, and his power, his talents, have succeeded where science and medical arts and magics had failed.”

  “Aye. I reckon Lily will be feeling much the same.”

>   “Although,” and now Michael looked thoughtful, “it was interesting that she listed our Archdemon allies in her gratitudes list, was it not? And not Raziel or Uriel or Remiel?”

  Gabriel shrugged. “The Archdemons have been with her, the others of our choir haven’t. Plus, she’s kind of overcome with relief, so she ain’t thinking much of things beyond being happy that Danny’s back. I know that if situations were reversed, and Danny was the one waiting for her to come out of a coma, he’d react much the same way.”

  “Hm. I suppose you are right.” Michael took a deep breath. “I feel as if we have all been frozen in stasis during this distressing time. Has there been any word from Raziel or any of our choir? Or, indeed, from angelkind at all? Or Minnie and Max?”

  Gabriel shook his head. “No. I heard from Sammy a few hours ago; he was going to visit the families of the dead with Ahijah and see what they could learn while giving them the sad news about their loved ones. I don’t envy them that job one little bit. He said, too, that Ahijah told him that Hiwa had gone to Russia to talk to his contacts there, but beyond that, I ain’t heard a peep.”

  “I wonder if that is due to everyone not wishing to bother us or if there is truly nothing to report. I hope it is the former.”

  “Aye. Well, shall we start making calls with our phones and our brains and get everyone’s reports?”

  “In a moment.” Michael shifted in his seat and rested his forehead against Gabriel’s. “Would you do something for me?”

  “Anything, love of my life.”

  “You are very kind. Would you kiss me? I keenly feel the need for you.”

  “Of course.” Gabriel shuffled closer and kissed Michael, taking his time, cupping Michael’s cheek with one hand as he kissed his lover with all the love and passion and skill at his command. When they parted, Michael was flushed, and his eyes were wide, his lips kiss-swollen.

  “Gabriel,” Michael whispered. “I love you very much.”

  Gabriel kissed him again, a short, gentle kiss. “Aye, and I love you very much, too.”