“She will be all right. Her kind is resilient.” Adria was beside me. “It is not your fault.”
I swallowed and sniffed, unable to speak immediately. I pulled at my tempest, and she shook her head.
“Some pain is good for you. This is that kind.”
“Adria?” Vorago called out in a stronger voice than I expected.
“My love,” she breathed, striding up to him. She grasped his face between her palms in a rather rough way. “You look terrible.” A smile teased at the corner of her mouth until he laughed. They fell against each other and with no shyness at all, began kissing.
I glanced away, warmth fanning across my cheeks. Insepth smiled lopsidedly, but Sawyer frowned. I searched his eyes, finding only distraction there.
The kiss ended and Adria spoke. “We must go to the sea—it has been too long for Vorago.”
Vorago bowed deeply to me, then in turn to the others. “Thank you for releasing me from my prison. I am forever in your debt.”
My brow furrowed. “But what about Cricket?” I pulled the vile from my pocket. Adria jumped forward and covered my hand and the container with hers. “Don’ show that here. It is pure evil,” she whispered. “But with your strong magic, it will transform your horse and fulfill your destiny.”
“You have to show me—I don’t know how.” My voice rose.
Adria leaned forward, close enough so that only I could here. I saw the ocean in her eyes and I calmed. She was using her tempest, but I didn’t mind. It made me feel better. She whispered the words into my ear, triggering memories of other times when Ila and Insepth had used the same kind of magic, only with them, it was the sounds of twigs breaking, leaves rustling and a deer settling down beneath a bush for the night. Adria’s words were from the sea, and sounds of waves crashing and gulls calling filled my ears. I strained to listen and remember the spell. When she pulled back, I knew I would never forget it.
“We have helped each other—you and I—now go.” She reached out and caressed my cheek. “I call you friend. If ever you are near a great body of water, you can summon me, and I will come.”
She clucked her tongue. “Don’ let those Angels order you around. You are closer to their equal than you might think.”
Lightning zigzagged across the sky and thunder boomed overhead. Something shiny in the wind caught my eye.
Adria cursed under her breath. “Run—run!” She cried out, grasping Vorago’s hand and sprinting across the sand toward the surf.
“I’ll make the loophole!” Insepth shouted. He maneuvered his hand in a circular motion to open a portal back to Tennessee.
Sawyer appeared at my side. “You’re not going to jump through that hole, are you?”
The sarcastic tone and twist of his lips reminded me of the old Sawyer.
“I have to help them get to the water. Once Adria reaches the ocean, her warding will protect her.”
“I thought you’d say that. I’m with you,” Sawyer said.
“Me too. You didn’t allow me to assist you in the last battle—you owe me this one.” Horas grinned.
“It’s Gabriel—he is alone. I will speak with him.” Eae shielded his face from the onslaught of wind and rain.
Insepth’s hole was large enough to get Cricket through. He looked at me with wide eyes. “I can’t hold it for long!” he called over the wind.
I saw blue sky and golden leaves through the opening. A warmer, autumn wind touched my face, and I smelled the forest. The contact with home was like a shot of adrenaline.
“Ivan, take Cricket and Angus through—now!” I shouted.
Ivan nodded and grabbed Cricket’s halter. She was all too happy to jump back to the valley. Angus growled at Horas, who attempted to shove him through. The dog dodged his hands and almost broke free when Lutz rose up in front of him, pushing him back. Angus dropped his head in submission at the giant black bear’s roar.
Once Lutz had shepherded Angus through the hole, I looked for Adria. She stumbled alongside Vorago, not used to running on human legs. A shot of lightning streaked down from the clouds, incinerating five of her dolphin-men. Their bodies were burnt clumps of flesh in the sand.
“Gabriel, it is I, Eae. You must stop this and talk to me.” His voice boomed out unnaturally, as if he held a megaphone to his lips.
“You are a traitor, no longer one of us. Michael told me of your desire to aid a Watcher instead of coming home. You are dead to me,” Gabriel answered with equal volume.
It might have been that I was still upset about Ormr, or perhaps frustrated that we were so close to our achieving our goal, but either way, my tempest couldn’t stop the fire from rising.
“No, Ember!” Insepth shouted behind me, but I ignored him.
I thrust my hand forward and shot a blast of flames at Gabriel. The fire streaked through the air, hitting him from the side. The force of the impact spun him in the air and the smell of burnt feathers drifted on the wind.
The distraction was just enough to give Adria and Vorago time to reach the waves. In a spectacular burst of colors, they jumped into the air and dove into the water as a pair of dolphins. The ocean churned around them, and then went calm as though a storm wasn’t even raging.
“Come on!” Insepth shouted, straining to hold the loophole open.
Gabriel flapped his wings as he righted himself, snapping his head in my direction.
“Dammit,” Sawyer cursed, scooping me into his arms and running for our lives. Horas waited with Insepth, flailing his arms to hurry.
“Faster,” I whispered and Sawyer’s arms gripped me tighter.
The rush of wind at our backs stilled my heart. I remembered what Michael had done to Insepth’s mansion with a flick of his wrist, and it sounded like a freight train was about to run us over. When I peeked under Sawyer’s arm, there was only a cloud of blue and gray chasing after us.
The beach blurred as Sawyer surged forward.
“Close it!” he shouted to Insepth.
Horas leaped through a second before the mountain breeze folded around us. Sawyer hit the ground first, rolling into a fetal position around me. We skidded and bounced through the grass and goldenrod. Insepth crashed into us and a gust of wet, cold wind knocked us backward before the loophole blinked out.
The sound of Gabriel’s war cry stilled my heart and without any thought, I shot flames into the air where the opening had just closed.
Sawyer grabbed my hands, unafraid of the fire. “Stop! He’s gone—long gone.”
The flames turned into a stream of smoke as I collapsed onto Sawyer’s chest, watching the tendrils drift away on the breeze.
Sawyer was breathing so hard I rose and fell with his chest. Sunlight dried my face, then Angus’ prickly tongue began licking my cheeks, wetting them all over again. Cricket whinnied nearby and a goat bleated. The barnyard sounds caused a smile to creep onto my lips when I sat up.
Insepth’s eyes were wide and Ivan leaned against Lutz’s furry side. Horas rubbed his brow vigorously.
I glanced around, my heart beating faster. “Where’s Eae?”
I pushed off Sawyer and grasped Insepth’s shoulders. “Where is he?”
He raised his chin. Creases rippled out from the corners of his eyes. He shook his head. “He didn’t make it.”
Chapter 23
After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.
Revelation 7:1
My voice dropped. “We left him behind—with Gabriel?”
“It all happened so fast. We barely made it through the hole ourselves before the Angel’s wrath struck,” Insepth said.
I rose on shaky legs and turned to Horas. “Did you see him?”
Horas rubbed his forehea
d, and then met my gaze. “He went down in the sand as Gabriel’s wind swept over him. I didn’t see him get up.”
I covered my mouth with my hand and Sawyer’s arm went around me, pulling me into his chest. “If you stayed a second longer, you’d be dead. There was no time to take a head count. An arch Angel was barreling down on us.”
His words were hollow in my ears. Angus pushed against my legs and I stroked his head, staring across the valley. Golden, white and purple wildflowers swayed in the meadow. Birds chirped and a hawk screeched in the distance. I was home. But without Eae, there was no happiness in returning.
“We have to go back for him.” My head snapped in Insepth’s direction.
He lurched off the ground, holding his hands out in front of him. “It would be suicide. The beach isn’t warded. If Gabriel’s not waiting there for us personally, he’ll post sentries.” He took a deep breath. “We’re powerful, but not invincible. Everything we’ve achieved so far will be lost.”
I opened my mouth to argue, and Sawyer cut in. “He might be dead.” When I narrowed my eyes on him, he hurriedly said, “You have to consider the possibility. Gabriel was pretty pissed off, and nothing could have survived that blast of air he hurdled at us.”
“Except an Angel,” I challenged.
Sawyer leaned forward. “Without his wings, Eae wasn’t a true Angel anymore.”
I inhaled deeply, letting the scent of pine needles, oak leaves and grass fill my nostrils. Everyone was slumped, exhausted, and their clothes were ripped and bloody. I didn’t know about Cricket, Angus and Lutz, but the rest of us hadn’t eaten a thing for at least a day. My own stomach was tight with emptiness. Even if I managed to get Insepth to help me open another loophole, we were in no shape to battle Gabriel or any reinforcements he might have. We would all die if we went back.
The vial of dark particles was heavy in my pocket and I couldn’t help staring at Cricket. She nibbled grass in the middle of the goat herd that seemed to worship her as their leader, completely unaware of what I was going to do to her. I grimaced at the bitter taste in my mouth before I spoke.
“After what happened in Purgatory, there’s no doubt the apocalypse is near. I hope Eae’s death was swift. Maybe it’s better that he’s not here for the end.”
“What’s the plan then?” Horas asked.
A whistle sounded and we turned our heads in the direction it came from. Sir Austin and Youmi jogged through the grass toward us. The Scottish Watcher’s gray sweater and pants contrasted with the Japanese Watcher’s bright red kimono.
“We eat dinner and rest—” I looked back at Cricket. “—then we do what Ila instructed.”
“What happened to you in the devil’s club before you stepped out from behind the tapestry?” I asked Sawyer.
We were stretched out side by side in the grass, looking up at the stars. Angus’ head rested on my leg and light flickered from the windows of Ila’s cabin. Occasionally I’d see a shadow pass through the glow. Animated conversation drifted from the front porch. Talk of dragons, sea serpents, Hellhounds and Angels reached my ears. Insepth’s voice was the loudest, but when Lutz put his two cents in, it sounded like he was right beside me. I scowled into the darkness. They were all drunk on the fermented cider Youmi had found buried in the storeroom. I had no idea what Ila had intended to do with the alcoholic drink, but somehow I knew she wouldn’t be displeased that it was being enjoyed by my friends. I was just annoyed that they were able to forget about the approaching apocalypse and have some fun while I was a complete basket case.
“Does it really matter? We’re safe now—back in the valley, where we should be.”
I rose up on an elbow and stared down at him. “Of course it matters.” I lowered my voice. “I met the devil…” I trailed off, suddenly at a loss for words.
“What did you think of him?” Sawyer asked.
There hadn’t been any time to ponder the fallen Angel after he’d left us, and to be honest, I hadn’t wanted to think about him. Now, as I lay in the grass, listening to the excited drone of chatter from the cabin and Cricket munching on grass a few feet away, I allowed my mind to go back to the elaborate room with the tapestries.
“He wasn’t what I expected.” Sawyer’s brows rose, and I continued, “I mean, I always thought the devil would be more horrible. He wasn’t even that frightening.”
Sawyer chuckled. “Are you afraid of anyone?” He quickly sobered. “That’s Samael’s talent—he’s charismatic and witty—that’s how he got the other Angels to follow him when he rebelled against God. He’s a charmer, but never forget what he really is.”
“How do you know so much about him?” I narrowed my eyes, my heart beating erratically.
“Garrett talked about Satan all the time—after all, we’re Demons. Hell, I probably know more about the fallen Angels than Insepth or Eae.”
Silence fell and only the sound of a few late season crickets chirped in the night. The tree line at the edge of the meadow was shadowed in moonlight. I didn’t like not being able to see into the forest.
“Do you think Eae is really dead?”
Sawyer shrugged. “He’s better off if he is, but who can say. I’d be happy to never see another Angel again, myself.”
“They aren’t what I thought they’d be like either,” I mumbled.
“Were you imagining them in white robes and having gentle faces?” A sliver of light shone through the clouds and I saw he was smirking. “I always knew they were warlike. Their kind invented the word grudge.”
I sat up and rested my chin on my knees. Angus groaned at my repositioning and then dropped his head to the ground. “Should we be trying to stop them from doing their job?”
The question had been a heavy rock in my gut ever since we had left on our quest to find Adria. As much as I prayed for a sign, any sign, that we were doing the right thing, nothing happened.
“Who knows what their job really is? So much was left out of the Bible by the men who created it. Some scriptures were put in, others left out. The information is contradictory and vague in some places at best. I’m not sure they even know what they’re supposed to do.”
I leaned in closer. “What about God—where is He?”
“That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it?” He lifted his head and I followed his gaze. A star fell, jetting across the sky at that exact moment. Maybe it was an Angel streaking from Heaven.
He turned back to me. “I don’t think Ila would lead you wrong. She loved you and there was something—” he paused searching for the right words “—special about her.”
I leaned back and eyed Sawyer. I never thought he was a fan of Ila’s, but hearing him stick up for her made me exhale some of my worries.
“You’ve been acting strange lately—like something is on your mind.” I said the words slowly.
He snorted out a laugh. “A lot is on my mind. We just barely escaped Purgatory and an Angel attack.” He reached out and wrapped some of my hair around his finger and his voice grew husky. “I wish it would stop and we could have some time to be normal.”
“You once told me we could never be normal,” I pointed out.
“Yeah, I know. But everything we’ve had to endure lately is too much. I just want peace, and a little time with you. Is that so much to ask?”
I sighed, feeling Sawyer’s sadness through our invisible guardian strings. It constricted my heart and made it difficult to swallow. Softly, I touched his cheek. “Do you need to feed? You’ve used a lot of energy here lately.”
His eyes glistened and his jaw clenched. “I’m hungry, but not for your soul, Ember.”
My skin tingled and butterflies took flight in my belly. I glanced back at the cabin. It was a good distance away and everyone was busy with their stories and drinking. I even heard Ivan’s laugh a couple times. The grass was tall and hid us well. Thoughts of
Sawyer’s odd behavior and my own doubts about his motives fled. The warmth spreading through me was delicious, and for a moment I was able to push aside the worry about Eae and the fear of Gabriel’s retaliation. Usually it was a cliché to say life is short, but for us, it really was. Terrible things were fast approaching and Sawyer’s breath on my face made me reckless.
I bent down, brushing his lips with mine, and his arms pulled me closer. In his strong embrace, I was safe and I could even pretend the barriers between Hell and earth weren’t crumbling. His mouth left mine to trail kisses along my jaw and down my neck. I dropped my head back and arched against him. My fire roared to life, reveling in the pleasant sensations coursing through me.
His mouth was on mine again, and he tasted so good I couldn’t believe I hadn’t surrendered to him long ago. He kissed me deeper and harder than before and I made a hoarse noise that I never heard come from my throat before. The sound made him groan in return. “Are you sure you want this? If you’re not ready, we can wait.”
“Wait?” I snorted softly and my fingertips trailed over his chest. “Who knows what insanity we’ll face tomorrow—but we have tonight, and that’s about the only certain thing we have.”
I touched Angus with my mind, telling him to go to the cabin with the others. He rose in a grumpy fashion and walked away without a backward glance. I didn’t have to contact Cricket. On her own, she herded the goats away, nipping gently at their rumps to get them moving faster.
This was the last night my horse would be a horse—and I’d be a girl.
My chest tingled and I forced a breath.
“I love you more than life itself. I would do anything for you,” he whispered.
I lifted my hands, cupping his face. “I love you.”
He gazed down at me. His eyes told me that everything would be all right, and in that moment, I believed him. He helped me pull my shirt up over my head and then his fingers unbuckled the latches of my bra. I shivered when the cool, nighttime breeze touched my bare skin. His shirt was off and when we were skin to skin, the chills disappeared. I marveled at how well we fit together. He wrapped himself around me and for the first time in forever, I felt safe.
Tempest Page 17