Eli- Warriors for the Light

by Karen Michelle Nutt

  “Are you heading out?” Ryden came from the kitchen, carrying a tray. Four entrees, it must be for the family of four.

  “Yes, but I’ll meet you back here when you’re off work.”

  Again that dazzling smile. “I’m off work at five-thirty.”

  He nodded. “Five-thirty it is then.” He looked up and noticed the demons watching them. “Do you know those two gentlemen?” He nodded toward the two.

  She glanced at them then shook her head. “First time I’ve waited on them. Why do you ask?”

  “I thought perhaps I recognized the blond, but couldn’t place him.” He shrugged. “No matter. I’ll see you later.” He let her go by first. His gaze landed on her nicely shaped behind and his lips curved. She did have one heck of a walk, even weighed down with a tray.

  He turned and headed toward the front door, purposely passing the table where the demons sat. Eli locked gazes with the blond with a warning to leave what was his alone.

  The blond’s eyes flashed to red and he snarled, low and deep in his throat.

  “Watch it, hell’s breath,” he said under his breath, but kept on walking. He couldn’t egg on a fight when he had nothing to back it up with. He waved to Doug as he went out the door.

  He needed weapons.

  Chapter Six

  Ryden headed for her car, bundled in her fleece jacket for warmth. She left a little early so she could change out of her uniform before Eli showed up. Thank God, she had jeans and a sweater in the trunk.

  The wind picked up and she shivered. “Why did I park so far away?” There were limited parking spaces in front of the shops and restaurants on the street. There was a public parking area available around the corner of the coffee and gelato shop and a larger parking area adjacent to it, where she parked. After being on her feet all day, her car felt like it was miles away.

  It was already dark out with the moon only a crescent, but the lights in the parking lot were on, illuminating the night with their energy saving bulbs. She always made sure she parked right beneath one of them. She didn’t fear walking in this neighborhood, but a girl couldn’t be too careful. Her father, who was a policeman for thirty-years, warned her to be safe. She couldn’t agree more. If an assailant wanted to confront her, she’d rather face him in the light with her taser in her hand. She patted the pocket of her jacket, feeling the X26. One pull of the trigger and it would send an electrical pulse of energy that overrode any central nervous system. The assailant would go down hard. While he flopped on the ground like a fish out of water, she’d make her escape.

  A sizzling and popping noise made her slow her steps. Another zzzssspst of a sound and the lights in the parking lot went out one by one until Ryden stood in the dark. She froze in her steps. Her eyes flickered warily behind her where the back of the coffee and gelato shop’s patio area remained lit. She returned her gaze toward her car that was shadowed in darkness. A whisper of unease prickled her senses, warning her to run to the safety of the light. She was about to follow her instincts, but her gaze caught movement by her car. Two men came into view, both tall with large wide shoulders. One leaned his forearms on the roof of her car, his eyes glowing red as he stared at her.

  She shook her head. “What the… That’s enough for me.” She whipped around and began to run, but she only made it half way to the shop before she was blocked. “That’s impossible.” But it wasn’t. The two men were in front of her now, dressed in dark shirts and pants as if they wanted to appear as shadows. “What do you want?”

  The one leaned his head to the side with a quick jerk, making the tendons in his neck pop. One of the men had blond hair and the other had dark brown. She recognized them, well sort of. They didn’t have glowing red eyes or talon fingertips earlier. “You were at the restaurant today.” She backed up a step.

  “Maybe,” blond-y snarled.

  The other one chuckled, but she didn’t find it remotely humorous.

  “Is this some kind of joke?” Then it dawned on her that maybe this was a prank. If so, her cousin had a warp sense of humor. “Did Lana send you? Is this a Halloween joke because I threatened not to come to her party? Well, you can tell her I’m going.”

  The two looked at each other. Their lips curving in identical evil grins. Then their gaze focused on her again before they charged. She whipped her taser out and zapped, hitting the brown haired guy in the chest. He went down for the count, shaking and twitching, but blond-y didn’t slow his pace.

  Reaching her, his hand whipped out and grabbed her arm, squeezing until the taser slipped from her fingers.

  She immediately went limp, dropping like dead weight. Just as she hoped, the maneuver threw him off guard, causing him to stumble and lose his grip. His curses told her he wasn’t too pleased. Well, the feeling was mutual. She had a date tonight with the guy she’d been admiring for a year and these bozos were trying to ruin it.

  Free from his grip, she tore off at a run, bellowing a scream worthy to wake the dead. More curses as blond-y came after her, his footsteps gaining. Just as she thought he would overtake her, an avenging angel appeared on the scene to save her.

  Chapter Seven

  Eli parked his car in front of the restaurant. He was glad to find that his apartment and his vehicle were available to him. He’d angered Chaz and he wasn’t sure if the elder would allow him to have anything other than the clothes on his back.

  His strides took him to the restaurant door, but his hand froze on the handle when a bloodcurdling scream penetrated the quiet night. His gut twisted in fear and his heart leapt into his throat. “Ryden.” He tore off at a full run, sliding around the corner to see her charging toward him, fear etched into her features. His gaze wandered past her, landing on the blond-haired demon from the restaurant earlier today. His face was contorted in anger, his attention focusing on his prey. His eyes glowed red and his talons lengthened to sharp razor blades of death.

  Black rage bubbled in Eli’s blood and he roared, pulling the dagger from the inside pocket of his duster. He met Ryden, pulling her behind him, shielding her as he faced the demon. “Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?”

  A rough bark of laughter left the demon’s lips. “With pleasure.” His attention turned to him, eyeing him with intent.

  “If we are going to get personal here, I’d like to know who I’m dealing with?”

  “I’m Degfore and I’m here to eliminate you.” He lifted his large shoulder in a shrug as if this wasn’t personal. This was business.

  His gaze shifted to Ryden who was peeking around him. “Don’t worry, sweet. I’ll take care of you next.” He snarled and licked his two-pronged tongue over his lips.

  Eli felt Ryden recoil, her fingers digging into his flesh, but he kept his focus on the demon. Someone sent this demon to kill them and his otherworldly gifts were shut down tight. His hand gripped the dagger, wishing it were a sword instead, but he’d have to make do. He may not have his magic, but his warrior instincts were still intact. Quick reflexes and a few tricks up his sleeve would be just as good as glamour. He could do this. “Go back to the restaurant and lock the doors,” he ordered Ryden without looking at her.

  “You’ve got to be kidding. I’m not leaving you out here by yourself. There’s another—”

  He cut her off. “Please, you—” He didn’t have time to finish, Degfore attacked, his long talons poised to slice through skin and bone.

  Eli tried to push Ryden out of the way, but Degfore slammed into him. The momentum of the hit sent her flying, too. She fell hard against the side of the building, hitting her head. Eli saw her go down. Not good. She was vulnerable before, now she was easy prey.

  Degfore slashed at his midsection. He rolled away and jumped to his feet. The demon had ripped through his T-shirt but didn’t hit flesh. Eli poised his knife ready to strike. Degfore didn’t disappoint. He lunged again, this time Eli was ready for him. He dodged, spun and planted a well placed kick to the back of the demon’s knees. Degfore we
nt down hard and Eli was on top of him, yanking his hair, and pulling back his head to expose his neck. “Who sent you?”

  A rough bark of laughter left the demon’s lips. “Do you think I’m going to tell you?”

  “Yeah, I do.” He took the dagger and dragged it down his cheek, slicing the skin open.

  Degfore struggled against his grip, but Eli had his arms pinned down with his knees and he couldn’t break free.

  “We can do this all night.” He pressed the tip of the dagger against the other side of his face. “Are you looking for a matching scar?”

  Degfore hissed, but fear shone in his eyes, now dulled to black with only the rims remaining red. “I don’t have a name.”

  Eli pressed the point of his blade into his flesh, drawing black blood.

  “Ease up. I’m telling you the truth. You did this to yourself. No one likes a sap. Falling for a human,” he spat. “Soul mates, blah, blah, blah. Someone doesn’t want you to find your happily-ever-after. Soul mates are supposed to be a legend, a fairytale your mother told you before reality slapped you in the face, giving you how it is. There’s no mystical soul mate to save your soul. The sooner you realize this the better it’ll be for all concerned, Nephilim.”

  “If it’s all a fable, why kill us? If I fail, my life is forfeited at the end of Ol’ Hallow’s Eve and the elders would wipe Ryden’s mind. She wouldn’t remember ever meeting me.”

  Degfore bared his pointed teeth in a wide grin. “Yeah, but what if you’re right? You’ll destroy the Grigori lifestyle, having them out searching for their soul mates, instead of sipping coffee and observing life. Not to mention history repeating itself.” His tongue slid out like a snake and a hiss followed as it slithered back between his lips. “Only it will be the Nephilim impregnating the human women, creating more monsters and pissing off the Creator from above.” He rolled his eyes. “Why am I telling you? You’re familiar with the whole wrath of God scenario.” He chuckled. “Now, I can care less if the Grigori go piss themselves, but the Talacis don’t want to be in the crossfire when the heavens open up and a lightning strike fries your Grigori arses.”

  “Enough. You can—” A ripple in the air, silenced him, putting him on guard as his gaze scanned the area for the threat. Another preternatural had arrived and by the sulfuric scent, it was another Talaci, but he hadn’t materialized yet.

  “Let him go, Watcher.” The demon’s voice echoed around him.

  Eli stiffened, but he had no intentions of loosening his grip on the demon he had pinned.

  “I’ll slash your girlfriend’s pretty little throat if you don’t let Degfore go.” The demon materialized in a crouched, positioned over Ryden with his talons exposed.

  Eli cursed, wishing he’d slashed Degfore’s throat and taken Ryden to safety. He held up his hands and slowly stood, backing away from Degfore. His gaze landed on Ryden. Her chest rose and fell, but she was still out cold. His gaze shifted to the demon again. He should have realized Degfore’s friend wouldn’t be far behind. That’s what Ryden had been trying to tell him, but he’d interrupted her warning.

  “Drop the dagger.” The demon’s limbs twitched, making him look like a junkie coming down from a high. “Now!”

  Eli dropped the dagger.

  Degfore sat up with a chuckle. “Man, Shiller, the human sure did a number on you.”

  “Caught me off guard with a bloody taser,” he spat. “I’d kill her for that. I don’t need no money to do it either.”

  Way to go, Ryden. Using a taser on a demon took guts. Eli felt a surge of pride for her bravery. She faced off two demons and took one down by herself. Fighting demons would prove difficult for a preternatural, but for a human it was miraculous.

  Sirens blared in the distance, drawing their attention.

  “Someone’s heard us,” Degfore growled.

  No kidding. With the yelling and the fighting, Eli was surprised it had taken this long for the cops to be called.

  “We need to end this and get out of here.” Degfore raised his hand. His talons lengthened as he went after Eli.

  Eli dove for the dagger on the ground. In one fluid move, he gripped the hilt and let it fly from his fingertips straight at Shiller. No matter what happened to him, he couldn’t leave Ryden unprotected. The thwack sound of metal hitting flesh and the grunt from Shiller, let him know he hit his mark. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the demon clutch his chest, his red eyes glowing bright with surprise before going black. His limbs gave out and he fell back, his body hitting hard, bouncing off the ground from the sudden impact.

  Eli rolled and flew to his feet, pulling another dagger from the inside pocket. He kept an arsenal beneath his duster and was glad he’d been wise enough to don the coat tonight. His powers may be bound, but his instincts were working just fine. Degfore screamed in anger and charged again. He guessed killing Shiller hadn’t pleased the demon. He tried to sidestep, but Degfore clipped him and they both fell to the ground. The blow knocked the wind out of Eli, stunning him as the pain in his back radiated through his body. Degfore recovered quicker and came down with his talon, intending to gut him. Eli rolled and Degfore caught him on the side. He grunted, clutching his stomach as he rolled into a ball.

  Degfore stood over him, his lips spreading into a grin of triumph as he leaned down to finish the job.

  “Stupid demon,” Eli said as he lunged, sending the knife into the demon’s heart. He yanked the weapon out and scrambled away.

  Degfore was dead before he hit the ground. There was a burst of light and then the bodies of the two demons sizzled into black ooze, slithering into the crevices of the asphalt.

  Eli bent down to pick up his other dagger. The movement made him grimace. He opened his duster and lifted the bloodstained T-shirt. Great, a nice long slash and he was losing blood fast. He looked up. The sounds of the sirens were drawing nearer. He had about a minute to hightail it out of there. He forced his feet to move. They couldn’t have the police find them and ask questions. He’d have a tough time denying his involvement with anything underhanded with him bleeding all over the place and Ryden passed out cold.

  Degfore had claimed someone had hired him, but who? A Watcher?

  First things first, he had to find the taser Ryden had used on Shiller then they had to get out of here. He prayed his strength would hold out until he had her safe.

  Chapter Eight

  Ryden blinked and focused on the ceiling of her apartment. She was lying on her sofa in the living room, but for the life of her she didn’t know how she ended up here. Then it all came back to her, flashes of the night like scenes from a viewfinder: weird-eyed men trying to attack her—click—Used her taser on one of them—click—Eli showing up to rescue her. She frowned. That did happen, didn’t it?

  She sat up with a start, which was a big mistake. The whole room shimmered in and out as she tried to focus. Her eyelids felt heavy, but she forced them to stay open. “What happened?”

  “You’re awake.”

  She yelped, jumping back and slamming her head against the armrest of the sofa. “Ouch.” Her hand flew to the back of her head.

  “Sorry.” Eli’s warm hand touched her arm. “I didn’t mean to startle you. How are you feeling?” He crouched down beside her, his whiskey-colored eyes scrutinizing her features for the truth himself.

  She sat up and pulled her legs in close to her body, wrapping her arms around them. “My head’s pounding. That’s how I am.”

  He nodded. “I’m not surprised. You hit your head pretty hard, but I don’t believe you have a concussion.”

  “Yeah, you a doctor now?”

  “No, but I’ve seen men with concussions. I… I played football in college,” he explained, but his hesitation made her suspicious.

  Her eyes narrowed. God knew he was big and strong enough to have played football, but her senses told her he was a liar. He dropped his gaze, looking away for a split second before focusing on her again.

  “How did we en
d up at my apartment? Better yet, how did you get in my apartment?” Her voice didn’t hide the uneasiness she felt, but she didn’t care. She had a weird night so far and it seemed it wasn’t going to be any better.

  He sighed, giving her a wounded puppy dog look that all but said you don’t trust me. She didn’t trust anyone right now.

  “Your keys,” he informed her. “You had them in your pocket.”

  “I never told you where I lived.”

  “You did. When you were going in and out of consciousness.”

  He didn’t appear to be lying to her and things were a bit hazy. She rubbed her eyes. Then opened them again, her gaze riveting on Eli. “The men who attacked me—”

  “Gone.”

  There was a lot unsaid with that one word. Gone? Gone where? She realized for the first time Eli didn’t look so hot. She tilted her head back to better study his face. Well, he always looked amazing and now was no different. But there was something off about his coloring and there was a light sheen of sweat on his forehead and beads of sweat on his upper lip. “Are you okay?”

  His lips curved into half a smile. “I’ll be fine.”

  Not the same thing as okay. Something was wrong. He stood and then she knew. “Omigod! She forgot about her mistrust when her gaze landed on the pool of blood staining his T-shirt. He had tried to hide it by pulling his duster around him, but hadn’t quite managed to be quick enough. Her hands whipped the material from his hand and pulled the duster aside.

  “It’s nothing.” He backed up, closing the duster again.

  “Nothing? I don’t think so.” She stood and went after him, determined to see the wound for herself. “Let me see it.” She left no room for objection, her gaze meeting his. “I will use force,” she threatened, both knowing she’d be no match—even injured, Eli would be able to hold his own.