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Agreed. Roman walked slowly down the steps toward the stage.
Casimir grinned and glanced up at Corky. Be sure to get this recorded. I want to watch Romans death every night.
Will do, sweetheart! Corky yelled back.
Roman reached the stage.
Check him for weapons, Casimir ordered.
Two of his bodyguards frisked Roman and found two knives, which they tossed onto the stage.
Casimir snorted. Did you think you were going to kill me, monk? You were always a weakling. He motioned to his guards. Bring him closer. Make sure hes facing the camera.
The guards dragged Roman over to Casimir.
Connor checked his watch. Bugger. Still two minutes to go. He caught Anguss eye and motioned with his head toward the stage.
Angus nodded.
Connor teleported to the stage along with Angus, and they killed two bodyguards.
Casimir clutched Roman with his gloved hand and moved Roman in front of him as a shield. Kill three mortals!
Three Malcontents in the bleachers slit the throats of their captives. The remaining mortals still sat there, expressionless.
Drop your weapons, or Ill kill three more! Casimir shouted.
Connor and Angus tossed their swords on the stage. A group of Malcontents ran up onto the stage. Some grabbed their swords and took their weapons, while others seized them and pinned their arms behind their backs.
Casimir smiled. Angus and Connor. Thank you for joining us. Now I can record myself killing you when Im done with Roman. With his good arm, he put a knife to Romans throat. Are you recording, Corky?
Corky screamed as her cameraman suddenly fell off the balcony and plummeted twenty feet to the next level.
Connor spotted Marielle slipping back behind a tree. She must have blasted enough air to make the cameraman fall.
Corky levitated down to her fallen cameraman. You stupid fool! She whipped out a knife and stabbed him, turning him to dust. How dare you fail our king!
She picked up the camera and grinned. Its still working, sweetheart!
Thank you, my queen. Casimir glanced at Angus when a beeping sound came from his watch. What is that?
The sound of yer final defeat, Angus replied.
With a loud whooping noise, Vamps and shifters erupted from the woods. The Malcontents forgot all about slaying their mortal victims when they saw a huge Kodiak bear, five wolves, a panther, and a tiger charging toward them.
Screams, roars, and the clashing of swords filled the air. Connor ripped Roman from Casimirs grasp. Casimir jumped back,flailing his knife. Connor looked about for a weapon. He recalled the sword hed left at the top of the monument, but that was too far away. Empty-handed, he jumped at Casimir, but the coward vanished.
Dammit! Connor ducked when a Malcontent took a swing at him with his sword.
On the bleachers, the mortals came to and began screaming. Casimirs mind control over them had broken when he teleported away.
You will drop your weapons! Casimir bellowed from the top of Mount Rushmore. Drop them or I will kill your priest!
Connor looked up and gasped.
The fighting stopped. The mortals ran screaming up the stairs to the exit.
Casimir stood on top of George Washingtons head, his knife in his right hand. Nadia was dragging Father Andrew toward him.
Oh God, no, Roman breathed.
Drop your weapons and surrender! Casimir screamed as he pulled Father Andrew close.
Dont do it, the priest yelled.
Roman tossed down the weapon he had managed to grab from a fallen Malcontent. Let him go! Take me instead!
The Vamps dropped their weapons. The Malcontents pointed their swords at them.
Casimir glared at them. Now swear your allegiance to me.
Let him go! Roman yelled. Let him go, and Ill swear.
No! Father Andrew shouted. Dont do it, Roman!
Casimir laughed. This reminds me of the good old days. You remember, dont you, Roman? Remember the time when I invaded your old monastery and killed all the monks? All those innocent old men who had raised you?
Roman paled.
Casimir sneered down at him. Im going to kill you anyway, so I might as well watch you suffer first. He stabbed Father Andrew in the chest and tossed him off the monument.
No! Roman levitated up to catch the priest in his arms.
Rage erupted in Connor, snapping his vision blue, freezing the blood in his veins. He teleported to the top of the monument and grabbed the claymore hed left behind a week ago. With a war cry, he beheaded Nadia.
Casimir whirled around. His eyes widened with fear.
Stop! Corky shouted.
Connor glanced back, his vision still tinted blue.
Corky had teleported to the top of the mountain with the camera. If you kill him, I will spread the video all over the Internet and tell everyone that vampires are real. She lifted the camera. Im recording now.
Drop your sword, Casimir hissed. You dont want the whole world to know about us. It would be the end of us all.
Connor shook with rage. He turned to Casimir. It is yer end tonight. He stabbed him through the chest and turned Casimir to dust.
No! Corky screamed.
Connor whipped around to kill her, too, but she vanished, taking the camera with her.
Marielle screamed when she saw Father Andrew stabbed and thrown off the cliff.
Bunny! Can you hear me? Please come. Please save him. She repeated her plea over and over as she scrambled down the hill, dodging the trees.
Meanwhile, the battle had started up again. Vamps and shifters attacked the Malcontents, shouting and roaring their fury. Thank God the mortals were managing to flee.
She reached the bottom and weaved her way through the fighting to where Roman knelt on the stage with Father Andrew in his arms.
Father! Marielle fell to her knees beside him. Tears filled her eyes. Im praying for a Healer to come. Please stay with us!
Roman had a bloodstained hand pressed against the Fathers wound, but blood was still seeping out. Let me take you to a hospital.
The priest shook his head. His face was pale and clammy with sweat. My time has come.
Dont say that! Roman shouted. Oh God help me, I should have never dragged you into my world.
Father Andrew gave him a weak smile. I dont regret a moment of it.
Connor materialized beside Marielle, his face haggard.
She reached up to touch him. Are you all right?
He shook his head slightly as he regarded the priest. I have avenged you. I hope it will give you peace.
You killed Casimir? Roman asked.
Father Andrew coughed, then lifted a trembling hand to Connor. My son, you know what I really want from you.
Connors mouth twisted, then he fell to his knees and clasped the priests hand. Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been . . . almost five hundred years since my last confession.
Tell me, Father Andrew whispered.
A tear rolled down Connors cheek. I . . . have murdered in a fit of rage. He glanced up to the top of the monument. Twice.
Father Andrew nodded. I will pray for you. He looked at Marielle. Now I wish to finally be touched by an angel.
Father, no. Tears streamed down her cheek.
Blood trickled from the side of his mouth. Im in pain, child. Please let me go.
Marielle glanced at Roman through her tears, and he nodded. A pink tear ran down his face.
Dear soul, your Father loves you greatly. Marielle laid a trembling hand on the priests brow.
He didnt die. His soul didnt open for her. He merely sighed and fell into a painless coma. With a gasp, she lifted her hand. Was she no longer a Deliverer?
Marielle. Zackriel appeared close by. I have come for this soul.
Have I ceas
ed to be an angel? she whispered.
Who are you talking to? Roman asked.
Zackriel knelt beside her. You are very close to being completely human.
Another tear slipped down her face. Youre not taking me with you tonight, are you?
It is not yet your time. Zackriel rested a hand on Father Andrews brow. Dear soul, your Father loves you greatly.
Marielle saw the priests soul open and his spirit lift out. Zackriel stood and moved close to the spiritual form of Father Andrew who was smiling at her, Connor, and Roman.
She stood and bowed to the priest. God be with you, dear soul.
Zackriel wrapped an arm around the priest. It is time for us to go.
Will I ever be able to go back? Marielle asked.
Zackriel smiled at her sadly. It is still possible. But only if you really want to. His wings fluttered out, and he vanished, taking Father Andrews soul with him.
What just happened? Connor asked.
Marielle gazed up at the stars while tears rolled down her face. Father Andrew is going to heaven.
Chapter Twenty-five
An hour later, they were all back in the cafeteria at Romatech. Marielle sat quietly in a corner, watching the friends she had made in the seven nights that shed been on Earth. They had succeeded in defeating the Malcontents, but there was no celebrating.
The Vamps sipped from bottles of Blissky and Bleer. The shifters indulged in real whisky and beer.
After Connor had teleported her back, hed hugged her fiercely. I thought ye were leaving.
Not tonight.
He slumped into a cafeteria chair. For the last hour, he hadnt moved or spoken a word.
At the end of the battle, the Vamps and shifters had quietly cleared away all signs of the struggle. Piles of dead vampire dust were swept into the woods. Weapons were gathered and returned to Romatech. Bloodstains were washed away. A group of Vamps swept through the area, looking for mortals and wiping their memories of the nights events.
Roman had teleported Father Andrews body back to his church. Now he returned to the cafeteria, his eyes red and swollen.
Shanna ran up to embrace him. Her eyes were red and swollen, too. What did you tell the other priests?
Roman sighed. That he was attacked by a criminal.
Shanna nodded. I suppose thats true.
Phineas slammed his Blissky bottle down. At least we got rid of Casimir once and for all.
Heads turned to look at Connor.
He remained silent, gazing blindly into space.
Do ye think Corky will really do it? Ian asked.
Do what? Radinka asked.
Ian shifted in his chair. Corky had a camera. She threatened to expose our existence on the Internet if Casimir was killed.
Damn, Gregori muttered. Ill get a laptop and see if anything has come up. He dashed from the room.
Connors jaw shifted, and he rubbed his brow.
Marielle was relieved just to see him move. Hed been motionless for nearly an hour.
Well, I think Connor did the right thing, Phineas mumbled.
The room grew silent.
I agree, Brynley said. Connor had a chance, and he took it. Who knows when another chance would have come up?
Another silence stretched out.
Gregori returned with a laptop and began scouring the Internet.
The shifters wandered into the kitchen to look for some food.
Roman drank some Blissky. Father Andrews funeral will most likely happen during the day. We wont even get to see it.
Shanna patted his arm. Well have a memorial for him here.
Roman stood and lifted his glass. To Father Andrew. May we remember him always, and may he rest in peace.
Everyone stood and lifted his glass to Father Andrew. Then silence pervaded the room once more.
Oh shit, Gregori muttered, drawing everyones attention. Corky posted a video on YouTube. He clicked on it, and Corkys strident voice filled the room.
Here it is! Proof positive that vampires are real! See the blue glowing eyes on the vampire with the sword? And see what happens when he kills the other vampire? Dust!
Brynley snorted. No ones going to believe that. No one will even see it.
Gregori winced. Its been up three minutes, and it already has a thousand views. If it goes viral, we could be screwed.
Connor stood abruptly and exited the glass door into the garden.
Marielle followed him. Connor!
He headed toward the woods.
Connor, please. Talk to me.
He slowed to a stop.
He kept his back to her, but she could see the tension in his stiff spine and clenched fists. I know youre upset.
Do ye have any idea what I have done? He spun around to face her. His eyes were filled with pain. I have sentenced all my friends to death.
She flinched. It cant be that bad.
It is. For as long as vampires have existed, our first priority has been to keep our existence a secret. He snorted. God, how many times have I preached that to my friends? I would have never believed that I would be the one . . .
She stepped toward him. Well figure something out.
The world will want to destroy us. Connors mouth twisted with pain. I have failed my friends. I have failed everyone I have ever known.
Her vision blurred with tears. Connor, please. Dont do this to yourself.
He squared his shoulders. But I willna fail you. I will get you back to heaven. He vanished.
No! She ran forward, but he was gone. Connor! Connor! She collapsed on the ground, crying.
What if she had lost everything? Connor. Her wings. Her heavenly home.
Eventually, she heaved herself to her feet and walked back to the cafeteria.
I am so sick of crying. She wiped her face. She felt old. And tired. And human.
She let herself back into the cafeteria.
Everyone was talking about the new problem. Someone had turned on the television, and a news station was reporting on the video. A ticker ran across the bottom of the screen. Vampires are proven real!
Sean Whelan strode into the cafeteria. Quiet! This is no time to panic.
The room grew silent.
Sean glared at the television. What a stupid mess. Ill get ahold of my contacts in the government and get them to declare this whole thing a hoax.
Will they do that? Roman asked.
Sean snorted. Theyll do anything for a price. I may have to let a few key people know that vampires are real, but Ill make it to their advantage to keep the secret.
Anguss eyes narrowed. Why would ye help us, Whelan?
He glowered at Angus, then at Roman. Because Im one of you now. He turned and marched toward the exit. Ill start negotiations immediately.
Were coming with you. Angus and Emma dashed after him.
Everyone started talking again, but this time there was a hint of hope in the air.
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