by J. A. Saare
At least not to us.
When I walked into the foyer, I inspected the door.
The cracked steel had been put back in its rightful place, but there were gaping areas on each side of the front entrance that had been covered with thick drapes. It was a good thing Gabriel would deal with questions about the damage, manipulating the minds of the workers that corrected the issues. The door would be fixed, and those doing the job might not even recall their participation in making the house safe again.
Abandoning the entranceway, I went to the back.
I heard Landon and Corey in the basement and paused.
They were confronting Revenald, telling him he was about to die.
I'd momentarily forgotten what he'd done to them.
Turning them on each other had been exceptionally cruel, especially since their feelings for one another had been altered after their change. The piece of shit knew how close they were, aware they'd fallen in love. Since he thrived on depravity, he'd chosen the punishment for that very reason. The fight had aged them, ripping away the last of their innocence. Too bad I needed him as a sacrifice. If things had been different, I'd have handed him over and let them take their pound of flesh.
I resumed my journey, going to the back door.
I stepped outside and went stock-still.
Goose had lit candles and placed them at one end of the makeshift altar, but he was no longer near the table. Bane had arrived without announcing himself. He had on the clothing he wore when he patrolled the city at night: a black T-shirt, jeans, combat boots, and a baseball cap. A burlap sack rested at his feet, which was what he'd apparently carried Marigold in. When he shifted slightly, I got a look at the table. I'd expected nothing but bones. Instead, I'd gotten a mummified body that actually resembled the fallen angel I'd made a bargain with.
I went down the stairs, giving Goose a smile that I hoped settled his nerves, and went to Bane's side. I wasn't sure where to start. Anyone could see the large moving van and vampires tossing bodies and severed heads into the back. He already knew some shit had gone down. I took in Marigold's head, awed to see her long blonde hair remained. Wherever she'd been had kept her free from flooding, vermin, and bugs.
"I don't think your friend likes me." Bane retrieved the sack at his feet and wadded the material in his hands. His movements weren't fluid or graceful. I wasn't sure if the admission bothered him or not. "He gets edgy when I'm around."
Goose had gone to the fountain, acting like he was busy. Bane did make him nervous. The distance he put between them wasn't due to dislike, however. Goose always knew when he needed to get out of someone's way. I decided not to tell Bane that, testing the waters.
"You know what? I think you're right. I don't think he likes you either."
His attention shot to me for a moment. When he saw me fighting back a grin, he seemed to relax a little. "Smart-ass."
"Where was she?"
He finished and stepped back. "A grotto in Alabama."
Alabama? No wonder we hadn't found it.
The people Gabriel had hired to scour locations had started in the north and weren't due to hit the southern states for another day or two. I frowned, realizing he couldn't have made the round trip even at breakneck speed.
"How did you get here so fast?"
"I drove." He studied the body, and I couldn't tell what he was thinking. He wasn't a reflective kind of guy, but that's how he seemed. I was about to ask the question again when he said, "Pops brought her to me. I only had to come from the bar."
"Pops?"
"My father."
Holy shit. "As in a man that raised you?"
"The man who raised me is long gone. I mean my father, princess. The one who gave me life." Ripping his focus from Marigold, he looked at me. His eyes weren't as bright as they usually were. "I reached out to him as soon as we broke the tie between you and fallen bitch here. Fallen angels don't normally cross paths, but they can find each other if they really want to. It took him longer than I expected. I thought we'd be doing this yesterday."
"He found her on his own?"
"Mostly."
Great. More questions to add to my already long list.
"I didn't know you had a relationship with your parents."
"Not my parents. Him," he replied, sounding as tired as he looked. "I chose his path, not hers." His eyes shot around as he searched for what I had on me. When he didn't find what he was looking for, his expression became guarded. "Where's the orbuculum? I told you to get to know it and keep it with you."
"Upstairs," I replied, somewhat uneasy. "I named her Lavinia."
The scar on his face stopped shifting as he backed down and relaxed. "Then I kept my word." He smiled but warmth didn't reach his eyes. "Interesting choice. What made you decide that?"
"It came from Lavinia, right?" His lips curved, showing he was pleased I'd picked up on that right away. Knowing it to be true, I explained why I'd named the orb as I had, "I thought it was appropriate. If I ever meet her, maybe it'll break the ice."
He ducked my gaze and shifted his feet. "You'll ask about this sooner or later, so I might as well get the shit out of the way. Just don't freak out or have a tizzy." When he lifted his head and met my curious stare, his eyes returned to normal, as bright and shiny as the ocean. "It didn't just come from Lavinia. It's part of her."
Once again, I didn't understand.
The story of my life.
He'd gotten to know me, so he remained one step ahead, continuing on even as his expression indicated I was slower than molasses. "She found out she had cancer after she asked me to find you. Before she died, she created an imprint of herself and placed it in the orbuculum. Her final wish was that it made it to you. It's the only way you'll get to know her, even it's only through impressions."
"She died?" I didn't expect to be upset by that, but I was. I'd actually started thinking about meeting her, wanting to know the things she could tell me about my mother.
"Three years back," he said quietly. "I'm sorry."
I didn't know what to say. "That's why I can feel her all around it?"
He nodded. "Pretty much."
"It makes the family nervous." I'd seen the way they looked at the sphere. Even if the orb saved our asses, they didn't want it around. "They don't want it here."
"They'll get over it." He motioned to the last of the bodies being collected. "Did you have something to do with that?"
"What do you think?" Seeing his annoyance, I decided to tell him. "I had something to do with it. So did Lavinia."
"Any casualties?"
I didn't know why he asked. He knew the score. "Not on our side. The family held their own." Picturing the inside of the house, I sighed. "My pool table and the front door didn't survive."
"I noticed the door. It's why I came around back." When he'd visited, he'd taken a look at my shiny new present in the kitchen. "Shame about the table."
"Tell me about it." I glanced at the van. The five vampires who'd come to take away the corpses were leaving. "Did you know what the orb was capable of?"
"An orbuculum can have a mind of its own. That's why it's important to understand it as much as it understands you. I don't know what you'll be able to do with it. Maybe not more than you did tonight. The important thing is it's in the right hands. It's meant to be with you."
"She's good at bashing in heads."
That didn't seem to surprise him. Then again, not much did. "Then I'll make sure not to piss you off."
"Did you know that when you gave it to me?"
"Nope. Like I said, each one is unique. Some don't do anything but glow and look pretty. It depends on the personality of the object, who it belongs to, and the magic attached to it." He stepped back and took me in, his gaze drifting from head to toe. "Jesus, girl. Don't you have any other clothes? You look like shit."
"Actually, no. I don't. But thanks for making me feel so good about myself. I can always count on you to tell me how heinous I loo
k and keep my confidence thriving." As much as I wanted to ask questions and enter the playground to trade insults, there was something I had to get out of the way. "Thank you, Bane. For everything."
"Stop right there. Don't get mushy on me." He waved my appreciation aside, reverting to a rough around the edges asshole, which was odd as he'd once bitched about my lack of gratitude. "There's more shit to be done. I need you to be the loud-mouthed banshee in my corner. Don't even think about pussying out on me now." He glanced over his shoulder, like he'd heard something, and looked up. I tried to see what he was staring at but didn't get a chance. "Get your priorities in order. It's time to start."
Gabriel had been observing us from the top of the stairs. He started listening in when Bane told me where Marigold's body had been hidden. I could have asked him to give us privacy, but we'd been through too much. He had the right to know what was going on. Even if he hadn't observed through my eyes and ears, I'd have told him everything when we were alone.
In many ways, him being in my mind made things easier.
"I need Revenald."
Gabriel strode to the back door. "Landon and Corey are bringing him."
The pair appeared, haloed in the light coming from the house. They had taken Revenald off his feet and were carrying him like a carpet. Even if he couldn't see or move, he hadn't stopped squirming or struggling against the manacles. Adrian led Nala out when the coast was clear, resting his fingers over the hand she'd looped under his arm. Peter was right behind them. He stopped at the top of the stairs, crossing his arms over his chest, maintaining that unnatural stillness.
"Whenever you're ready," Bane said and moved back, giving me plenty of room.
I tucked the container under my arm and carried the bowl to the base of the stairs. Turning in place, I reached for the amulet. "Tribuo mihi vestri vires fortitude, quodpresentia. Ego liberetribuo myself vobis.”Present me your force, physical strength, and presence. I freely give myself to you.
A rush of power flowed through me, nearly taking me off my feet. The charm had always been strong, suffusing my abilities and strength, but I wondered if the power was more potent with its creator resting a few feet away. I pulled out the butterfly knife, flipped it around, and went for the meaty part of my palm. Despite doing this very thing numerous times, I was always amazed that an intentional incision with a sharp blade hurt less than a paper cut. At least initially. One deft slash created a steady flow of blood. I hurried before the amulet impeded the process, placing the blade on the table. I opened the container, moved back, and let salt and holy sand sprinkle over the ground. I followed that up with the blood dripping from my hand.
Since my Latin was cruddy, I went with what I knew. "This place belongs to me." I enforced the words with my very being, picturing the circle like an invisible wall as I moved around the table. "Those who enter it answer to me. If I will it, once inside, none shall escape."
As soon as the circle was done, I dropped the container and went to Marigold. My blood wouldn't be enough to revive her, but I hoped that using it would strengthen my will when she rose. It was harder than I thought it would be to pry her teeth apart, forcing me to use both hands. Thankfully some of my blood dripped into the cavity as I pried it open. I made sure a good amount poured into her throat before I yanked my hands back and her jaw slammed shut.
I picked up the knife and inched back, keeping my eyes on the table. I waited for her to lurch up and start screaming. Fortunately there was no movement or signs of life.
I had to step over the blood and sand to make it to Revenald.
There was so much I'd thought I'd say to him.
Yet, in the moment here and now, words no longer mattered.
He would die, and he'd know I made it happen.
Landon and Corey had lifted him by his feet, holding him by his ankles, so his head stayed several inches off the ground. He flopped like a fish, swaying from side to side, trying to thrust his torso upright. I snagged the vase, placed it under him, and shoved the base into the earth to make sure it wouldn't move. Then I grasped the top of his head, holding onto his hair. Odd that I'd wanted this so badly, thinking it would make me feel better, only to find there was no cure for grief. Even if you got what you wanted, feeling revenge would conquer the nightmares at your door, coming to terms with death and loss only transpired when someone was ready.
"You're lucky. If I didn't need your blood and death, I'd torture you in ways you can't possibly imagine." What I did to Marius would pale in comparison to what I truly wanted to do to the bastard. I lined up with his jugular, deciding to leave the blade in his flesh so I wouldn't have to keep cutting. "Good riddance, fucker."
I sank the knife into his throat.
Blood pulsed from the area, poured down his face, and dripped into the bowl from his forehead. His cries were muffled by the ball gag, and his attempts to speak moved the metal spikes in his face and lips, causing several of them to ooze blood and saliva. Time passed, his movements becoming weak until he was knocking on death's door. I fisted the hilt and gave it a wiggle, rotating the sharp edges, trying to collect the last gushes of blood. When finished, I took a moment, reflecting on Revenald. I had to decide who should do the honors. Aware of what he'd done to the young vampires before me, I decided they should have a say.
"Landon, Corey." I removed the blade and tossed the knife on the ground. I took caution as I lifted the vase, afraid I'd spill the contents. "He's yours to do with as you please, but one of you needs to remove his head and hand it to me."
Landon reacted without hesitation, and I had to turn away when I noted the detestation churning in his dark blue eyes. I heard the crunch as bones broke, followed by a loud thump when Corey dropped Revenald's body.
Landon gave me Revenald's head, and I stepped into the circle. I went to the table, placed the head under the alter, and whispered, "A life for a life."
I drew a deep breath, centering myself as I fed my necromancy and brought the power of the ability forward. Goosebumps along my arms and neck made my skin prickle, my vision, hearing, and eyesight changing.
"Marigold Vesta. I recall you from death. With this offering, I order you to return from the grave. Come back to this realm at my command." I titled the vase and poured the blood all over her shrunken body, starting at her feet and working my way to her head. "Heed me now. Hear my words. Answer my call and rise."
I almost dropped the container when her pores absorbed the thick red liquid, sucking it up like a dry sponge. I tossed the remainder of the contents out and backed the fuck up. Her skin cracked, stretched, regained elasticity, and the muscles and soft areas along her chest and hips twitched, twisted, and spread out. Her peeling lips rippled, plumped up, and parted. When her fingers started to move, I decided to err on the side of caution. I made sure not to break the blood and sand barrier, stepping outside of the circle. If she was out of her mind when she came off the alter, she could do a lot of damage.
The bitch had a nasty violent streak.
Goose immediately followed my lead, seeing the emotions on my face, heading to the stairs. He'd only addressed Marigold once, and that hadn't gone smoothly. Aware of what she'd done, knowing I had to protect him this time, I placed myself between the fallen angel and the vampires at my back. The only person who didn't seem affected and hadn't moved an inch was Bane. He watched things from the same location, staying right where he was.
In moments, the blood was completely gone.
The table shook as she sat up, gained balance, and gazed down at her hands. She opened and closed her fingers before balling them into tight fists. As her chin lifted, our eyes met.
I wasn't the only one affected by her early tampering.
Her left iris was no longer violet but brown.
Her legs shifted from the surface, her toes hit the ground, and she made it to her feet. She turned, standing completely nude before us. I considered asking someone to get a sheet, but she walked toward me without a hint of embarrassmen
t. She shook her long hair out behind her, coming to the edge of the circle I'd made.
I held my breath, hoping Gabriel was right when he said I could do this.
Please hold. Please hold. Please hold.
The minute her foot hit the barrier, she stopped. Her eyes narrowed, forming into thin slits, and I got a glimpse of what my face must have looked like when she claimed my body, rampaged through the house, and took down vampires along the way. No wonder Goose realized he wasn't facing me when their paths had crossed. As beautiful as she was, the glamour and light around her was deceptive. This wasn't a being from Heaven. Not anymore. She craved death and destruction.
She was one frightening creature.
"What is this, Rhiannon Murphy?"
"Insurance." Thank God my voice didn't convey the terror pulsing through me. "After what you tried to do to me, I wasn't sure I should trust you." Recalling events at the skating center, I informed her, "You almost got me killed."
"That is the pot calling the kettle black. I could say the same of you." Her disdain and fury were evident in her face and voice. "You are the one who changed the terms of the first arrangement. You alone altered the terms of the contract. I am not to blame for your poor decisions."
Rehashing shit wouldn't do anyone any favors.
I grasped the amulet and pulled the necklace over my head. I studied the amber stone, finding that I'd been wrong. A part of me would be upset when the necklace was gone. The talisman allowed me to do many things, and I'd have to make sure to curb my temper and avoid deadly fights. I got ready to tell her to destroy the thing, returning my attention to her, but her gaze had landed on Bane. My eyes widened when I realized why her eyes were so full of violence and loathing. She'd detected something she wanted to decimate. The desire for flesh and blood was etched in her features.
"Temperance," she snarled and extended her right arm. A long sword appeared in her hand. The metal was coated in red and blue flames, each wisp drawing toward her palm. She tried to step forward, but the circle prevented movement. A growl crept from her throat, and she pulled her full lips back, baring her teeth. She didn't glance my way, eyes intent on her target. "This one must go. Release me now."
